CupertinoClicks FAQ: permissions, privacy, and sounds
Answers about CupertinoClicks: Input Monitoring, extra-low latency, extra-low CPU, Spatial Audio on speakers and headphones, and how the app is built to behave.
What are mechanical keyboard sounds for Mac?
Mechanical keyboard sounds for Mac are short audio cues that play when you press keys, giving laptop or membrane keyboards the tactile feel of a physical switch board. CupertinoClicks is a menu bar app for macOS 13+ that plays realistic switch recordings system-wide - in Safari, Slack, Xcode, and any app where you type.
Does CupertinoClicks work on a MacBook or Magic Keyboard?
Yes. The Mac app listens for key events, not a specific hardware model, so it works with the built-in MacBook keyboard, Apple Magic Keyboard, and most external keyboards. You get mechanical switch sound without buying a loud physical board. Hardware-specific notes are in make a Magic Keyboard sound mechanical.
Does CupertinoClicks include mouse sounds?
Yes. Alongside 21 keyboard switch presets, CupertinoClicks includes four mouse click presets for left and right buttons, with more on the way. Mouse sounds use the same high-quality recordings as the keyboard presets and can be toggled independently from the menu bar.
What is the Tone Pad?
The Tone Pad is a two-axis control that lets you balance thock and clack before choosing a switch preset. Drag until the sound feels right, then pick from presets like Cherry MX, Holy Panda, or Topre to match your preferred mechanical keyboard character.
Is CupertinoClicks a Klack alternative?
Yes. CupertinoClicks is a macOS menu bar app that adds mechanical keyboard sounds with named switches people already know (Cherry MX, Holy Panda, Topre, and more), 21 presets in all, 4 mouse click presets (more on the way), a built-in typing trainer, and an on-screen keyboard visualizer. Klack currently ships 6 keyboard presets and 1 mouse sound. Unlike Haptyk, CupertinoClicks is not limited to Apple Silicon built-in keyboards. See the Klack alternative, the Haptyk alternative, the Keeby alternative, or the full list of Mac keyboard sound apps.
Is there a free Klack alternative for Mac?
There is no free Klack clone with the same menu-bar job. Open-source Thock is a free FOSS download. KeyBell is free to start, with an in-app purchase. CupertinoClicks is $4.99 one-time. It competes on per-key authentic samples, press and release, Spatial Audio, extra-low CPU, latency control, and a trainer – not on price. Hear the switches first in the free online typing trainer. See the Klack alternative page.
Which mechanical switch sounds does CupertinoClicks include?
Named recordings include Cherry MX Black, Blue, and Brown, Drop Holy Panda, Topre Classic, Kailh Box Navy, Durock Alpaca, IBM Buckling Spring, and more. See the full mechanical keyboard switch library.
How do I add keyboard sounds on a Mac?
Download CupertinoClicks, grant Input Monitoring, and pick a switch preset from the menu bar. Step-by-step instructions are in how to add keyboard sounds on a Mac.
Is there a free online typing trainer?
Yes. CupertinoClicks includes a free online typing trainer. Practice in your browser with timed or word-count sessions, live WPM and accuracy, and optional mechanical keyboard sounds - no account or install required. The Mac app also has a built-in typing trainer for the same kind of practice after you install.
Does CupertinoClicks have an on-screen keyboard visualizer?
Yes. An optional click-through overlay highlights keys while you type in any Mac app. You can turn it on from the menu bar. None of the other Mac keyboard sound apps in our comparison ship this overlay. See the Mac keyboard sound app roundup.
Does CupertinoClicks have a notch visualizer?
Yes. The optional notch overlay shows each key in the MacBook notch as you type. Keeby is the other keyboard sound app with a notch visualizer. Klack, Typemac, KeyBell, Thock, and Haptyk do not. Details are on the Keeby alternative page.
How do WPM and accuracy work in the typing trainer?
WPM shows how fast you type in a session. Accuracy shows how often you hit the right keys. Use both for a quick typing test or longer typing practice online.
Does the online typing trainer play mechanical keyboard sounds?
Yes. Choose switch presets, mute audio, or adjust the Tone Pad from the trainer controls while you practice. It is a browser preview of the same sounds used in the Mac menu bar app.
What is the difference between the browser trainer and the Mac app?
The browser trainer is for focused practice: free typing tests with WPM, accuracy, and optional sounds on one page. The Mac app adds mechanical keyboard and mouse sounds system-wide, a built-in typing trainer, an on-screen keyboard overlay, and a notch visualizer. Try the online typing trainer, then purchase the Mac app when you want that feedback everywhere.
Why does macOS ask for Input Monitoring?
macOS asks for Input Monitoring so CupertinoClicks can hear key codes while another app stays focused – Safari, Slack, Xcode. That is listen-only Input Monitoring, not Accessibility and not Full Keyboard Access. The tap is used to pick which local sample to play, not to build a transcript. Revoke it anytime in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Input Monitoring.
Can CupertinoClicks see what I type?
No. The tap is listen-only: key codes pick a sample. CupertinoClicks does not use Accessibility to grab event contents, and it does not log or send what you type. The Mac App Store build has no network client for typing. Details are on the privacy page.
Does Spatial Audio work on built-in speakers or only headphones?
Both. Left keys play left and right keys play right on laptop speakers and headphones. Headphones are the wider stage; built-in speakers are milder. Bluetooth in mono can collapse the pan. Spatial Audio is opt-in in Settings → Sound. It is stereo pan by key zone, not Apple HRTF Spatial Audio.
Will the sound lag behind the key?
CupertinoClicks has an extra-low latency path so the sample lands with the key. Settings → Sound exposes Ultra Low through Very High if a device glitches. Bluetooth headphones – AirPods and other wireless sets – can add device delay the app cannot remove.
Can I use my own sound files or tune every key?
Not in this product. CupertinoClicks ships with fixed bundled presets only - by design, to keep setup simple.
Will this drain my battery or slow typing?
The live audio engine stops after about a minute of silence (Reduce CPU when idle, on by default) and starts again on the next key. Sleep also stops the graph. Listening for a tap is cheap; a silent engine sitting open is what used to show 10–25% CPU in Activity Monitor. While you type, CPU is not zero. If anything feels off, turn off listening from the menu bar.
Why not just buy a real mechanical keyboard?
If you already have a mechanical board at the desk, the software is for the MacBook on a plane, in a coffee shop, or anywhere that board is not. Headphones keep it private. Hardware vs software is covered in keyboard sounds for Mac.
Where did the app go after I launched it?
CupertinoClicks lives in the menu bar, not the Dock. Look for the extra on the right side of the bar. A crowded bar, or the MacBook notch, can hide it – check Control Center → Menu Bar extras if the icon is missing. There is no Dock icon in this product.
How do I quit CupertinoClicks?
Open the menu bar extra and choose Quit CupertinoClicks. Closing the settings window does not quit the app.
Can I try CupertinoClicks before I buy?
Yes. The free online typing trainer plays switch presets in the browser with live WPM. No account required. That is a preview of the sounds, not a Mac-app trial – native latency, CPU, and Spatial Audio are in the installed app.
How do I uninstall or reset permissions?
Remove the app like any Mac App Store download. To reset Input Monitoring, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Input Monitoring and adjust entries for CupertinoClicks.
How does activation work for the website download?
After purchasing on cupertinoclicks.com, open the app and enter the same email you used at checkout. A 6-digit code will be sent to verify your purchase. Each license activates on up to two Macs and works offline after activation.
Do App Store downloads need activation?
No. The Mac App Store build does not require email verification. Apple handles purchase access through your App Store account.
Can I move my license to a new Mac?
Yes. Deactivate an old device from cupertinoclicks.com/account/devices or from Settings in the direct-download app, then activate on the new Mac with your purchase email.
Is the app sandboxed?
Yes. Both distribution builds use the Mac sandbox. The direct-download build adds a network entitlement only for one-time email activation.
How can I report a bug or ask a question?
Use the feedback form on the homepage or visit cupertinoclicks.com/feedback. No account is required. You can optionally include an email or social profile link if you want a reply.
For how we handle data and keyboard access, see Privacy & safety.
Looking for sound-focused guidance? Visit Keyboard sounds for Mac, compare keyboard sound apps for Mac, or read the Klack alternative, Haptyk alternative, or Keeby alternative pages.
Want to practice first? Start the free online typing trainer.