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Can my Mac knock? Which MacBooks work with KnockKnock

KnockKnock does not listen with the microphone or watch the trackpad. It reads the motion sensor built into newer MacBooks, the same sensor that feels a knock on the base of the laptop. If your MacBook has it, two knocks anywhere on the base are enough. If it does not, KnockKnock cannot help, and because sales are final it is worth ten seconds to check first.

Two knocks and the video, the chat and the cart give way to your lecture notes.

Which MacBooks work

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M2 or later, plus M1 Pro models. It does not work on base M1 MacBooks or on desktop Macs.

  • Works

    MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with M2, M3, M4 or later

    Has the motion sensor KnockKnock listens to.

  • Works

    MacBook Pro with M1 Pro

    Has the motion sensor too.

  • Does not work

    MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with the base M1 chip

    No motion sensor KnockKnock can read.

  • Ask us first

    MacBook Pro with M1 Max

    Email us your model before you buy.

  • Does not work

    Any MacBook with an Intel processor

    KnockKnock is built for Apple silicon.

  • Does not work

    iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro

    Desktop Macs are not supported.

KnockKnock also needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Check your Mac in ten seconds

  • Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose About This Mac.
  • Find the line called Chip. It names your chip, such as Apple M2 or Apple M1 Pro. If you see a line called Processor that mentions Intel instead, you have an Intel Mac.
  • The same window shows your macOS version just below.

MacBook Air

13 inch

Chip
Apple M2
Memory
16 GB
macOS
Sequoia 15
An illustration of About This Mac. The Chip line is all you need.

Then match your chip against the list above.

Will typing set it off?

No. A knock is a short, sharp jolt, and typing, sliding or a bumped desk looks different to the sensor.

Motion sensor

Live
typing, ignoredsliding, ignoredknock knock, hideknock level1.00.0
IgnoredKnockKnock level
The sensor, live: typing and sliding stay under the knock level, and two sharp knocks cross it.
  • Typing and clicking never count.
  • Moving or sliding the laptop is filtered out.
  • Desk bumps are measured against the background noise.
  • Calibrated to your Mac in four knocks.

If your Mac is not on the list

You can still hide your screen quickly with the shortcuts built into macOS or a free hotkey app. The boss key guide compares them all.

Have a MacBook Pro with M1 Max, or still not sure? Email knockknockmac@gmail.com with your chip before you buy, and we will tell you.