One menu bar popover
Change rules, manage companion apps, check display and sleep settings, or open activity logs from the status icon.
macOS utility for background cleanup and small system tasks
App Helper
Keep your Mac a little calmer with rule-based app cleanup, Xcode helpers, display controls, auto-start companions, menu bar access, notifications, and logs.
What it does
A compact control room for everyday macOS friction.
App Helper is designed for people who notice that helper processes, app leftovers, display settings, and companion utilities often need the same small fixes. Turn on the rules you trust, then open the menu bar popover whenever you need to adjust a setting or review activity.
Features
Focused tools, grouped by the work they actually do.
Rules
Clean up after apps quit
Run selected rules in the background to restart helpers, quit leftover services, and keep common macOS app remains under control.
XcodeRecover from noisy developer tools
Watch Xcode CPU usage, notify when it stays high, and clean up SourceKitService after Xcode exits.
CleanerRemove stubborn helper processes
Target Open and Save Panel Service, Web Content processes, and Safari remains when the owning app has already closed.
Auto StartKeep your companion apps running
Pick apps that should launch after App Helper starts, with per-app toggles and duplicate protection.
DisplayFast display and sleep controls
Toggle the system color theme, check HDR status, prevent display sleep, hide the desktop, and set a sleep shortcut.
Menu BarRules and logs from the menu bar
Open the compact popover from the status icon to change rules, review logs, switch appearance, check for updates, or quit.
Screenshots
Rules and activity logs, right from the menu bar.
Deep dives
Reserved space for feature-by-feature explanations.
Feature detail
Rules Automation
Enable only the rules you want. App Helper listens for app termination events and applies the matching cleanup after a short delay so it can avoid interrupting normal app shutdown.
Feature detail
Xcode Helper
Developer machines can accumulate SourceKitService or high CPU sessions. App Helper can watch Xcode, record the event, and notify you when attention is needed.
Feature detail
Cleaner Rules
Cleaner rules focus on common leftover macOS helper processes, including Web Content, Open and Save Panel Service, QuickLookUIService, and Safari-related remains.
Feature detail
Auto-Start Apps
Use App Helper as a small launch companion. Add applications from the Applications folder, toggle them individually, and let the background watcher reopen missing enabled apps.
Feature detail
Display and Sleep Tools
Quick commands cover theme switching, HDR status checks, display sleep prevention, desktop visibility, and a configurable shortcut for sleep monitoring.
Feature detail
Menu Bar Popover
App Helper runs as a menu bar app. Click its status icon to open the rules and logs, adjust appearance, check for updates, or quit.
Feature detail
Logs and Notifications
Matched rules can send local notifications and write Core Data logs, giving you a simple record of what App Helper started, restarted, quit, or could not complete.
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