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Guide · Open source

How to use Pock: install and set up Touch Bar widgets

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Pock is a free, open-source macOS app that adds a set of small widgets to the Touch Bar on MacBooks that have one. This guide is for MacBook owners who want quick access to the Dock, media controls, brightness and volume from the strip. After reading it you will know how to install Pock, find its menu bar icon, use the main widgets and change their settings.

Pockpock/pock · ★ 10.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Confirm your hardware. Make sure your MacBook has a Touch Bar, since Pock is built for that hardware.
  2. 2Download Pock. Go to pock.app and click Download to get the zip archive.
  3. 3Unzip the archive. Double-click the file or run unzip in Terminal to extract the app.
  4. 4Move Pock to Applications. Move the extracted app to /Applications.
  5. 5Open Pock. Launch Pock and look for its icon in the menu bar.
  6. 6Enable App Controls if needed. If Pock is not on the Touch Bar, select "Touch Bar shows App Controls" in the Keyboard pane and relaunch Pock.
  7. 7Configure widgets. Use Preferences… and Manage Widgets… to choose and set up your widgets, then use Customize Pock… to arrange them.

Check that Pock fits your MacBook

Pock is built around the Touch Bar, so it only makes sense on a MacBook that has one. The README does not list exact supported macOS versions. It links to a permissions guide written for Catalina, so check that guide against your macOS version before you start.

  • A MacBook with a Touch Bar is required.
  • macOS: the README links to a Catalina-era permissions guide but does not state exact supported versions.

Install Pock on macOS

Download the app from the official website at pock.app. The README also gives the direct download link on the project page. The download is a zip archive, so unzip it and move the app into your Applications folder.

  • Go to pock.app and click Download.
  • Unzip the archive by double-clicking the file, or run unzip in Terminal.
  • Move the extracted file to /Applications.
unzip

Open Pock and find its menu bar icon

Open Pock from Applications. Look in the menu bar for the new Pock icon. Its menu gives you access to Pock and widget preferences.

If you do not see Pock in your Touch Bar, the README says to open the Keyboard pane in System Preferences, choose "Touch Bar shows App Controls", and then relaunch Pock.

  • Open the Keyboard pane in System Preferences.
  • Select "Touch Bar shows App Controls".
  • Relaunch Pock.

Use the default widgets

Pock includes five default widgets. The Dock widget puts a copy of your macOS Dock on the Touch Bar and supports badges, so you can see notifications there. The Now Playing widget shows media information and supports gestures. The ESC widget gives you an escape key without hiding Pock. The Status widget shows items such as time, WiFi and battery. The Control Center widget changes brightness and volume.

  • Now Playing: tap to toggle play/pause, swipe left for the previous song, swipe right for the next song.
  • ESC: a standard escape key, so you do not have to hide Pock to reach the system one.
  • Status: configure which status items appear in settings.
  • Control Center: long press or slide on the item to show the brightness and volume sliders.
  • Weather: shows the forecast for your location on the Touch Bar.
  • The README also mentions that more widgets are planned.

Adjust preferences and customize the layout

Open the Preferences… and Manage Widgets… items from the Pock menu to change Pock and widget settings. The Dock widget has its own options, including features that can be set in widget settings.

To change where widgets sit on the Touch Bar, choose Customize Pock… from the menu.

  • Preferences…: general Pock settings and per-widget settings.
  • Manage Widgets…: choose and configure which widgets are shown.
  • Customize Pock…: move widgets around the Touch Bar.

Uninstall Pock

Quit Pock first. Then move the Pock app file from /Applications to the Trash. If the default system controls disappear from your Touch Bar, open the Keyboard preference pane and select "Touch Bar shows App Controls", or set the system controls the way you need.

  • Quit Pock.
  • Move the Pock app from /Applications to the Trash.

What people use it for

  • Keep the Dock visible on the Touch Bar to open apps with one tap.
  • Control play, pause, and track skipping with gestures on the Now Playing widget.
  • Adjust screen brightness and system volume from the Touch Bar without opening menus.
  • Show time, WiFi or battery status on the strip.
  • Keep a standard ESC key available while Pock is running.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pock free?

Yes. The README describes Pock as a free, open-source tool and says it will always be available as free software. The project is licensed under the MIT license.

Does Pock work on a MacBook without a Touch Bar?

No. Pock is built around the Touch Bar hardware, so it is meant only for MacBooks that have one.

How do I install Pock?

Download the zip from pock.app, unzip it, and move the app to /Applications. Then open it and check the menu bar for the Pock icon.

Why isn't Pock showing on my Touch Bar?

The README says to open the Keyboard pane in System Preferences, select "Touch Bar shows App Controls", and then relaunch Pock.

Does Pock send any data?

The README says Pock sends anonymous events to AppCenter to help catch issues and bugs, and that these events are not used for marketing. If you do not agree, the README says not to download it.

What are alternatives to Pock?

The comparable projects listed for this guide are MTMR, Pock forks on GitHub, and BetterTouchTool. Check each one's own documentation to compare features.

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Our verdict

Pock suits MacBook owners with a Touch Bar who want the Dock, media controls, brightness and volume on the strip for free. Skip it if your Mac has no Touch Bar, if you object to anonymous usage events, or if you need a tool with active maintenance, since the source shows the latest push from November 2022 and no release listed.

Install options & downloads