Unclutter — A Hidden Drawer for Your Clipboard, Files & Notes

If you’ve ever wished for a simple way to keep your Mac tidy — without juggling different utilities — Unclutter might be the little helper you didn’t know you needed. It combines a clipboard manager, a temporary files shelf, and a quick notes tool into one fast, gesture-driven panel that slides down from the top of your screen whenever you need it.

It’s minimal, fast, and distinctly “Mac-like”. And most importantly: it helps keep your desktop (and your headspace) clean.

What Is Unclutter?

Unclutter is a lightweight productivity utility for macOS that gives you three tools in one unified drawer:

• Clipboard history
• Files drop zone / temporary shelf
• Quick notes panel

You trigger it by moving your cursor to the top of the screen and scrolling down — or via a hotkey. The drawer slides open instantly, ready for drag-and-drop, saving a snippet, or retrieving something you copied minutes ago.

It’s designed for users who want speed and simplicity, and who love the idea of a “hidden pocket” that’s always within reach.

Core Features (In Depth)

This is where Unclutter really shines. Let’s break down each panel in detail.

# Clipboard Manager

macOS only remembers one thing: your last copied item. Unclutter remembers everything — and makes it easy to find what you need.

It helps you:

• Store text, images, formatted text, links, file paths, and more.
• Retains a chronological history of copied items.
• Lets you preview, edit, and re-copy clips.
• Pin important items to keep them permanently.
• Sensitive Data Protection automatically detects things like passwords, tokens, 1Password-style short-lived clipboard entries and hides them from history.
• Sync via iCloud/Dropbox if enabled.

If you’re writing, coding, researching, or designing, this becomes a lifesaver. Copy 10 things in a row → nothing is lost. Just swipe down, scroll, and re-copy.

Yes, there are more advanced clipboard apps (Paste, Maccy, CopyClip Pro). But those can feel “busy”.
Unclutter’s clipboard manager is:

• Lightweight
• Always under your cursor
• Integrated with notes and files
• Effortless to access

It satisfies 95% of everyday clipboard needs without overwhelming you.

# Files Hub (Drop Zone)

This is arguably Unclutter’s most magical feature.

Most people clutter their desktop not because they want to, but because they need a temporary place to put files. Screenshots, downloads, work assets — they all end up piled on the desktop.

Unclutter fixes this by giving you a clean, private, always-accessible temporary shelf.

What it can do:

• Drag files into the top drawer to save them instantly.
• Perfect for screenshots, downloads, drafts, PDFs, images, or temporary project assets.
• Acts as a staging area before you organize things.
• Supports drag & drop in and out of Finder or any app.
• Syncs via iCloud/Dropbox.
• Respects macOS Quick Look.
• Lets you Move / Copy / Alias files depending on modifier keys

By default, dropping a file moves it.

But you can:

• Option → Copy
• Cmd + Option → Alias

At TheSweetBits, we take tons of screenshots for app testing and guides. Instead of letting them stack on the desktop, we swipe down and drop them into Unclutter. Later, we drag them directly into documents or apps.

This dramatically reduces “visual noise”, keeps the desktop clean, and encourages better habits.

# Quick Notes

The Notes panel is exactly what a scratchpad should be: instant, simple, no formatting, no distractions.

• Plain-text notes for speed
• Full-text search across all notes
• Sync support via iCloud/Dropbox
• Always available without switching apps

It’s not a replacement for heavy note apps like Apple Notes or Craft — but great for short-term thinking.

# New: AppleScript & Automation Support

Unclutter recently introduced full AppleScript support, allowing you to automate:

• Adding notes
• Extracting clipboard items
• Managing files on the shelf
• Integrating panels with automation tools like Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, Hazel, and Alfred.

This is a big deal for power users — and it brings Unclutter into the world of advanced Mac workflows.

What We Like

• Three useful tools in one — replaces multiple utilities.
• Super-fast access via gestures or hotkeys.
• New AppleScript integration brings real automation power.
• Excellent for keeping your desktop organised.
• iCloud/Dropbox sync support across Macs.
• Native macOS design with minimal footprint.
• Highly stable, consistently updated.
• Customizable panel order and layout.

What Could Be Better

• Notes panel is plain-text only — no formatting or structure.
• Files panel isn’t a full file organizer (best for temp files, not archives).
• Lacks the most advanced clipboard management features found in dedicated apps.
• macOS-only, no cross-platform support.

Who Is Unclutter For?

You’ll love Unclutter if you:

• Drag files to your desktop “just for now”
• Frequently need something you copied a few minutes ago
• Want a friction-free scratchpad always available
• Prefer minimal tools that stay out of your way
• Want a unified place to hold temporary things while multitasking

It’s especially great for:

• Creatives
• Writers
• Students
• Developers
• Researchers
• Anyone constantly switching tasks

Pricing & Compatibility

• Free trial available
• $19.99, one-time license (no subscription)
• 30% student/education discount
• Available on Setapp as well
• Works on Intel & Apple Silicon Macs
• Requires 10.13 or later
• Fully compatible with the latest macOS version releases

Our Take (TheSweetBits Verdict)

Unclutter is one of those rare apps that quietly reshapes your daily workflow. After a few days, you stop thinking about it — it just becomes part of how you use your Mac. Like Spotlight or Mission Control, it feels native.

What we appreciate most is its clarity of purpose:

Unclutter doesn’t try to replace your main notes app, clipboard manager, or file organizer. Instead, it focuses on being fast, accessible, and frictionless — the kind of tool that helps you work smarter without even realizing it.

For Mac users who value simplicity, speed, and a tidy workspace, Unclutter is a near-perfect companion.

Try the free trial here, Unclutter official website.