About Cove
Overview
Cove is a macOS app that treats a workspace like a save file. It captures open apps, window positions, browser tabs, terminal working directories, Focus Mode, and linked Reminders or Notes as a named Session, then brings the entire set back in one click. Independent developer Alexandre Bonnegarde-Delisle builds and supports Cove from Toulouse, France, after losing the same ten minutes to every project switch.
Switching sessions also closes the apps the next session does not need, so a Mac carries one project at a time instead of every project at once. Cove writes each session state to disk and reopens it later, including each window on the Mission Control desktop it came from. The app runs on macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Key Benefits
- Restore a full workspace in about a second from the menu bar, the ⌘1 shortcut, or an auto-detect suggestion.
- Windows return to the Mission Control desktop they came from, including setups spread across several displays.
- Meeting Mode clears personal apps and private browser tabs when screen sharing starts and brings them back when the call ends.
- Native browser adapters keep tab order and the active tab for Safari, Chrome, Arc, Brave, and Edge.
- Terminal and iTerm windows reopen in the working directory they were left in.
- Sessions stay on the Mac in a local SwiftData store, with no backend, no analytics, and no data sales.
How It Works
Capture: open the apps, tabs, and files you need, then save them together as a named Session that includes windows, browsers, Finder, Focus Mode, and any linked Reminders or Notes. Park: when you switch context, Cove captures the exact current state and closes the apps that are not part of the next Session, like a git stash for the whole desktop. Restore: pick a Session from the menu bar, press ⌘1, or accept an auto-detect suggestion, and every app, window, tab, and file returns to where you left it.
Use Cases
- Developers moving between repositories reopen each project's editor windows, terminal directories, and documentation tabs without rebuilding the layout.
- Designers and managers on back-to-back video calls turn on Meeting Mode so personal apps and private browser tabs leave the screen before a share starts.
- Consultants juggling several clients keep one Session per client and mark Mail, Slack, and Spotify as essential apps that Cove never closes.
- Alfred Powerpack users switch, park, or save a workspace from an Alfred keyword without touching the mouse.
- Mac users running heavy tools close idle apps on each switch so memory and CPU go to the project in front of them.
Why Choose This Product
Cove sells as a one-time $19.99 lifetime license rather than a subscription, and a free 14-day trial caps new users at three saved sessions with a 14-day refund policy behind the purchase. Distribution goes direct instead of through the Mac App Store because Apple's sandbox blocks the AppleScript and Accessibility APIs Cove needs to control other apps; the build is signed with an Apple Developer ID, notarized by Apple, and updated through Sparkle with every update included. The trade-off is a Mac-only app that requires macOS 15 or later and Accessibility plus Automation permissions.
Cove Pros & Cons
- One-time $19.99 lifetime license with all future updates included
- Free 14-day trial with no card required
- Sessions stored locally in a SwiftData database with no backend
- Restores windows across Mission Control desktops and several displays
- Native adapters keep tab order for Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc
- Mac only, requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later
- Not available on the Mac App Store
- Needs Accessibility and Automation permissions to capture windows and tabs
- Two activations per license, with iCloud sync not yet shipped
Key Features
Session Capture
All plansSaves apps, windows, tabs, files, Focus Mode, and linked Reminders or Notes together as a named Session.
One-Click Restore
All plansBrings every app, window, tab, and file back through a menu bar pick, the ⌘1 shortcut, or an auto-detect suggestion.
Park State
Captures the current workspace to disk before closing apps that are not part of the next Session.
Desktop Recall
Reopens each window on its original Mission Control desktop, adds a missing desktop when needed, and supports several displays.
Meeting Mode
Offers to close personal apps and private browser tabs when screen sharing starts, then restores them in one click afterward.
Linked Items
All plansAttaches Reminders, Notes, documents, or any URL to a Session so they open automatically at restore time.
Auto-Detect Sessions
All plansWatches which apps you open and uses weighted scoring, ignoring ambient apps like Mail or Spotify, to suggest the matching Session.
Browser Adapters
All plansNative adapters for Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc capture tab order and active state and reopen every URL.
Terminal Directories
Terminal and iTerm preserve the working directory per window so each session drops back into the right project folder.
Session Templates
All plansSaves a Session as a reusable template holding the apps without their content for recurring rituals.
Cove Pricing
- Unlimited saved sessions
- All adapters: Safari, Chrome, Arc, Terminal, VS Code, Xcode, Slack
- Auto-detect, session templates, linked items, Focus Mode
- 2 activations for your Macs, plus iCloud sync between Macs
- All future updates included, no subscription
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Cove
Will Cove work on my Mac?
Cove runs on macOS 15 (Sequoia) and later on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It works best when you grant Accessibility and Automation permissions, which Cove needs to capture window positions and instruct apps like Safari, Chrome, and Arc to reopen tabs at restore time. No other special hardware is required.
Why isn't Cove on the Mac App Store?
Cove uses AppleScript and Accessibility APIs to capture and restore the state of other apps such as browsers, terminals, and Finder windows, and the App Store sandbox restricts those capabilities. Going direct lets the developer ship the full feature set and keeps more of each purchase in development rather than Apple's 30% commission.
Can I try Cove before buying?
Yes. Download Cove and start a free 14-day trial with no card required. The trial gives you the full app with up to three saved sessions; buying a license unlocks unlimited sessions and keeps everything you have already set up.
What if I change my mind after buying?
Cove comes with a 14-day refund, no questions asked. You email the developer directly with your order number and receive your money back, with no forms to fill out.
Where does my data live, and is it private?
Everything stays 100% locally on your Mac in Cove's app data folder, with sessions stored in a SwiftData database. Nothing goes to a server, is analyzed, or is sold, because Cove runs no backend. Optional encrypted iCloud sync between your Macs is coming, and you can stay fully local instead.
Does Cove close my apps when I switch sessions?
Yes. When you switch, Cove parks your current state by saving everything, then closes apps that are not part of the next session, which is what makes a context switch clean. You can configure essential apps such as Mail, Slack, and Spotify that Cove never closes.