Questions and fixes

Installing and opening

My Mac says Nightcap can't be opened

macOS shows this for apps that aren't registered with Apple's paid developer program. Close the warning, then open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this the first time.

Windows says "Windows protected your PC"

Click More info, then Run anyway. Windows shows this warning for apps that haven't paid for a signing certificate.

Does Nightcap open when I turn on my computer?

No. Open it when you want to use it. If you'd like it to start on its own, add it to Login Items on a Mac (System Settings → General), or put a shortcut to Nightcap.exe in your Startup folder on Windows.

How do I get the newest version?

Download it from nightcapapp.fyi and install it the same way as before, replacing the old copy. Your settings carry over.

How do I uninstall it?

Quit Nightcap from its menu, then delete it. On a Mac, drag Nightcap from Applications to the Trash. On Windows and Linux, delete the folder you extracted.

Using Nightcap

I closed the window. Where did Nightcap go?

It's still running, along with any timer. Look for the moon icon in the menu bar on a Mac or in the system tray on Windows and Linux, then choose Open Nightcap. On Windows, the icon may be hidden behind the small arrow next to the clock.

On Linux desktops without a system tray, closing the window quits Nightcap instead.

Where is the Hibernate option?

Hibernate only shows up when your computer supports it and lets Nightcap use it. It never appears on a Mac, because macOS doesn't offer hibernate to apps. On Windows, hibernation has to be turned on in Windows first. If you change that setting, quit and reopen Nightcap so it notices.

My Mac asked to let Nightcap control "System Events"

This happens the first time you use Shut Down. Nightcap needs it to turn the Mac off, so allow it. If you clicked Don't Allow by mistake, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation, find Nightcap and switch on System Events.

There's a dark layer over my screen

That's how Nightcap dims screens that don't support brightness control, and you can still click everything underneath it. It goes away when you cancel the timer or wake your computer. If you've turned off Restore brightness and volume after canceling or waking, it stays until you quit Nightcap.

The volume didn't change

If Nightcap can't control the sound on your computer, the main window says "Volume control isn't available on this device." Check that the switch next to Lower volume is on, and that sound is playing through your computer's normal output.

My computer didn't go to sleep

Your computer has the final say, and it can refuse, for example if a permission changed since Nightcap opened. When that happens, Nightcap stops the timer and shows what went wrong at the bottom of the main window. Try quitting and reopening Nightcap. On Linux, sleep also follows your system's own permission rules.

I closed my laptop before the timer ended

If your computer goes to sleep on its own while a timer is running, Nightcap cancels the timer when it wakes up and, with the standard settings, puts the screen and sound back. Start a new timer when you're ready.

Will Nightcap close my apps or lose my work?

Not with Sleep or Hibernate. Everything stays open and comes back when you wake the computer. Shut Down turns the computer off, so save your work before you start a timer with it.

Does Nightcap need the internet or collect any data?

No. It works offline, has no account, and keeps your settings on your computer.

Still stuck?

Nightcap is open source. You can report a problem or ask a question on GitHub. It helps to say which computer you're using and what you expected to happen.