Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the things people ask most. For the full details, read the guide.
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The app
Which Macs can run Woolly Desk?
Any Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later, with Apple silicon or Intel.
I opened the app. Where is it?
Woolly Desk has no Dock icon and no main window. Look for the small cloud-and-sun icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. The farm itself is on your desktop, behind your app windows: move or hide your windows to see it.
Does the farm get in the way of my files and icons?
No. The farm sits under your windows. Clicks go through to Finder, except on sheep, gates, buildings and the two round buttons. If you want the farm to be only a wallpaper, turn off Sheep Above Desktop Icons in the menu.
Does it use a lot of battery or CPU?
Not much. With 8 sheep and 12 buildings it uses about 6–10 % of one CPU core. It uses nothing while the farm is paused, while your Mac sleeps, or while the screen is locked.
Does it work with several monitors?
Yes. The living farm is on your main display. Other displays show a matching meadow.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Only the optional real weather needs the internet. Without a connection, the farm uses the last weather it saved.
Does it make sounds?
Ambient sound (rain, wind, soft bleats) is off by default. You can turn it on in Settings → Sound. The broom and shovel make short sounds, and you can turn those off too.
How do I hide the farm for a moment?
Choose Pause Farm in the menu. To close it fully, choose Quit. Your farm is saved and waits for you.
Sheep and care
What happens to my sheep when my Mac is closed?
Nothing bad. While you are away (up to 12 hours are counted), grass and wool grow and the sheep get older, but hunger and thirst stop at 70 %, health never falls, and no sheep dies. Troughs and feeders keep some supply.
Can my sheep get sick or die?
Health falls only when a sheep stays very hungry, thirsty or tired for more than 15 minutes, and then only slowly. A sheep can pass away only from old age (about 10 sheep years) or after very long neglect. It then becomes a soft cloud that floats up, and its name stays in Memories.
If you never want a sheep to leave, turn off Animals can pass away in Settings → Farm life.
What does the orange "!" above a sheep mean?
The sheep needs help: it is very hungry, very thirsty or weak. Click it to see its card. Add hay to a feeder, refill a trough, or give it a Herbal Treat.
My sheep grow up too fast (or too slowly). Can I change that?
Yes. In Settings → Farm life, choose a Life pace: Relaxed (1 sheep year = 24 hours), Normal (12 hours) or Quick (4 hours).
There are too many lambs!
Lower the Population limit (3–60) or turn off Lambs are born in Settings → Farm life. The farm also has room only for as many sheep as its grass can feed.
Can I name my sheep?
Yes. Click a sheep and press Name on its card.
Wool and the shop
How do I get new things in the shop?
Shear sheep when their wool is medium or full, then sell the wool in Trade Wool…. Dark wool is worth more, and a Trading Post gives you a better deal.
Why is an item in the shop locked?
Items unlock by the total wool you have ever collected. The Farm Overview shows your next goal. See all unlock numbers in the guide.
If I sell my wool, do I lose progress?
No. Unlocks count all the wool you ever collected, so selling never takes progress away.
Are there in-app purchases?
No. Everything in the shop is earned inside the game, by looking after your flock.
Are there holiday decorations?
Yes. The shop has a Holiday tab with a Christmas tree, light garlands, a stocking line, three door wreaths, six knitted sweaters for your sheep and hanging stars that decorate your whole desktop under the menu bar. You can buy them in any season, and they glow at night. See the guide for how to use them.
Can my desktop folders look like the farm?
Yes. Turn on Farm-style icons on desktop folders in Settings → Desktop. The folders can change colour with the season, get mixed farm colours, or all take one of 11 colours. Folders with their own custom icon stay as they are. See the guide.
Which sheep colour is best?
Grey, brown and black sheep give dark wool, which is worth more. White and cream sheep give light wool. Pick the colours you like best.
Weather, seasons and night
How does real weather work?
It is off by default. When you turn it on, the app uses your approximate location (rounded to about 10 km) or a city you type, and gets the current weather. Read more in the privacy policy.
Why is my farm dark?
It is night where you are. The farm follows your clock and real sunset. If you prefer daylight, choose Time of Day → Always Day in the menu.
Leaves are on my desktop icons. How do I stop that?
Move your pointer over the leaves to blow them away. To stop it, turn off Autumn leaves settle on desktop icons and the Dock in Settings → Desktop.
Why does macOS ask for permission to control Finder?
The app asks Finder only where your desktop icons are, so autumn leaves can land on them. It does not read or change your files. If you say no, everything else works as usual.
Your farm and data
Where is my farm saved?
On your Mac only, in ~/Library/Application Support/SheepFarm/. There is no account and no cloud.
How do I start over?
Settings → Farm → Start a new farm…. This replaces your sheep, names and fences, so the app asks you to confirm first.
Can I move my farm to another Mac?
Quit Woolly Desk on both Macs. Copy the folder ~/Library/Application Support/SheepFarm/ to the same place on the new Mac. Then open the app there.
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