HazeOver • Distraction Dimmer™ App Reviews

I rarely buy utility apps, but with many apps open this utility is great. So far, really helpful.

This little utility does what it says it’s going to do. For the most part. Unfortunately for a multiple monitor setup it seems to be MORE distracting. I have a 12 inch MacBook connected to a 24 inch Dell 4K monitor. When switching spaces on the 4K monitor the background of my MacBook screen brightens and then dims again necessarily. It’s like the app doesn’t remember which app has focus so when you switch to a space it has to figure it out and dim the background all over again. I suspect if one doesn’t use a multiple monitor setup at all or if one did and but didn’t use the Spaces feature this wouldn’t be an issue. I’ll be turning this off but I’ll keep the app around just in case an update addresses this problem.

This is great too for migraine sufferers or people who are bothered/made sick by bright lights or overly bright LED screens. I am always looking for products that help me work on my overly bright LED iMac computer monitor. At one point I was dimming it to the lowest setting and it still triggered my otic migraine! (or triggered an attack). I had been using, and still use, Brightness Slider to dim my monitors more precisely. Haze Over dims (adjustable) all other windows and apps you have open except the one you are working on. The dim is adjustable too! It is all automatic and works well. I have mine smoky dimmed so I can still see the unused windows I have open behind the window I am using. It is designed as a distraction remover, like for writers or anyone, but this dimming of all but what you are working on, esp. with big 27 inch monitors, is GREAT! It is hard to find things to make working on LED products easier for people who can’t look all day at big, 100% bright LED screens. This is a bargain and helps the disabled or migraine sufferers tremendously. BTW: set your LED screen to no more than about 75-87%. Healthier and more color accurate too.

Other similar apps hide the other active apps, but leave all the windows of the foremost app showing. I want to eliminate that clutter, as well, and HazeOver does that. Exactly what I need, and for a very reasonable price.

I just bought the app and I’m really pleasure, now on, this will be one of the my firsts app setup, together with flux, my eyes and my attention will be better. Thanks to developer such amazing app. I hope there are more updates soon...

This application help me focus on the current work!! Great!! I am expecting what additional features in this app make me happy for mac life.

I bought this to replace the out of date and no longer updated app Think, and that would be the end of it normally. However, I had a small issue with some of the functionality, and I was amazed to find the developer followed up with me even after I considered the matter resolved. I didn’t expect such good customer service, which is why I wrote this review. One more reason to pick this versus other options. As for the app itself, it’s great when you don’t want the distractions - and is easily toggle-able with a key combo when you are doing stuff that requires split attention. It’s also cool that you can press “fn” when dragging files to see all windows again. Go team!

I’ve been using Isolator up until now, but it has some issues with full screen apps on El Capitan, as well as some other niggling little problems that I usually just work around. It’s basically unmaintainted, so I did some Googling for alternatives. One page I found recommended HazeOver, and it Just Works™. No workarounds required. Good stuff. There’s also a demo version on the home page, if you’re not sure whether it’s for you.

This is amazing app to be more focused on your current document/window. This small app is amazing! It really helps me to boost my productivity.

Im pretty big on staying focused in general. Always very spartan about keeping my physical desk and the OS X Desktop tidy. I downloaded HazeOver today, and this is the best $2.99 Ive spent this year. I also tried Hocus Focus, but it doesnt always hide the right window and for me it ended up being a pretty confusing UX. For example, I launched Calculator thru Alfred for a quick calculation, and all in sudden my Chrome window becomes hidden. I think HazeOver is less dramatic and worked out better for me. (I do change the Haze to almost the darkest setting.) I also find it helpful to hide the Dock once I start using HazeOver. One complaint: it doesnt work outside of the main screen. I usually leave my Macbook open on the side as a second screen, but HazeOver doesnt darken anything in that screen. But I guess the point is to stay focus so this isnt a deal breaker for me.

I love it. Helps me focus. Highly tunable. No issues whatsoever. Great job guys!

Its not what I want all the time, but for times when I really need to focus on one thing at a time, this app is amazing.

This is one of those apps that seems trivial, but has a profound psychological effect. When you switch to an app or a window, everything else simply vanishes. It’s surprising how completely it helps you focus. I’ve found the support to be rapid and complete, and my support emails have resulted in real conversation about future features, etc. Both the functionality and the developer attentativeness rate five stars.

Been using for quite a while now and it’s become second nature to have it running. I don’t think much about it for the most part but, when I do, I realize how very helpful it is for my concentration. Runs very smoothly. Easy to use. It’s a staple on all of my computers.

This app allows you to highlight the selected window and ignore other distractions on your desktop. This focus helps you when working and also when presenting. The main topic jumps out and other windows are dimmed. When using on-line meeting tools, this behavior is enormously helpful. Before HazeOver, window management was much more of a hassle.

I dont know why Apple doesn’t include functionality like this by default. HazeOver reduces distraction and makes it very easy to discern which app is currently in-focus. I don’t want to use my Mac without it!

I really like this utility an have been using it for several months now. It really makes the foreground window stand out against background clutter. It is simple and elegant and works as advertised without feature overload and no with cognitive burden. I think it should be a standard part of all windowing systems. Maybe Apple should buy the company and incorporate this functionality in future versions of the Finder.

It works as advertized, nothing more nothing less. Easy to configure and it really makes it easy to focus on one thing at a time.

I love HazeOver! I’ve set it up so the background windows are almost black. This keeps me focused on the app I’m in. HazeOver works fine with clicking and dragging between apps (like a file from Finder to an email), but I’ve found it easier just to turn off HazeOver momentarily (from the Menu Bar) when I’m working between apps. I’m in a 2-monitor environment now, and really appreciate that HazeOver can highlight an app/window on each monitor. Winner. Highly recommended.

We all know distractions can occur on the computer - “I’m just going to check my email . . . “ or “I wonder what the news is . . . “. This helps focus the work you have to do, and it does so elegantly and smoothly. I only write reviews for really well designed and executed apps, and this one is definitely smooth! Worth it.