Terms of Service

Last updated: July 11, 2026

Welcome to HotNotch. These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legal agreement between you and Mehras Hojjat ("Developer", "we", "us") for your use of the HotNotch macOS application ("HotNotch" or the "App").

By downloading, installing, or using HotNotch, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.

The current version of these Terms is also available at: https://hotnotch.app/terms

What HotNotch Does

HotNotch is a macOS utility that turns the MacBook notch into an interactive control surface. Depending on how you configure it, HotNotch may provide:

• Shortcuts — trigger keyboard shortcuts when you interact with the notch
• App Switcher — navigate the macOS app switcher using horizontal cursor position
• Swipe Actions — map left/right motion to shortcut pairs
• Launcher — open apps, files, or folders from a segmented tray
• Per-app rules — override global behaviour for specific applications
• Backup and import/export — save or restore your configuration as JSON files you choose
• Presets (full version) — browse and install ready-made configurations from an online catalog

HotNotch runs primarily on your Mac. Features you enable may require macOS permissions and affect how other applications respond to input.

License

HotNotch is proprietary software. All rights not expressly granted are reserved. HotNotch and its content remain the property of Mehras Hojjat.

Unauthorized copying, sharing, redistribution, or sublicensing of the App is not permitted.

Free Trial

HotNotch is free to download from the Mac App Store. Your 14-day trial begins on the date your Apple ID first obtained the app from the App Store (not from first local launch). During the trial, all features are available.

When the trial ends without a purchase, notch functionality is disabled until you buy the full version through the in-app purchase in the App.

Full Version

If you purchase the full version through the Mac App Store in-app purchase, we grant you a personal, limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to install and use HotNotch on Mac computers you own or control, for as long as you comply with these Terms and your App Store license remains valid.

This license is personal to you and tied to the Apple ID through which you obtained the App. It does not permit you to make the App available to others who have not obtained their own copy through the Mac App Store.

Restrictions

You may not:

• Copy, redistribute, rent, lease, sublicense, or sell the App
• Share the App or your license with anyone who has not obtained it themselves through the Mac App Store
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App except where applicable law expressly permits
• Remove or alter copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
• Circumvent, disable, or tamper with trial limitations, licensing checks, or other technical restrictions — including by modifying HotNotch's code, altering macOS date/time or other system settings, or using third-party tools to extend the trial period or unlock paid features without a valid purchase

Mac App Store

HotNotch is distributed through the Mac App Store as a free download with an optional in-app purchase for the full version. Payment, billing, refunds, and account matters are handled by Apple under Apple's terms and policies. We do not process payment card data directly.

The trial start date is determined by Apple's signed App Store transaction data and cannot be reset by reinstalling the app or clearing local data.

macOS Permissions

HotNotch may request macOS permissions so features you enable can work, including:

• Accessibility — to detect notch interaction and monitor input events
• Automation — to send keyboard shortcuts and interact with other apps via Apple Events

These permissions are used only to provide features you configure. You can review or revoke permissions at any time in System Settings.

Your Responsibility

You are responsible for how you configure HotNotch, including shortcuts, launcher items, swipe actions, app rules, and imported presets. Actions triggered through HotNotch may affect other applications, files, or system behaviour. You are solely responsible for ensuring your configuration is appropriate for your use.

Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use HotNotch unlawfully or in a way that violates the rights of others
• Use the App to interfere with system stability, other users, or third-party services
• Misuse permissions or automation in a harmful or deceptive way
• Attempt to bypass trial restrictions, licensing checks, or App Store licensing, including by tampering with the App or macOS as described in the License section

Third-Party Presets

The optional preset catalog is hosted on GitHub. Presets are configuration suggestions provided for convenience. We do not guarantee that any preset will work with your Mac, apps, or workflow. You are responsible for reviewing presets before applying them.

Feedback and Support Forms

The App may link to third-party forms (such as Google Forms) for bug reports, feature requests, or preset submissions. Your use of those forms is governed by the third party's terms and privacy policies. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle information you submit through those forms.

Disclaimer of Warranties

HotNotch is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not warrant that HotNotch will be uninterrupted, error-free, compatible with every Mac or macOS version, or free from harmful effects on your device or data.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Mehras Hojjat shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of data, loss of profits, business interruption, hardware damage, software damage, or device malfunction arising from or related to your use of HotNotch — including damage or issues caused by shortcuts, automation, or configurations you set up.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is not permitted by law, including liability for intent, gross negligence, injury to life, body, or health, or breach of essential contractual obligations under German law.

Where liability cannot be excluded, our total liability shall be limited to the amount you paid for HotNotch through the Mac App Store in the twelve (12) months before the event giving rise to the claim, except where mandatory law requires otherwise.

Termination

You may stop using HotNotch at any time by uninstalling the App. Your license ends when you breach these Terms or when your right to use the App otherwise ends. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including license restrictions, disclaimers, and limitations of liability) will continue to apply.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, the copy published at https://hotnotch.app/terms. Continued use of HotNotch after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Germany, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. If you are a consumer resident in Germany or the European Union, mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence apply where they give you greater protection.

For consumers, disputes may be brought before the courts of your habitual residence in Germany where mandatory law allows.

Contact

Questions about these Terms:

Email: support@hotnotch.app

Website: https://hotnotch.app