How I actually use Stir: as a friend, as an assistant, and with no AI at all
The setups I actually use: Stir as a friendly nudge, as a sharp full-screen wake-up, and…
Your Mac is
alive.
It wakes with you. It greets you back.
A cinematic greeting overlay for macOS — every time your Mac wakes from sleep. Free. Try it right here ↓
Stir is a free native macOS menu bar app that brings your Mac to life every time it wakes from sleep. It displays a cinematic greeting overlay with one of 19 visual themes and an optional AI-generated or preset message for a few seconds before disappearing. It is not a screensaver, alarm clock, or Wake-on-LAN tool. Built with native SwiftUI for macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, with no telemetry and no account required.
Tuesday, August 4
19:47
Y
Your Mac
password is 0000 — just press ↵
Type 0000 to bring it alive ↑
Live preview · greeted by your local time. The real thing comes alive the moment your Mac wakes.
Two Heartbeats
Presence & Echo
A gentle pulse or a full breath. Pick how your Mac comes alive.
Echo Full-screen. Your Mac fills the room with a single breath.
19 Personalities
It changes with you.
Minimal, cinematic, typographic. Animated particles or pure silence. Your Mac, your character.
MinimalHerTerminalGraphiteIvoryPaperCreamDriftPRONocturnePROPulsePROInkPROPrismPROGrainPROMistPROEmberPROSignalPROTapePROSilkPROVoidPRO
AI-Powered
It has something
to say.
Connect an AI provider and your Mac finds its own words — fresh, unique, every single time. Set the tone: motivational, poetic, funny, or professional.
Multiple AI Providers
OpenAI, Ollama, and more. You pick the voice.
Custom Presets
Write your own words for morning, afternoon, evening, night. No AI needed.
8 Languages
Your Mac speaks yours. English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, German.
08:12 AM
Good morning.
14:33 PM
system resumed. welcome back.
09:45 AM
The world waited for you.
07:30 AM
오늘도 화이팅.
22:15 PM
おかえりなさい.
18:50 PM
You made it through another day.
Alive, not annoying.
Quiet Hours
It knows when to stay silent. Set your own schedule — your Mac sleeps when you sleep.
Wake History
Every heartbeat logged. Timestamps, greetings, streaks — all private, all local.
Menu Bar Native
Lives in the menu bar, not the Dock. Lightweight, native, out of your way.
8 Languages
Your Mac speaks your language. English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, German.
Time-Aware
Different tone for morning, afternoon, evening, night. It reads the room.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is Stir for Mac?+
Stir is a free native macOS menu bar app that brings your Mac to life every time it wakes from sleep. It displays a cinematic greeting overlay with one of 19 visual themes for a few seconds, then gets out of the way. It is not a screensaver, alarm clock, or Wake-on-LAN tool — it simply gives your Mac a voice.
Does Stir keep my Mac awake or prevent sleep?+
No. Stir does not prevent sleep and is not a caffeinate-style keep-awake utility. It only responds after your Mac wakes up on its own — like a heartbeat that shows your Mac is alive, then fades away.
Is Stir free to use?+
Yes. Stir's free tier includes 7 visual themes, greeting presets, Quiet Hours, and 7 days of wake history. A one-time Pro purchase (no subscription) unlocks all 19 personalities.
Does Stir require an internet connection?+
No, not by default. Stir works fully offline with custom greeting presets by time of day. An internet connection is only needed if you connect an AI provider (such as OpenAI or Ollama) so your Mac can find its own words.
What is Quiet Hours in Stir?+
Quiet Hours tells Stir when to stay silent. Set your own schedule (default 22:00–07:00) and your Mac won't greet you in the middle of the night.
Does Stir collect data or telemetry?+
No. Stir has no telemetry, no analytics, and no account requirement. Wake history stays on your Mac and never leaves your device. It's yours alone.
Does Stir work on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs?+
Yes. Stir is a native SwiftUI app that runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Check the App Store listing for the current minimum macOS version.
How is Stir different from KeepingYouAwake or Amphetamine?+
KeepingYouAwake and Amphetamine prevent your Mac from sleeping. Stir does the opposite: it only reacts after your Mac wakes up naturally, showing that your Mac is alive with a cinematic greeting. The two types of app are unrelated and can be used together.
Blog
From the blog
Tips, guides, and updates about Stir.
No telemetry. No analytics. No account. Everything stays on your Mac — it's yours alone.