One of the first things I do after I set up a new Mac is install Itsycal, a small yet mighty calendar app that stays docked in the menu bar. I use it to replace the Mac's more limited default calendar, and it serves as a quick and accessible calendar whenever I need to plan something, confirm a date for a deadline, or look up the day's events.
Itsycal is tiny, free, and open-source. While there are other options out there when it comes to Mac calendar apps and menu bar utilities (Dato being a popular option), they are either paid or quite complex. If you want something simple and delightful, set up Itsycal.
Itsycal's default setup will show you the date in the menu bar icon, an overview of the current month, and the current day's calendar appointments. But there are a few tweaks that will make the app even better.
First, let's customize the menu bar icon. Open the Itsycal app (it's only a menu bar utility, so you won't see a full-screen app), click the Settings icon, and switch to the Appearance menu.
Here, enable Show month in icon and Show day of week in icon. Much better. If you have the date or day of the week enabled in the system clock, you can disable it from System Settings so you don't see it twice. Go to Control Center > Clock Options and choose Never for the Show date option, then disable the Show the day of the week feature. Now the system clock will only display the time.
While you're editing Itsycal's Appearance, I would also suggest you make the Calendar size bigger and use the Highlight feature for Saturday and Sunday, to differentiate the weekend.
From the General section, you can choose the First day of the week, and switch it to Monday if you'd like. Here, you can also connect to the Calendar app and choose which calendar events show in Itsycal.
You can also record a keyboard shortcut for Itsycal here, so that you can open the calendar without even touching your mouse.
The default Itsycal settings only show the current month, but I like to look ahead. You can grab the little Separator icon below the calendar and drag it down to reveal one more month.
Itsycal works quite well with the native Calendar app on Mac, so events created in the Calendar app will show up instantly in Itsycal. And you can click the Plus button in Itsycal to create a new event using the native Calendar app input (complete with video call links, and calendar selection). Clicking the Calendar button at the bottom will even open the macOS Calendar app.
I'll leave you with one last tip: If you press the Pin icon in the bottom bar, Itsycal will now float on top of the screen, and will stay there no matter what you do. I find this indispensable when planning a trip or trying to coordinate with someone on a meetup or an event. You can use it to refer to your calendar or upcoming appointments without pressing the menu bar icon each time.
Whether you're looking for a TV, security camera, smart speaker, or streaming device, there's an Amazon device with a good discount that might turn yo
One of the ways that Microsoft is pushing AI in Windows 11 is through a new feature called Recall. Available on Copilot+ PCs only, the feature essenti
The robot vacuum industry is fierce, with companies quickly releasing new robot vacuums that surpass the competition in specs and price. Today, you ha
YouTube quietly celebrated Independence Day this week by previewing a new feature that uses AI to help creators declare independence from copyright st
The U.S. Department of Justice may be suing TikTok, and the app may be banned in the country by January, but that isn't stopping the app from adding n
It’s been at least a decade since your choice of operating system presented any real challenge to obtaining specific software or hardware, but smart t
We are a dynamic information platform dedicated to delivering timely, relevant, and reliable content across a broad spectrum of topics. From the latest in technology and business to lifestyle, health, and global affairs, we aim to keep our readers informed and inspired.
Our editorial team is committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and clarity, ensuring that every article provides value and context in an ever-changing world. We believe in the importance of accessible knowledge and strive to make complex topics understandable for everyone.
Whether you're here to stay updated on current events, explore thought-provoking features, or simply learn something new, our goal is to offer a trustworthy source of information that meets the needs of a diverse and curious audience.