Dusk vs HazeOver vs Focusdim on Mac

With several windows open, the one you are typing in can get lost. Decide first whether you want the other windows out of the way or only stepping back.

Quits publishes Dusk. This review compares documented capabilities, checked 19 October 2026, not hands-on benchmarks, and makes no claim about eyesight or how much work you get done.

Which approach fits?

Choice	Consider it when	Check before choosing
Stage Manager	You want 1 window or group in the center and the rest set aside	It rearranges windows instead of dimming them
Full screen and Split View	1 or 2 apps can fill the display	Each opens in its own space, apart from your other windows
Dusk	You want windows to stay where they are, with the rest dimmed	macOS 14 or later; Accessibility is optional
HazeOver	You want dimming you can drive from Shortcuts, Focus filters or AppleScript	Its current trial and purchase options
Focusdim	You want a border around the active window, or a free tier	Several settings require its Pro in-app purchase

Start with what macOS includes

Apple’s Stage Manager guide explains how to turn it on in System Settings > Desktop & Dock, or from Control Center in the menu bar. Your current window sits in the center and recent apps move to a list on the left.

If 1 app is enough, full screen hides the menu bar and Dock until you move the pointer to them. For 2 apps side by side, Split View starts from the green button with Full Screen > Left of Screen or Right of Screen, and opens in a new space. All 3 hide or move other windows rather than dimming them; if that suits you, you need no extra app.

Dusk reviewed: dimming without rearranging

Dusk dims everything behind the window you are working in, leaving that window, the menu bar and the Dock clear. Switch windows and the light follows, across apps, displays, Spaces and full-screen windows. Nothing is moved or hidden: the other windows stay visible, only darker.

You set the darkness from 10% to 90% in the menu bar, exclude apps so nothing is dimmed while they are in front, and turn Dusk on or off with Control-Option-Command-P, a shortcut you can change or remove. Dusk works from window positions and order without reading titles or contents, so it asks for no screen recording. Accessibility is optional: it lets Dusk follow a click between windows of the same app immediately. Without it, Dusk still follows apps and checks for window changes every 0.3 seconds.

Know the limits. Dusk requires macOS 14 or later, so a Mac on an earlier release needs another option. Its catalog lists no automation, per-display settings or highlight border.

HazeOver: dimming with automation

HazeOver’s official site describes adjustable dimming intensity and animation speed, separate settings for Light and Dark appearance, and a shortcut toggle. Its help page covers multiple displays (dim the screens you are not typing on, or turn dimming off on 1 display) and an optional permission to control your Mac that the developer says improves responsiveness.

The main reason to choose it is automation: the site lists Shortcuts, Focus filters and AppleScript, with Spotlight control added in version 1.9.9 on 12 October 2026. HazeOver requires macOS 13 or later, 1 release earlier than Dusk. It offers a free trial from its site and a paid version on the Mac App Store.

Focusdim: a border or a dimmed background

Focusdim’s App Store listing describes a dim mode (solid color or blur) and a border mode that outlines the active window. It requires macOS 12.4 or later, and its version history continues into 2026. It is free with an in-app purchase: both modes are free, while Pro, a one-time purchase, adds intensity controls, multi-monitor modes and app exclusions. The listing is inconsistent about whether blur is free, so check in the app. Consider it for an outline instead of dimming, or a Mac older than macOS 13.

Choose around how you work

If hiding the other windows is fine, try Stage Manager or full screen first. If you want every window in place and only the front one bright, try Dusk’s Demo. Evaluate HazeOver for automation and per-display rules, Focusdim for a border or an older macOS.

Dusk uses a one-time purchase; its current price and the House Rules are shown below. HazeOver and Focusdim belong to their respective developers; Quits is not affiliated with them.