Mini apps · Notes

Notes, always at hand.

A great note-taking flow needs to be zero-friction: open, type, close. TopShelf ships with a built-in Notes mini app that floats always-on-top from your menu bar, so you can jot down a thought, paste a quote, or track ideas without switching apps. All notes are stored locally on your Mac — no sync, no account.

How to do it with TopShelf

  1. 1 Open TopShelf from your menu barClick the TopShelf icon in the macOS menu bar to open its dropdown.
  2. 2 Pick the Notes mini appChoose Notes from the mini apps list. A floating note window opens on top of every other window.
  3. 3 Start typingAdd notes, group them with tags, or pin the ones you look at most. Move, resize, or dismiss the window from the menu bar at any time. Everything you write is saved locally on your Mac.

Also works with

Quick thoughtsMeeting notesIdeasReference snippetsRemindersClipboard staging

Any workflow that needs an always-visible scratchpad. Great as a lightweight alternative to Apple Notes, Notion, or Obsidian when you only need a floating sticky.