Sill

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Install and set up Sill.

These steps cover the current download, first-launch approval, window permissions, and common questions. Sill requires macOS 13 or later.

Install the app

  1. Download Sill from the homepage and open the ZIP file. If your browser did not expand it, double-click the ZIP.
  2. Drag Sill into your Applications folder, then open it from there.
  3. On first launch, macOS may say it cannot verify the app. The current release is not notarized. Dismiss that message, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, then choose Open Anyway for Sill.
  4. Follow Sill's setup window to request Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions, then quit and reopen Sill.

The homepage also offers a disk image. Its first-run approval process may involve a prompt for both the image and the app. Use the ZIP instructions if you prefer the shorter path.

Why Sill asks for permissions

Accessibility lets Sill focus, minimize, and close windows in other apps. It also enables individual window controls. If it is not granted, some window actions and one-button-per-window behavior may be unavailable.

Screen Recording lets Sill create the thumbnails shown when you hover over app buttons. The current privacy policy says those thumbnails are created on your Mac, kept briefly in memory, and not uploaded. The taskbar, launcher, and clock do not depend on window previews.

Check permission status in Sill's Settings → General. If you change a permission, quit and reopen Sill so macOS can apply it.

What happens to the Dock?

While Sill runs, it sets the built-in Dock to hide so the taskbar can occupy the bottom of the screen. Quitting Sill restores your previous Dock settings. System features such as app switching and Spaces still depend on the Dock process, which continues running.

If the Dock stays hidden after Sill is gone, use the restoration instructions and command in the uninstall section. Do not remove Sill while it is running; quit it first.

What happens when the Pro trial ends?

The first launch starts one 30-day Pro trial per Mac. You do not need an account or card to try it. After the trial, window previews and the bar on every display turn off unless you subscribe. Your free taskbar, launcher, clock, and customization controls continue to work. See the current Pro prices.

How do updates work?

Sill checks for updates and asks before installing them. Open the launcher button's context menu to check manually. You can review release notes to see what changed.

Need more help?

See the feature guide, read how to work with open windows, or email [email protected].