- Currently you can navigate to https://youtubefloater.com where the Mac 3rd Party App is being distributed!
- Open the
.dmgand drag the app to your Applications folder. - Launch the app from Applications and enjoy!
Note YouTube has built-in restrictions so it may stop working with an error after a few plays, this is detailed below (CORS restrictions), issues and PRs welcome.
- Paste a YouTube URL and hit enter or Load Video and it should play instantly
- Opacity and Volume sliders to control the window independently from other Mac apps that are running
- It floats easily above all your other applications at a low opacity and blends into what you are doing so you can listen, and if you like also view a podcast to avoid clicking outside of any window you're working on, does not require signing in and will also allow you to click on the YouTube button and control the player when hovered over like normal...
- Runs as a Mac application so you don't have to deal with chrome extensions, but there's no top bar and show/hide controls are built in for closing, minimizing, and opening up in your default browser if you'd like
- Snap buttons to snap to different corners of your screen easily without thinking easily while navigating around to move it out of what you're focusing on
- Move button for more accurate control to click and drag the window easily without worrying about clicking accurately right on the top bar
- Enhanced detection of your cursor so you only have to be near the edge of the player to resize it to your liking, you don't have to be right on the edge of the player
Progress:
🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪ 95%
Standalone Floating YouTube Player for macOS
A simple app for MacBook users (especially those with just one screen) that stays always on top — allowing you to listen to and view YouTube videos while working, and easily adjust the volume, position, and opacity.
You don't need a Chrome extension, and it helps you stay focused by keeping your lo-fi music or podcast nearby — without taking up browser space or screen real estate if you're working on just your macbook with no external monitors and risking distractions.
Problem:
Browsers like Chrome/Safari don’t provide persistent or easily customizable floating video windows. Extensions help, but can't escape the browser sandbox or manage native window behaviors.
✅ Solution:
A fully standalone Electron app that embeds YouTube videos in a pop-out window. No browser or extensions needed.
Problem:
macOS doesn’t allow native window opacity control. Tools like SIMBL/Afloat require disabling SIP, which is a security risk — and they break on modern macOS versions.
✅ Solution:
Uses BrowserWindow.setOpacity() in Electron — no system hacks, no SIP modification. Just smooth, adjustable transparency that works on Apple Silicon and latest macOS versions.
Problem:
Built-in Picture-in-Picture features lack:
- Resizing flexibility
- Easy repositioning
- Transparency control
- Combined control over pop-out, volume, opacity, and position
✅ Solution:
This Electron app is always-on-top, resizable, draggable, and has snapping corners. It’s currently in testing to keep all controls seamless — and works as a distraction-free, standalone utility.
Problem:
Native macOS development typically requires:
- Xcode
- A $99/year Apple Developer Account
- App Store entitlements
- Apple billing setup for users to download apps
✅ Solution:
Built entirely with Electron (Node.js + JS) — no Apple tools or App Store required. You can run the app directly, even during a work session, without opening Chrome, managing billing, or signing in.
Problem:
Older tools like Afloat and SIMBL don’t work on modern systems (Sonoma, Sequoia, or Apple Silicon). Updates break support, and they were designed for Sonoma and backward compatibility not for macOS 15 (Sequoia) or upcoming macOS 26 (Tahoe).
✅ Solution:
Electron is actively maintained, cross-platform, and Apple Silicon compatible out of the box. No system-level hacks. Just run and go.
| Feature | ✅ YouTube-Floater | ❌ SIMBL / Afloat / Extensions |
|---|---|---|
| Modern macOS Compatibility | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (SIP conflict) |
| Apple Silicon Native Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Adjustable Window Opacity | ✅ Yes | |
| Standalone YouTube Pop-Out Player | ✅ Yes | ❌ Requires combo |
| No Xcode / Apple Developer Program Needed | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Easy Distribution (DMG / ZIP) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| No System Hacks or SIP Changes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
- Add support for playlists
- Enable persistent state (e.g., window position, volume)
- Add dark/light theme toggle
- Add hotkey or button to toggle visibility (clickable UI)
- Caption/summary feature
- Add AI-powered synopsis or assistant (e.g., integrate with https://Study.lol / YouLearn)
- Add auto-update or "check for updates" feature
- Optional: App notarization & Apple Developer release
- 🖥️ Always-on-top player with transparent background
- 🔗 Embed YouTube videos via URL input
- 🔊 Volume control + drag-to-position overlay
- 🌫️ Opacity slider for background blending
- 🧲 Snap to corners (top-left, top-right, etc.)
- ⬜ Custom window resizing with invisible zones
- 🎛️ Toggleable control panel to reduce distraction
- 🧭 Window drag and repositioning
- 🖱️ Right-click or drag-handle to move window
- 🌐 Open current video in browser
- ❌ Close / Minimize buttons
- ⌨️ (Deprecated) Keyboard arrow key movement — replaced by drag+snap
- Electron.js
- Node.js
- HTML5
- CSS3
- Vanilla JavaScript
- YouTube Embed Player
- Electron IPC (ipcMain, ipcRenderer)
- Electron BrowserWindow API
- Electron Packager
For local installation for the project and not just the .dmg you may have to install extra electron dependencies for the node modules files for testing after cloning the repo.
git clone https://github.com/jimbrend/youtube-floater.git
cd youtube-floater
npm install
npm start