Wox
Wox is a keyboard launcher for macOS that helps you open apps, find files, run commands, and perform quick actions from one search bar.
What is Wox?
Wox is a native desktop launcher for macOS that helps users start apps, search files, run commands, and complete common tasks without leaving the keyboard. It is designed for people who want a faster way to navigate their Mac and trigger actions from a single input window. Wox includes built-in tools for app launching, file search, clipboard history, calculations, conversions, web search, and notes, and it can be extended with plugins for additional workflows. The app is useful for power users, developers, and anyone who prefers keyboard-driven navigation over browsing through folders and menus. Wox is distributed as an open-source application and is also available through Homebrew for Mac users who prefer package-based installation. On macOS, users may encounter standard permission prompts for features that interact with system content or global shortcuts.
Key features
- Launch apps and switch to windows from a keyboard-driven search bar
- Find local files and folders quickly
- Run commands and trigger actions without opening Terminal first
- Recall clipboard history including copied text and images
- Calculate expressions and convert units, currencies, dates, and time zones
- Search the web and open typed URLs directly
- Create and use floating notes inside the launcher
- Extend the launcher with plugins for custom workflows
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
Wox is a legitimate launcher utility for macOS. It may ask for normal permissions related to global shortcuts or system interaction so it can open quickly and work across apps. Features such as file search, clipboard history, or command launching can expose sensitive information if other people use your Mac account, so review the app's enabled features and permissions to match how you use your computer. If you remove it, its launcher features, plugins, and saved settings will stop working.
Recommendation: Keep Wox if you actively use keyboard-driven launching, search, or workflow shortcuts on your Mac. If you installed it to try it out and no longer use it, you can remove it without affecting macOS itself, though any Wox-specific settings and plugins may also be removed.
Common paths
/Applications/Wox.app~/Applications/Wox.app
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