iStat Menus 7.50 — macOS

iStat Menus 7.50 runs on any Mac with macOS 11 or later, whether it uses Apple Silicon or an Intel processor. That covers most machines from the last several years, including the iMac 24 M3 I use for testing.

CPU load, memory usage, and network activity in the menu bar

CPU load — Shows real-time CPU load and overall activity in the menu bar.

Memory usage — Displays memory information as pie or line charts, and lists applications using memory most actively.

Network activity — Shows current network connections and bandwidth charts for networks and applications.

Temperature and fan speed — The optional iStat Menus Helper component enables these readings.

Weather and time — Shows date, time, a detailed weather forecast, Moon phases, wind speed, dew point, world time, sunrise, and sunset.

Dark Mode — The menu bar items adapt to Dark Mode, so they stay readable in either appearance.

The Helper component you must install on first launch

I’ve seen a few patterns in the first few hours of using iStat Menus. The most common is installing the app and skipping the Helper. The Helper is that optional component you’re asked about during the first launch. It’s what lets the app read temperatures, fan speeds, current, and voltage. You can install the Helper later from the app’s preferences, but it’s easier to say yes when it asks.

Another mistake is adding every sensor to the menu bar at once. What you get is a menu bar that spans half the screen. Start with one or two items. Add more as you decide what you actually check during the day.

The store version is limited — it doesn’t include weather information, fan speed controls, or CPU frequency data. If you want those features, you need the full version. The details on this page are for the full version, which includes everything.

Glancing at CPU and memory graphs on a Tuesday morning

It’s a Tuesday morning. I’ve just sat down at my desk and opened the lid on the iMac 24. The menu bar already has a small CPU graph and a memory pie chart. I’m not staring at them — they’re there so I can glance up when something feels off.

Around ten o’clock, I’m running a big spreadsheet merge in Numbers and I notice the machine feels a little warm. I click the CPU item in the menu bar. A dropdown opens showing the real-time load per core and the overall activity graph. I click the temperature sensor readout — it’s the Helper doing its job — and I see the internal temperature is higher than usual but well within normal range. I don’t do anything. I just note it and keep working.

At lunch, I switch to the disk view. I’ve got a batch of files transferring off a USB drive. The read and write indicators are active, and I can click through to see which app is doing what. The S.M.A.R.T. status for the internal drive shows green across the board, so I close the window.

Later in the afternoon, I need to check whether any background process is eating network bandwidth. I click the network item. It shows current connections and a bandwidth chart for the last hour. Turns out it’s just a large system update downloading. I let it finish.

Before I shut down, I click the Astronomy item — that’s new in 7.50. It shows the Moon phase, and the forecast for seeing and cloud cover tonight. Good enough for a clear evening. I close the lid.

Decide what to monitor: disk activity or video editing bandwidth

After you install, take a few minutes to decide what you actually need to monitor. If you run a home server or a Mac that’s on 24/7, you’ll probably want disk activity and network bandwidth. If you edit video or compile code, CPU and memory are more useful. You can customize each item’s appearance — graphs, numerical readouts, or simple text — from the item’s own menu.

This is not something you want to figure out while you’re in the middle of something; it’s better to get it set once and forget it.

Check the S.M.A.R.T. status for your drives within the first day. You can find this in the disk section. It’s an easy way to spot a failing drive before it fails. If you’re using an older Mac, this is especially worth a look.

Finally, turn on Dark Mode from the app’s preferences if you use the dark system appearance. The menu bar items adapt automatically, so they stay readable without looking out of place. If you switch between light and dark appearances, the app follows along without any extra setup.

• Adds a new Astronomy item.
• Adds forecasts for seeing, transparency, cloud cover, and other observing conditions.

• macOS 11 or later
• Apple Silicon or Intel