Next3Trains on Mac

Justin Clarke-Salt

Next3Trains runs natively on macOS 14 or later. It’s the same app record on the App Store, so if you’ve downloaded it on iPhone you can just download it on Mac.

The widget works on Mac too - you can add it to Notification Centre or put it on the desktop.

Keyboard shortcuts

  • ⌘R - refresh all routes
  • ⌘N - add a route
  • ⌘, - open Settings
  • Escape - close the train detail window

Toolbar buttons that are icon-only show a tooltip when you hover over them.

Deliberate differences on Mac

These aren’t bugs, they’re platform differences:

  • Location is foreground-only. The Mac app uses your location while it’s open to auto-select the nearest saved route, but it doesn’t do background location monitoring or station geofences - a desktop doesn’t move between the ends of your commute. It never asks for “Always” permission, and the app works fine if you don’t grant location at all.
  • No Live Activities and no Control Center control. Both are iOS features and aren’t in the Mac build.
  • No Apple Watch component. Watch apps are installed from the iPhone.
  • Text size doesn’t follow a system setting. macOS doesn’t expose Dynamic Type to apps built this way, so text scales with the app’s own fonts rather than a slider. Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast are all honoured.

Push notifications work the same way as on iPhone - see What notifications will I get?.