Pre-submission Checklist
Problem / Use Case
Idea
Add a single setting, e.g. "Place new items in the visible section", that makes any newly appearing / unrecognized menu bar item default to the visible section instead of hidden.
Why
Currently macOS adds new items at the far-left position, which falls into Thaw's hidden section, so dynamic items (e.g. notification icons from badge-mirroring apps like Doll that appear only when there's an unread message) always land in hidden — even after being moved before.
For users who want these visible, a simple "default new items to visible" toggle would solve the whole class of dynamic-icon problems with one checkbox.
Relation to existing work
Once Thaw can intercept and move individual items, this toggle would be a natural placement-policy option on top of it (default section for new/unrecognized items: hidden | visible).
Environment
- Thaw 1.2.0, macOS 26 (Tahoe)
- Real-world trigger: dynamic badge icons via Doll
Proposed Solution
A single checkbox in Settings, e.g. "Place new items in the visible section" (off by default to preserve current behavior).
When enabled:
- Any menu bar item that Thaw does not yet have a saved section for (new or unrecognized) is placed in the VISIBLE section instead of hidden.
- This applies every time the item appears, including dynamic items that disappear and reappear (e.g. notification icons from badge-mirroring apps like Doll, which only show when there's an unread message).
When disabled:
- Current behavior is kept (new items default to hidden).
Optionally this could be a dropdown instead of a checkbox — "Default section for new items: Hidden | Visible | Always-Hidden" — giving full control over placement policy.
Alternatives Considered
No response
Additional Context
No response
Pre-submission Checklist
Problem / Use Case
Idea
Add a single setting, e.g. "Place new items in the visible section", that makes any newly appearing / unrecognized menu bar item default to the visible section instead of hidden.
Why
Currently macOS adds new items at the far-left position, which falls into Thaw's hidden section, so dynamic items (e.g. notification icons from badge-mirroring apps like Doll that appear only when there's an unread message) always land in hidden — even after being moved before.
For users who want these visible, a simple "default new items to visible" toggle would solve the whole class of dynamic-icon problems with one checkbox.
Relation to existing work
Once Thaw can intercept and move individual items, this toggle would be a natural placement-policy option on top of it (default section for new/unrecognized items: hidden | visible).
Environment
Proposed Solution
A single checkbox in Settings, e.g. "Place new items in the visible section" (off by default to preserve current behavior).
When enabled:
When disabled:
Optionally this could be a dropdown instead of a checkbox — "Default section for new items: Hidden | Visible | Always-Hidden" — giving full control over placement policy.
Alternatives Considered
No response
Additional Context
No response