Support - AppTela

Need help with AppTela?

Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add apps to AppTela?

On first launch, AppTela offers to add all available apps for you. This is optional. To add apps later, click the (...) menu next to any category name and select "Add Apps". You can select from the installed applications list or use the Browse button to add apps from any location.

How do I enable Edit mode?

There are two ways to enter Edit mode:

1. Hold down your mouse over any app or Group (not a Stack)
2. Click the (...) menu next to any category name and select "Edit: Turn On"

To exit Edit mode, click the (...) menu and select "Edit: Turn Off", or simply click on any blank area of the screen.

How do I create a Stack?

In Edit mode, drag one app onto another app and select "Stack" from the popup menu. Alternatively, click the (...) menu next to any category name and select "Create New Stack".

How do I back up my layout?

Go to Preferences > Advanced, then click "Export". This saves your entire configuration (Screens, Categories, Groups, Stacks, and settings) to a file. To restore a backup, use the "Import" button in the same location.

Can I use AppTela on multiple Macs?

Yes! Use the Export feature to save your configuration, then use Import on your other Mac to restore it. Your App Store purchase works on all your personal Macs.

Why can't I move or delete apps?

Check if Layout Lock is enabled. Go to Preferences > Advanced and disable Layout Lock to allow editing.

Why are some apps not available for adding?

Apps distributed through the Mac App Store run in a sandbox for security. This means AppTela can only automatically discover applications in the standard /Applications folder. To add apps from other locations (such as Downloads or custom folders), use the Browse button in the Add Apps panel. Once added via Browse, the app remains in AppTela permanently.

I don't want to use Categories. How do I remove them?

Go to Preferences and set Category Text Size to 0. This hides all category labels. Once you're happy with the layout, enable Layout Lock to also hide the category-related context menu options.

Am I restricted to 6 apps in a Stack?

No, you can configure up to 10 apps per Stack, though we find 6 works best visually. Stacks are designed for quick access to a small set of related apps. If you need more apps grouped together, use a Group window instead.

Does AppTela resume where I left off?

Yes. AppTela remembers your last active Screen, window position, and whether you were in fullscreen or windowed mode. Everything is restored when you relaunch. You can also nominate a specific Starting Screen in Preferences if you prefer to always begin on a particular Screen.

Can I nest Group windows?

Yes! AppTela supports up to 6 levels of nested Groups, giving you plenty of depth to organise your apps however you like.

Why do I need separate backgrounds for fullscreen and windowed modes?

You can use the same background for both if you prefer. However, separate settings let you optimise each mode -for example, using a solid background in fullscreen but enabling Glass mode with transparency in windowed mode.

Why can't I enable Glass mode in fullscreen?

Glass mode creates a translucent effect that shows content behind the window. In fullscreen, there's nothing behind AppTela for the glass effect to reveal, so macOS doesn't allow it. Glass mode is available in windowed mode only.

Where do the Flow backgrounds come from?

The Flow backgrounds were designed specifically for AppTela. If you'd prefer something different, you can use your own wallpaper or gradient fills instead.

I just want a simple solid colour background. How do I do this?

In Preferences > Background, select "Background and Gradient" for your window mode, then set the same colour for both the start and end of the gradient. This creates a solid single-colour background.

What's the difference between Reset to Defaults, Erase Layout, and Erase All Data?

Reset to Defaults restores only your visual preferences (icon size, colours, text size, backgrounds) to their original settings. Your Screens and app layout remain untouched.

Erase Layout removes all Screens, Categories, Groups, and Stacks, giving you a blank canvas. Your preferences are preserved.

Erase All Data removes both your layout and preferences, returning AppTela to its initial state.

None of these options remove AppTela itself or any applications from your system.

Tip: Most settings can be found in Preferences - accessible from the menu bar or by pressing "Cmd" and ",". Changes are previewed live as you adjust.

Tip: Changes in Preferences (including Import and Erase) are only saved when you press Apply. If you're unsure, press Cancel in the main Preferences window to undo any changes.

System Requirements

AppTela requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later. It is optimised for macOS 16 (Tahoe) and built with Swift and SwiftUI for the best native experience.

Feedback & Suggestions

We love hearing from users! If you have feature requests, suggestions, or just want to share how you use AppTela, email us at support@apptela.com.