Cue

Key Features

How It Works

1. 1

   Download and install

   Download the free DMG for Apple Silicon (macOS 14+), open Cue.dmg, and drag Cue to Applications.

2. 2

   Approve the app

   Because Cue is not yet notarized by Apple, macOS shows a verification warning: click OK/Done, then in System Settings → Privacy & Security click Open Anyway and confirm with your password or Touch ID. A Terminal one-liner (xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Cue.app) does the same.

3. 3

   One-screen setup

   Click Start, enter your password once (for the site-blocking helper), allow Motion, and enable Cue in Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Optionally grant Full Disk Access to pick your own Focus modes.

4. 4

   Focus switches automatically

   macOS has no public API for setting a Focus mode, so Cue sets up its own shortcuts once, then switches Focus automatically whenever your AirPods go in or out.

Pros & Cons

Who It's For

Use Cases

• Deep work sessions that start and stop with your headphones, without opening an app or remembering to set a timer
• Blocking social, video and news sites (plus custom lists) and quitting distracting apps automatically during focus
• Tracking focus sessions from the notch with a timer and a daily summary (sessions and total time)
• Using the notch as a now-playing, notifications, volume and brightness hub
• Keeping your Mac awake, monitoring Caps Lock, and getting an unplug nudge at full charge

Pricing

Free. No ads and no tracking; the developer accepts donations via a 'Buy me a coffee' link.

Integrations

• macOS Focus modes (via shortcuts Cue sets up once
• AirPods (wear detection for focus sessions, case-o
• Spotify and YouTube tabs (now-playing metadata wit

FAQ