Hot Corners WX Tutorial: Set Up, Tips, and TroubleshootingHot Corners WX is a lightweight macOS utility that lets you display weather information or trigger weather-related actions when you move your pointer into a screen corner. This tutorial walks through installation, configuration, common use cases, optimization tips, and troubleshooting. It’s aimed at users who want quick, glanceable weather checks without opening a full app or widget.
What Hot Corners WX does (quick overview)
Hot Corners WX maps one or more screen corners to weather actions. Actions can include:
- Showing a compact current-weather popup
- Displaying a short forecast overlay
- Launching your preferred weather app or website
- Running custom scripts that fetch or announce weather data
Why use it: If you want immediate weather info with a single, gesture-like movement, Hot Corners WX reduces friction and helps keep your desktop uncluttered.
System requirements & safety notes
- macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later is typically required, though check the app’s latest page for exact compatibility.
- The app may require Accessibility permissions (to detect mouse movement and simulate interactions) and Screen Recording permission if it draws overlays. Grant permissions only from System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- If you use third-party weather APIs, be mindful of API key handling and rate limits.
Installation
-
Download:
- Obtain Hot Corners WX from the developer’s site or the Mac App Store. Prefer the Mac App Store for easier updates and sandboxing where available.
-
Install:
- If downloaded as a .dmg or .pkg, open the file and drag the app into Applications.
- For Mac App Store installs, click “Get” and then “Install”.
-
Initial launch:
- Open Hot Corners WX from Applications or Launchpad.
- If macOS prompts for permissions (Accessibility, Screen Recording, Notifications), allow them. You can enable these later in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
First-time setup: configuring corners
- Open the app’s preferences pane (menu bar icon → Preferences).
- Choose which corners are active:
- Top-left, Top-right, Bottom-left, Bottom-right.
- Assign an action to each corner:
- Current weather popup
- 24–48 hour forecast
- Open weather app/website
- Run custom script (shell, AppleScript, or Automator workflow)
- Set trigger behavior:
- Instant trigger (on entry)
- Dwell delay (e.g., 0.3–0.8 seconds to avoid accidental triggers)
- Require corner hold or double-enter if you want extra protection against accidental activations.
Customizing the weather display
Appearance:
- Choose compact vs. expanded layout.
- Toggle icons, temperature units (Celsius/Fahrenheit), and wind/humidity details.
- Select light, dark, or system-following theme.
Location & data source:
- Use device location or set a fixed city/coordinates.
- Select data provider (built-in provider or enter your own API key if supported).
- Adjust update interval (e.g., every 5, 15, or 30 minutes) to balance freshness vs. network usage.
Notifications & sounds:
- Enable a brief sound or spoken summary when the corner is triggered.
- Configure Do Not Disturb behavior so triggers stay silent during focus sessions.
Advanced usage: scripts and automations
Custom scripts let you extend functionality. Examples:
- Shell script to fetch detailed JSON from a weather API and display a custom notification.
- AppleScript to open a specific dashboard or send a short forecast to Messages.
- Automator workflow to log daily morning conditions to a note.
Example shell snippet (run via action):
#!/bin/bash API="https://api.open-meteo.com/v1/forecast?latitude=40.71&longitude=-74.01¤t_weather=true" curl -s "$API" | jq '.current_weather' (Ensure jq is installed or modify parsing accordingly.)
Security note: store API keys in macOS Keychain and reference them in scripts rather than hard-coding.
Useful workflows & ideas
- Morning routine: Bottom-left corner shows a quick 3-day forecast when you sit down at your desk.
- Commuter check: Top-right corner presents rain probability and wind so you know whether to bring an umbrella.
- Home automation trigger: Use a script that, when invoked, sends a command to your smart thermostat to prepare for incoming cold weather.
- Shared display: On a family Mac, assign one corner to open a full forecast webpage for planning.
Performance & battery tips
- Increase the update interval if you notice higher CPU/network usage.
- Prefer system location over continuous precise polling; allow broader location so the app doesn’t request GPS constantly.
- Disable fancy animations in the app’s appearance settings.
- If running on laptop battery often, opt for a corner action that opens a cached snapshot rather than fetching live data each time.
Troubleshooting
Issue: Corner triggers too easily / accidental activations
- Increase dwell delay or require a hold/double-enter in Preferences.
- Disable corners you don’t need.
Issue: App not responding to corner movement
- Confirm Accessibility permission: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility → enable Hot Corners WX.
- Restart the app and, if needed, macOS.
Issue: No weather data / wrong location
- Check Location Services permission.
- Verify chosen data source and API key validity.
- If using a fixed city, confirm coordinates or city ID are correct.
Issue: Overlay not visible or clipped
- Confirm Screen Recording permission if the app uses overlays.
- Test with other display arrangements (mirroring vs. extended). Some apps behave differently on external monitors.
Issue: High CPU or network use
- Increase update intervals, disable animations, or switch to cached display options.
- Inspect logs in Console.app for repeated errors from the app.
If problems persist, collect:
- macOS version
- Hot Corners WX version
- Exact permissions granted
- Short screen recording or screenshot showing behavior Send these to support.
FAQ (short)
Q: Can I use Hot Corners WX on multiple displays? A: Yes — corners are per display; check preferences for multi-monitor behavior.
Q: Does it work offline? A: Partially — cached snapshots work offline, but live forecasts require network access.
Q: Is there a way to avoid tripping it while presenting? A: Yes — enable “Do Not Disturb” integration or disable corners while in Presentation Mode.
Final notes
Hot Corners WX is a convenient shortcut-driven approach to weather at a glance. With careful configuration (dwell delays, permissions, and sensible update intervals) it can be both unobtrusive and powerful. If you want, tell me your macOS version and how you want to use it (e.g., commute checks, home automation), and I’ll give a tailored configuration and example scripts.
Leave a Reply