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Electron Detector Support

Need help with the app? Learn more about the app or browse our support documentation below.

About the App

Electron Detector is a native macOS menu bar app that scans your Applications folder and identifies the framework each app uses: Electron, Tauri, Flutter, Qt, Java, .NET/Mono, or native macOS.

Getting Started

  1. Download Electron Detector from the Mac App Store
  2. Launch the app — it appears as a CPU icon in your menu bar
  3. Click the menu bar icon to open the popover
  4. The app automatically scans your Applications folder on first launch
  5. Browse your apps, filter by category, or search by name

Features

Scanning

  • Automatic scan: The app scans your Applications folder when you first open it
  • Rescan: Click "Rescan" in the footer to refresh results after installing or removing apps
  • Live progress: See which app is being scanned in real time

Framework Detection

The app detects the following frameworks by inspecting app bundle contents:

  • Electron — Apps bundling Chromium (e.g., Slack, VS Code, Discord)
  • Tauri — Rust-based web apps using the system WebView
  • Flutter — Google's cross-platform UI framework
  • Qt — Cross-platform C++ framework
  • Java — Apps with embedded JRE or JAR files
  • .NET/Mono — Microsoft's cross-platform runtime
  • Native — Built with AppKit, SwiftUI, or other Apple frameworks

Filtering & Sorting

  • Category pills: Tap any category pill in the stats bar to filter by framework
  • Search: Type in the search bar to find apps by name
  • Sort: Sort apps by name or size using the sort picker

Exporting

  • Markdown: Export a formatted report with stats and app table
  • CSV: Export raw data for use in spreadsheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is [app name] shown as Native when it's not?

A: Framework detection is based on heuristics — the app looks for known framework files inside app bundles (e.g., "Electron Framework.framework"). Some apps may use non-standard packaging that doesn't match our detection patterns. If you spot a misclassification, please let us know.

Q: Why can't the app scan ~/Applications?

A: Due to macOS App Sandbox restrictions, the app can only read /Applications. The vast majority of Mac apps are installed there.

Q: Does the app use any network access?

A: No. Electron Detector is fully offline. It does not make any network requests or connect to any server.

Q: What macOS version is required?

A: macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later.

Q: Is the app free?

A: Yes, Electron Detector is completely free with no in-app purchases.

Troubleshooting

No apps found

If the app shows "No apps found", try clicking the "Rescan" button. If the issue persists, ensure you have apps installed in /Applications.

App doesn't appear in menu bar

Electron Detector runs as a menu bar app (no Dock icon). Look for the CPU icon in your menu bar at the top of the screen. If your menu bar is crowded, the icon may be hidden — try using Bartender or similar to manage menu bar items.

Support Contact

For support inquiries, please contact us via our contact form or email [email protected].

Version Information

Current Version: 1.0.0

Requires: macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later