OverlayX

OverlayX is a lightweight macOS utility that displays a persistent red crosshair overlay following your mouse cursor. Perfect for screen alignment, accessibility needs, and visual assistance during presentations or daily computer use.

Features

• Always-on-top crosshair overlay
• Click-through functionality (doesn't interfere with mouse interactions)
• Lightweight and efficient (< 1% CPU usage, ~20MB RAM)
• Perfect for accessibility and visual alignment
• High-contrast mode for better visibility
• Multi-monitor support with per-display DPI scaling
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts
• Menu bar controls for quick access

System Requirements

• macOS 11.0 or later
• Universal Binary (supports both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs)
• Minimal system resources (< 1% CPU, ~20MB RAM)
• Required Permissions:
  • Accessibility (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility)
  • Input Monitoring (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Input Monitoring)

Installation

Homebrew (Recommended)

brew install --cask overlayx

Manual Installation

1. Download the latest release from the Releases page
2. Move OverlayX.app to your Applications folder
3. First launch: Right-click and select "Open" to bypass Gatekeeper

Building from Source

1. Open OverlayX.xcodeproj in Xcode
2. Build and run the project (⌘R)
3. Xcode 13.0 or later required for development

Usage

Basic Controls

• Start: Launch OverlayX.app
• Quit: Click menu bar icon → Quit, or press ⌘Q while the app is focused
• Toggle Overlay: ⌘⇧X (customizable in Preferences)
• Toggle High Contrast: ⌘⇧H
• Reset Position: ⌘⇧R

Menu Bar Controls

• Click the crosshair icon in the menu bar for quick access to:
  • Toggle Overlay
  • High Contrast Mode
  • Preferences
  • Help
  • Quit

Multi-Monitor Support

• Automatically follows cursor across all connected displays
• Independent DPI scaling per display
• Maintains correct position during display configuration changes

Troubleshooting

Overlay Not Visible

1. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security:
   • Ensure OverlayX is allowed in Accessibility
   • Ensure OverlayX is allowed in Input Monitoring
2. Try toggling the overlay (⌘⇧X)
3. Restart the application

Performance Issues

• If experiencing lag:
  • Check system resource usage in Activity Monitor
  • Disable high-contrast mode
  • Reduce refresh rate in Preferences
  • Ensure latest version is installed

Multiple Displays

• If overlay position is incorrect:
  • Open Preferences → Display
  • Click "Recalibrate Displays"
  • Or use ⌘⇧R to reset position

Known Issues

• May require re-enabling permissions after macOS updates
• DPI scaling might need manual adjustment on some display configurations
• Menu bar icon may be hidden on systems with many menu bar items

License

MIT License