Apple Approves 'Notch Remover' App for iPhone X - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Approves 'Notch Remover' App for iPhone X

by

Apple appears to have made an exception to its rule that developers "embrace the notch" on the iPhone X, by approving an app called Notch Remover for the App Store.

Essentially, all the app does is add a black bar across the top of selected images that the user can then manually assign as a wallpaper in iOS Settings.

notch remover app 2 up
The result conceals the existence of the notch and the adjacent "ears" with what looks like a solid black status bar along the top of the lock screen and home screen.

The one-trick nature of the app is unlikely to have been overlooked by Apple and approved in error, suggesting that the company doesn't interpret its function as a violation of iPhone X developer guidelines.

Don't mask or call special attention to key display features. Don't attempt to hide the device's rounded corners, sensor housing, or indicator for accessing the Home screen by placing black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

The notch houses Apple's TrueDepth camera and Face ID technology, but it eats into the viewing area of the OLED display. Its existence has divided Apple fans, but many iPhone X owners say that they don't really notice it after a few days or even just a few hours with the device, after which it ceases to be an issue for them.

Still, if the notch just isn't your thing, Notch Remover offers to mitigate the screen intrusion for just $0.99, while Notcho does something similar.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

111 months ago
i like the notch and it looks full screen
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
111 months ago
Wow...it actually looks so much better without the notch....who knew?

(thats right...everyone)
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T'hain Esh Kelch Avatar
111 months ago
I actually prefer the notch view.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
111 months ago
Wow...it actually looks so much better without the notch....who knew?

(thats right...everyone)
Looks like a giant bezel at top. How's this look good again? lol
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnnyjibbs Avatar
111 months ago
Slow news day...

Personally I got really used to the notch really quickly and I find the iPhone X looks too old-fashioned when the notch is removed (as it looks like a 6/7/8, etc) and somehow restrictive

My wife has a new 8 Plus - amazing phone, but seems so last year...
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
111 months ago
I'm not a fan of the notch, but those screen shots seem to make it worse imo. Maybe I'm getting used to the notch
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by
Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 CarPlay Light mode 250609

Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based...
ipad mini 7 blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Thursday May 14, 2026 5:08 am PDT by
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code...