Your desktop bends as you close the lid.

The fluid fold from iPhone Duo, for the MacBook you already have. No purchase needed — free forever.

Download Free $0

Free & open source. No account, no license key.

Scroll down. The screen bends, blurs, and shades — just like closing the lid.

Paid apps

Paid license
Often need a license key
May limit the number of Macs

BendyFree

Completely free
No account needed
Unlimited Macs
Open source

What is the lid fold effect?

Recent MacBooks have a hinge sensor that reports exactly how far the lid is open. BendyFree reads that lid angle and, as you close the lid, gradually blurs and darkens your desktop, so the screen appears to fold away instead of just going dark.

It's a small menu-bar app for Apple Silicon MacBooks running macOS 14 or later. It starts fading in around 110° and reaches full strength near 30°. There's no account, no license key and no Screen Recording permission, and everything runs on your Mac.

If you've seen the iPhone Duo-style fold effect on a Mac and wondered whether there's a free version, this is it. Download the DMG below, drag BendyFree to Applications, and close your lid.

How it works

Lid sensor: Reads the hinge angle from your Mac's built-in sensor. No polling, no hacks.
Live desktop: Fades a live blur and soft shadow over your whole screen as the lid closes, starting around 110°.
Multiple styles: Pick Silk, Shade or Frost from the menu to change how deep the shadow falls.
Menu bar: Lives quietly in the menu bar. Pause, pick a style, launch at login, or quit in a single click.

Requirements

macOS: 14 Sonoma or later.
Hardware: Apple Silicon MacBook with lid angle sensor (2020+).
Permissions: None. It never records or captures your screen.

Private by design

On device: Everything runs on your Mac. Nothing is recorded, saved, or uploaded.
No account: Download the DMG, drag to Applications. No sign-up, no tracking.
Open source: Code is public on GitHub. Inspect, fork, and contribute.

FAQ

Is BendyFree really free?

Yes. There's no purchase, account or license key.

Does it work on Intel Macs?

No. It reads the lid angle sensor found in recent Apple Silicon MacBooks, and macOS 14 or later is required.

Why does macOS say it can't verify the app?

BendyFree isn't notarized yet. Right-click the app and choose Open the first time you launch it.

Does it need Screen Recording permission?

No. The blur is drawn by macOS itself, so your screen is never captured.

The effect doesn't appear when I close the lid.

Check the menu bar. If it shows a live angle, the sensor works. If it shows a dash, your Mac's sensor isn't readable. You can also drag the Test Fold slider in the menu to preview the effect.