---
title: "Helios (Beta)"
description: "A native menu bar utility for Apple Silicon Macs."
canonical: "https://www.snejda.cz/en/helios"
language: "en"
---

# Helios (Beta)

Your Mac at a glance. A native menu bar utility for Apple Silicon Macs.

Beta: an external test build; fan control is experimental and off by default.

**Download:** [Helios 0.2.1 Beta 1](https://github.com/Snejdik/helios/releases/tag/v0.2.1-beta.1) (Version 0.2.1 · released 7 Oct 2026). DMG → drag to Applications → allow in Privacy & Security.

- **Apple Silicon:** macOS 13 or later
- **Stays on your Mac:** measurement history is never sent
- **Diagnostics off:** you turn them on yourself
- **Source available:** PolyForm Noncommercial licence

## The real app.

- Overview from the menu bar: The Helios popover in the macOS menu bar: Your Mac is doing well, with performance, thermals, battery and storage status, a live CPU chart, the busiest apps, cooling, network and Keep Awake.
- Main window: overview: The Helios main window overview with one answer for your Mac, a live CPU chart, Ask Helios, Keep Awake, Tell me when it's done and the Longevity summary.
- Ask Helios: Ask Helios answering why the Mac is slow: macOS closed apps for memory, and Low Power Mode is on, each with what it means and a button to act.
- Longevity: The Longevity page: word grades for battery, power adapter, SSD, cooling and memory, and the battery health trend.
- Longevity: the details: Longevity details: power adapter and cable, SSD endurance, memory pressure and swap, and two optional reminders.
- Checkup: The Checkup page: what Helios found, what it can read, helper and fan control status, all readings and support.
- Network: The Network page: why is the internet slow, optional data usage per app, latency over time, and download and upload charts.
- Cooling from the menu bar: The Cooling popover with temperature, fan speed and the System, Boost, Manual and Auto mode switch.
- CPU from the menu bar: The CPU popover in the macOS menu bar: usage, chart, efficiency and performance cores, load and the busiest processes.
- Memory from the menu bar: The memory popover in the macOS menu bar: pressure, breakdown into app, wired and compressed memory, and the processes using the most.
- Power from the menu bar: The system power popover in the macOS menu bar: system power, battery flow, power source and adapter.
- Temperatures and fans: The Thermals page with temperature history, sensor groups and the System, Boost, Manual and Automatic cooling modes.
- Your own fan curve: Automatic cooling with an editable temperature to fan speed curve for power adapter and battery, and a Response slider.
- CPU: The CPU page with per-core usage, load, temperature and the apps keeping the Mac busy.
- GPU: The GPU page with device, renderer and tiler utilization, memory and temperature.
- Memory: The Memory page with pressure, a breakdown into apps, wired and compressed memory, and swap.
- Battery: The Battery page with health, cycles, capacity, power and health over time.
- Settings: general: General settings with goals, temperature units, launch at login and update checks.
- Settings: modules: Module settings: what Helios collects and how much it costs.
- Settings: cooling: Cooling settings with helper status, experimental fan control and the speed limit.
- Settings: menu bar: Menu bar settings: which items appear in the menu bar and how they look.
- Settings: graphs and colors: Graph settings: style, default ranges and colors.
- Settings: privacy: Privacy and diagnostics settings: everything is off by default and you see the exact data before anything is sent.
- Settings: notifications: Notification thresholds for chip temperature, battery, storage and memory.
- Settings: automation: Automation settings: rules, the command palette and the command line.
- Settings: advanced: Advanced settings: reset, the experimental mouse settings and uninstall.
- App energy: The Energy page: which apps used the most energy over the last 24 hours, with a selected-app detail and export.
- Activity: A timeline of health events: temperature alerts, power changes and daily peaks.

## The rest is on GitHub.

- [Installation guide](https://github.com/Snejdik/helios/blob/main/docs/INSTALLATION.md)
- [How Helios works](https://github.com/Snejdik/helios/blob/main/docs/HOW_IT_WORKS.md)
- [Roadmap](https://github.com/Snejdik/helios/blob/main/docs/ROADMAP.md)
- [Report a bug](https://github.com/Snejdik/helios/issues/new/choose)

## Documentation

- [Privacy](https://www.snejda.cz/en/helios/privacy)
- [Diagnostics](https://www.snejda.cz/en/helios/diagnostics)
- [Security model](https://www.snejda.cz/en/helios/security)

Helios started as a utility I wanted on my own Mac. [About me](https://www.snejda.cz/about)

---

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Other language: https://www.snejda.cz/helios  
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