> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://netfluss.ranagmbh.de/llms.txt).
> Use it to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

Install NetFluss on macOS, read real-time network rates from the menu bar, and customize adapters, appearance, units, DNS presets, and app visibility.


## Get NetFluss running

Monitor upload and download rates from your macOS 13+ menu bar in a few minutes.

<Callout kind="info">

NetFluss supports macOS 13 or later. For the best experience, drag NetFluss.app to `/Applications` and keep it running in the background.

</Callout>

### Install NetFluss

Use either Homebrew or a manual download.

<Tabs>

<Tab title="Homebrew" icon="terminal">

Run this command in Terminal:

```bash
brew install --cask rana-gmbh/netfluss/netfluss
```

After installation, launch NetFluss from Spotlight or the Applications folder.

</Tab>

<Tab title="Manual download" icon="download">

<ul>
  <li>Download the latest release from <a href="https://github.com/rana-gmbh/netfluss/releases/latest">GitHub Releases</a>.</li>
  <li>Unzip the archive and drag <code>NetFluss.app</code> to <code>/Applications</code>.</li>
  <li>Open NetFluss from the Applications folder or via Spotlight.</li>
</ul>

</Tab>

</Tabs>

## First launch and basics

<Steps>

  <Step title="Launch and find the menu bar item" icon="play-circle" title-type="p">

  - Open NetFluss; a new icon with `↑` and `↓` rates appears in the menu bar.
  - Right-click the NetFluss menu bar icon to open the context menu with **Bandwidth Statistics** and **Run Speed Test…**.
  - Confirm the numbers change when you browse the web or download a file.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the popover" icon="monitor" title-type="p">

  - Click the NetFluss menu bar item to open the popover.
  - Check the **total upload/download header** and the list of **network adapters** (Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, VPN, etc.).
  - On the Wi‑Fi adapter card, click the **info** button to open the Wi‑Fi detail popover with channel, signal quality, and copyable network identifiers.
  - In the popover, find the **DNS Switcher** section when available.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Use adapter cards and reconnect" icon="settings" title-type="p">

  - Read per-adapter `↑` and `↓` rates directly on each card.
  - If an adapter shows as disconnected, use its **Reconnect** button when available; Ethernet reconnects use Touch ID when available and fall back to an admin password prompt.

  </Step>

</Steps>

## Switch DNS providers

<Steps>

  <Step title="Choose a DNS preset from the popover" icon="code" title-type="p">

  - In the popover, use **DNS Switcher** to switch between built‑in presets such as Cloudflare, Google, Quad9, and OpenDNS.
  - Add and select custom presets if you use your own DNS servers.
  - Confirm macOS uses Touch ID when available, or an admin password prompt when Touch ID is unavailable, when you apply a different DNS preset; control this behavior in **Preferences → DNS Switcher**.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Manage presets in preferences" icon="settings" title-type="p">

  - Open NetFluss preferences from the popover (gear icon or Preferences menu).
  - In the DNS section, toggle individual presets on or off to control which ones appear in the popover.
  - Drag presets to reorder them so your most-used options appear at the top of the DNS Switcher list.

  </Step>

</Steps>

## See Top Apps and IP addresses

<Steps>

  <Step title="Enable Top Apps" icon="bar-chart" title-type="p">

  - Open NetFluss preferences from the popover (gear icon or Preferences menu).
  - Enable **Top Apps** to show the top 5 processes by current traffic in the popover.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Hide noisy apps from Top Apps" icon="minus" title-type="p">

  - In preferences, open the **Top Apps** section and go to **Apps to Hide**.
  - Review the list of processes that used bandwidth in the last 60 seconds.
  - Click an app in this list to hide it from the Top Apps view when it is generating background traffic.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch to Connection Flow View" icon="code" title-type="p">

  - In preferences, enable **Connection Flow View** to see a visual path from your Mac through adapters to external endpoints.
  - Choose whether to show or hide IP addresses in this view and, when enabled, look for VPN exit nodes marked with a country flag.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy IP addresses" icon="copy" title-type="p">

  - In the popover, find the **IP addresses** section (internal, router, external).
  - Click any IP to copy it to the clipboard for quick sharing or troubleshooting.

  </Step>

</Steps>

## Customize adapters and appearance

<Steps>

  <Step title="Hide, rename, and reorder adapters" icon="edit" title-type="p">

  - In preferences, choose which adapters to show, including VPN or virtual adapters.
  - Hide adapters you do not care about, rename them (for example, `Office Wi‑Fi`), and drag to reorder.
  - Optionally limit the **total header** to only count visible adapters.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust appearance, units, and external IP" icon="monitor" title-type="p">

  - Switch between themes such as System, Dracula, Nord, and Solarized.
  - Choose the menu bar style from **Standard**, **Unified pill**, **Dashboard**, or **Icon**.
  - Set font size and font design (monospaced, system, or rounded) for the menu bar text.
  - Use separate color controls for upload and download arrows and numbers to match your desktop or improve contrast.
  - Toggle units between **bits/s** and **bytes/s** based on your preference.
  - In **Preferences → Appearance → External IP**, choose whether to display your external IPv4 or IPv6 address.

  </Step>

  <Step title="Tune refresh and startup behavior" icon="zap" title-type="p">

  - Set the **refresh interval** to control how often NetFluss updates rates.
  - Enable **Launch at login** so NetFluss starts automatically with macOS.
  - Use **Adapter grace period** (3, 5, or 10 seconds) to keep adapter cards from flickering when they briefly go idle.
  - Use **Top Apps grace period** (3, 5, or 10 seconds) to keep apps visible for a short time after their traffic stops.
  - Verify that the menu bar item appears after your next login.

  </Step>

</Steps>

## Check for updates

<Steps>

  <Step title="Use the About window" icon="info" title-type="p">

  - Open the NetFluss **About** window from the app menu.
  - Click **Check for updates** to jump to the latest GitHub release and install a newer version if available.
  - Use the **Support** link (Buy Me a Coffee) in the About window if you want to support NetFluss development.
  - In **Preferences → Update**, enable **Check GitHub for updates automatically** to let NetFluss perform a daily background check for new releases.

  </Step>

</Steps>

## Next steps

<Columns cols={2}>

  <Card title="Explore preferences" href="/concepts" icon="settings" horizontal="false">

    Learn how each NetFluss option affects what you see in the menu bar and popover.

  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting install issues" href="/help-center/troubleshooting/install-error" icon="alert-triangle" horizontal="false">

    Fix common problems if NetFluss does not appear in the menu bar or fails to start.

  </Card>

</Columns>