Is NightOwl Safe? What Happened and What to Use Instead

What happened with NightOwl?

NightOwl launched in mid-2018 as a well-regarded free utility that gave Mac users granular control over macOS Dark Mode and Light Mode switching. The original developer built a simple, focused tool that earned strong reviews and a loyal user base. For several years, it was one of the most recommended dark mode apps for Mac.

That changed in November 2022, when the app was acquired by a company registered as TPE.FYI LLC. The new owners had no interest in maintaining a dark mode utility. Instead, they saw NightOwl's installed base as infrastructure to monetise.

In June 2023, a software update (version 0.4.5.4) silently embedded a residential proxy SDK into NightOwl. Web developer Taylor Robinson was the first to publicly document the issue after users reported strange network behaviour following the update. Robinson found that NightOwl installed a local HTTP proxy process disguised under the name "AutoUpdate" that ran at boot, operated with elevated privileges, and could not be disabled - even when the app was quit.

The proxy turned every Mac running NightOwl into a residential proxy node. Third-party companies - including those in market research, SEO, brand protection, and content delivery - could route their web traffic through NightOwl users' IP addresses. Users had no way to opt out. The only notification was buried in updated Terms of Service that most users never saw.

When confronted, NightOwl's new owners admitted they had "partnered with a respected residential proxy service to monetize NightOwl" and had "added their SDK to the backend of the app." They claimed to solely collect users' IP addresses, but the proxy functionality meant any traffic routed through a user's connection could be attributed to that user's IP - creating potential legal and security exposure.

In August 2023, Apple revoked NightOwl's code-signing certificate, effectively killing the app. The download link was removed from the official website. With 82% of smartphone users now using dark mode globally (Gitnux, 2024), the scandal served as a stark reminder that even trusted free utilities can become vehicles for exploitation after an acquisition.

Is NightOwl safe to use in 2026?

No. NightOwl is not safe and has not been safe since June 2023. Apple revoked the app's code-signing certificate, which means macOS Gatekeeper will block it from launching. Even if you found a way to bypass Gatekeeper, the app still contains the proxy SDK that turns your Mac into a residential proxy node.

There are three reasons NightOwl remains unsafe:

• Revoked certificate - Apple will not allow the app to run. Any attempt to force-launch it bypasses macOS security protections
• Persistent proxy agent - NightOwl installs a launch agent (NightOwlUpdater.plist) that can survive app deletion and continue running background processes
• No development - the app has received no updates since the scandal. There is no path to remediation

The average person spends 7 hours and 2 minutes per day looking at screens (DemandSage, 2026). Running compromised software for that amount of daily screen time is an unnecessary risk, especially when safe alternatives exist.

How to check if NightOwl is still on your Mac

NightOwl's proxy component was designed to persist even after the main app is removed. Simply dragging NightOwl to the Trash does not remove the background agent. Here is how to check and fully remove it:

Check for the app

Open Finder, go to Applications, and search for "NightOwl". If you see it, it needs to be removed.

Check for the launch agent

Open Terminal and run:

If you see NightOwlUpdater.plist in the results, the background agent is still installed and may be running.

Full removal steps

Run these commands in Terminal to completely remove NightOwl and all its components:

1. Kill any running NightOwl processes:
   sudo killall NightOwl sudo killall AutoUpdate
2. Unload and remove the launch agent:
   launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/NightOwlUpdater.plist rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/NightOwlUpdater.plist
3. Delete the application:
   sudo rm -rf /Applications/NightOwl.app/
4. Clean up remaining support files:
   rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/NightOwl rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/NightOwl rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.fuekiin.nightowls.plist

After completing these steps, restart your Mac to ensure no NightOwl processes are still in memory.

What are the safest NightOwl alternatives?

With 64.6% of users wanting automatic dark mode switching based on time of day (forms.app), there is clearly demand for what NightOwl used to do. Here are the safe alternatives in 2026:

The macOS built-in Auto Appearance toggle (System Settings > Appearance > Auto) handles basic sunrise-to-sunset scheduling. It works, but it is limited to solar timing only - no custom schedules, no weather awareness, no wallpaper management, and no keyboard shortcut.

Solace is a purpose-built macOS appearance manager that replaces NightOwl's dark mode scheduling while adding features NightOwl never had: evening warmth (colour temperature reduction), wallpaper syncing between light and dark mode, weather-aware switching, and multi-display support. For a full comparison of all the options, see Best Dark Mode Apps for Mac in 2026.

Why does Solace collect zero data?

The NightOwl scandal happened because of a fundamental conflict of interest: the app was free, so the new owners needed another way to make money. They chose to monetise users themselves - turning their internet connections into products sold to third parties.

Solace avoids this entirely with a $4.99 one-time purchase. The business model is straightforward: you pay for the software, and the transaction is complete. There is no incentive to collect data, inject ads, bundle proxy services, or sell user information because the product is already paid for.

Specifically, Solace has:

• No analytics - no tracking of how you use the app
• No telemetry - no data sent to any server
• No account system - no email, no login, no profile
• No server communication - all features work entirely on-device
• On-device location processing - solar calculations and weather data are processed locally and never leave your Mac

After the NightOwl scandal, trust in free Mac utilities has understandably declined. When an app costs nothing, you should ask how the developer plans to sustain it. With Solace, the answer is clear: you paid $4.99, and that is the entire business model.

How to switch from NightOwl to Solace

Migrating from NightOwl to Solace takes about five minutes:

1. Remove NightOwl completely - follow the removal steps above to delete the app, the launch agent, and all support files. Restart your Mac afterwards.
2. Download and install Solace - purchase Solace for $4.99 from the Solace website. It installs in your menu bar like NightOwl did.
3. Configure your dark mode schedule - choose from solar-based switching (like NightOwl offered), custom times, or weather-aware mode. Solace gives you more scheduling options than NightOwl ever did.
4. Set up additional features - configure evening warmth, choose separate wallpapers for light and dark mode, and assign a global keyboard shortcut for instant toggling.
5. Verify the switch - check Activity Monitor to confirm no NightOwl processes are still running. Solace should be the only appearance manager active.

Frequently asked questions