Automate HazeOver to Create
Your Perfect Focused Workflow

HazeOver dimming state and settings can be read, controlled, and automated with Shortcuts App, Automations, Focus Filters, third-party tools, and AppleScript. Combine that with other apps, conditions, and system settings to set up your perfect environment.

For example, a keyboard shortcut or some automated event can enable HazeOver dimming, turn on Dark Mode and Do Not Disturb for you.

Other ideas: hide the Dock and menu bar, set HazeOver intensity or color, and launch your productivity app, all in one step after a bit of initial setup.

How to Use Shortcuts App

The Shortcuts app lets you combine multiple steps across apps into a single action. HazeOver’s dedicated actions let you control dimming, intensity, and display modes as part of any workflow. Run them from a keyboard shortcut, Siri, the menu bar, Control Center, or via Automations.

To create a shortcut:

1. Open the Shortcuts app and select All Shortcuts in the sidebar
2. Click + in the toolbar (or choose File > New Shortcut)
3. In the Action Library on the right, click HazeOver under Apps to reveal its actions.
   You can also type to search for HazeOver or a specific action name.
4. Double-click or drag actions into the shortcut editor

Click ▶ Run to try it out, or set up one of the following:

• Name the shortcut a convenient phrase, then say it to Siri and it will run
• Click ⓘ (or choose View > Show Shortcut Details), then Add Keyboard Shortcut

In macOS Tahoe, you can run shortcuts from Spotlight with Quick Keys:

1. Click ⓘ and enable Show in Spotlight
2. Open Spotlight and search for the shortcut name
3. Click Add quick keys next to the shortcut, type a short code like hzo, and press Return
4. Run the shortcut by typing the quick key in Spotlight

In macOS Tahoe, you can run shortcuts from Control Center or the menu bar:

1. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar and choose Edit Controls
2. Select the Shortcuts category in the gallery
3. Click or drag Run Shortcut to add to Control Center or the menu bar
4. Click Choose and pick a shortcut to run

Add multiple tiles for different intensities or modes.

Actions supported by HazeOver:

• Set HazeOver State: Toggle, turn on, or turn off dimming.
• Get Settings: Returns the current dimming state, intensity, and other settings as input values for conditions or subsequent steps in your workflow.
• Set Color: Hex color value, e.g. 000000 for black or FF0000 for red.
• Set Animation: Fade duration between 0 (instant) and 5 seconds.
• Set Intensity: Level between 0 (transparent) and 100 (opaque).
• Set Highlight Mode: Whether one or all front windows of the active app are highlighted.
• Set Secondary Displays Mode: Dim everything on secondary displays, or highlight one window on each.
• Update Dimming: Forces a refresh. Only needed when a third-party app reorders windows without triggering an update.

How to Use Automations in macOS Tahoe

In macOS Tahoe, shortcuts can run automatically in response to external events.

1. Open the Shortcuts app and click Automations in the sidebar
2. Click + (or choose File > New Automation)
3. Choose a trigger, configure its options, select Run Immediately, then click Next
4. Pick an existing shortcut, or click New Shortcut to build one with HazeOver actions

HazeOver actions pair naturally with Automations, for example:

• App: Enable dimming when your writing or coding app opens, disable when it closes
• Time of Day: Ramp up intensity at sunset, reset it at sunrise
• Wi-Fi: Turn dimming on when joining your office network, off at home
• Bluetooth: Turn dimming on when headphones are connected, a natural signal to get focused
• Battery Level and Charger: Reduce animation duration when battery falls low, restore it when plugged in
• Stage Manager: Turn on HazeOver when you turn off Stage Manager
• Do Not Disturb or Reduce Interruptions: Activate a dimming preset when either Focus mode turns on or off

For a dedicated Focus integration with automatic revert, see Focus Filters.

How to Use Focus Filters

Focus Filters apply custom HazeOver settings when a Focus mode is turned on, and revert them automatically when it’s turned off (unless you changed them manually in the meantime). A Focus mode can be switched automatically during set hours, when a certain app is open, or when you’re at a certain location. For example, enable dimming while at work and have it revert when you’re done.

1. Open System Settings and select Focus
2. Select an existing Focus (like Do Not Disturb), or click + to add a new one
3. Click “Add Filter…” in the Focus Filters section
4. Select HazeOver in the app list
5. Choose a Dimming option for this Focus:
   • Set Intensity to set a specific level with a slider
   • Turn On or Turn Off dimming
   • Optionally Set Color to change to a custom hex color
6. Click Add and try switching the Focus mode to see it in action

Click Add Schedule… to configure this Focus to be active during a set time, at a location, or while an app is open. Use Automations to adjust for events without a Focus mode, such as Wi-Fi changes, battery level, or sunset.

How to Use With Third-Party Tools

HazeOver works with Raycast via the HazeOver Controls extension. Install it from the Raycast Store to get instant access to these commands:

• Toggle Dimming: Turn HazeOver on or off
• Change Dimming Intensity: Pick an opacity level on the fly
• Toggle Multi Window Focus: Switch between highlighting only the top window or all windows of the active app
• Toggle Multi Screen Focus: Switch between per-display focus and dimming everything on secondary screens

Other tools like Alfred, BetterTouchTool, and Keyboard Maestro can control HazeOver through AppleScript and wire up its properties as macro actions.

ActionShortcuts is built for running AppleScript files from the menu bar or with keyboard shortcuts, and includes sample scripts to get you started.

How to Use AppleScript

1. Open Script Editor (in Applications > Utilities)
2. Draw the rest of the owl
3. Write a script based on the examples below
4. Select Script > Run menu

To explore available HazeOver properties and commands, add HazeOver to the Script Editor library:

1. Locate HazeOver in your Applications folder
2. Drag and drop HazeOver app onto the Script Editor Dock icon

You’ll find available scripting properties in HazeOver Suite > application section. These can later be found by selecting Window > Library menu, then HazeOver app in the list.

Supported Properties and Commands

• enabled (boolean): HazeOver on (true) or off (false).

tell application "HazeOver" to set enabled to not enabled

• intensity (number): Dimming level from 0 (transparent) to 100 (opaque).

tell application "HazeOver" to set intensity to 75

• color (text): 6-character hex value, e.g. 000000 for black or FF0000 for red.

tell application "HazeOver" to set color to "5EA1Ed"

• duration (number): Animation duration between 0 (instant) and 5 seconds.

tell application "HazeOver" to set duration to 0.5

• multiFocus (boolean): Highlight one (false) or all (true) front windows of the active app.

tell application "HazeOver" to set multiFocus to true

• multiScreen (boolean): Dim everything on secondary displays (false), or highlight one window on each (true).

tell application "HazeOver" to set multiScreen to false

• updateDimming: Use this command when some other action or app reorders windows but dimming doesn't update. This should only be necessary in rare cases with third-party apps.

tell application "HazeOver" to updateDimming

Contact me if you need help coming up with or setting up HazeOver automation.