Roart Solution
Home

Move Notification Center To The Left

7 min read Oct 03, 2024
Move Notification Center To The Left

The Mac's Notification Center, while a handy tool for staying updated, can sometimes feel intrusive, especially when it takes up valuable screen real estate on the right side of the screen. If you prefer a cleaner workspace or simply want a more organized layout, moving the Notification Center to the left side of the screen can be a refreshing change. This article will guide you through the process of relocating the Notification Center, exploring the benefits of this change, and answering some common questions.

Why Move the Notification Center to the Left?

Moving the Notification Center to the left side of the screen offers several advantages. First, it aligns with the natural flow of reading and navigation for most users. Second, it minimizes interruptions on the primary work area of your screen, which is typically the right side. Third, for users with multiple monitors, placing the Notification Center on the left side allows for a smoother transition between screens without having to constantly glance back and forth.

How to Move the Notification Center to the Left

While macOS doesn't offer a built-in option to directly move the Notification Center to the left, you can achieve this using a combination of third-party tools and customization. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Using BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool is a popular utility that enables advanced mouse, trackpad, and keyboard customization on macOS. It allows you to assign custom actions to various inputs, including keyboard shortcuts. To move the Notification Center using BetterTouchTool:

  1. Download and install BetterTouchTool.
  2. Open BetterTouchTool and navigate to the "Preferences" section.
  3. Select "Keyboard" from the left-hand sidebar.
  4. Click on the "+" button to add a new shortcut.
  5. In the "Action" dropdown, select "System" > "Open Notification Center".
  6. Assign a keyboard shortcut of your choice. We recommend using a key combination that doesn't conflict with other system shortcuts.
  7. Save the changes.

Now, whenever you press your assigned shortcut, the Notification Center will appear on the left side of the screen. This method offers the most flexibility and customization for moving the Notification Center.

Using Third-Party Applications

Several other applications provide functionality for relocating the Notification Center. Some popular options include:

  • Moom: This application offers powerful window management features, including the ability to move and resize windows. You can use Moom to create a custom layout where the Notification Center appears on the left side.
  • Rectangle: Similar to Moom, Rectangle provides a range of window management tools that allow you to control the position and size of windows, effectively moving the Notification Center to your desired location.

The specific methods for using these applications to move the Notification Center will vary depending on the application. Refer to their respective documentation for detailed instructions.

Using a Script (Advanced Users)

For more advanced users, you can use a script to automatically move the Notification Center to the left every time it's opened. This method requires some basic knowledge of scripting languages like AppleScript.

  1. Open the Script Editor application (located in /Applications/Utilities).
  2. Paste the following script into the editor:
tell application "System Events"
  set thePosition of window 1 of application process "NotificationCenter" to {10, 10}
end tell
  1. Save the script as an application file (e.g., "MoveNotificationCenter.app").
  2. Create a launch agent to run the script automatically at startup. This involves creating a plist file in the /Library/LaunchAgents directory and configuring it to run your application.

This method ensures that the Notification Center automatically appears on the left side every time you open it. However, it requires a deeper understanding of scripting and system configuration.

Conclusion

Moving the Notification Center to the left side of the screen can significantly improve your workflow by creating a cleaner workspace and reducing interruptions. While macOS doesn't provide a direct way to achieve this, you can use tools like BetterTouchTool, third-party applications, or custom scripts to relocate the Notification Center to your preferred location. The method you choose will depend on your level of comfort with customization and scripting. Regardless of the approach you take, moving the Notification Center can lead to a more efficient and satisfying user experience.

Featured Posts