On macOS, Apple uses the Tips app to provide information that Apple considers useful to folks using Macs. I had previously written a post about how you could launch the Tips app using a URL to provide this information on demand. At that time, I was aware of one place that the Tips app was installed. This location is /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app:

However, there’s also a second Tips app located elsewhere in macOS, in /System/Applications/Tips.app.

Why this is important is in the context of blocking Notification Center notifications from the Tips app, as a colleague was asked to do for their workplace and then shared their story of what they needed to do.

When blocking Notification Center notifications, you need the bundle identifier of the app in question. Each Tips app has a different bundle identifier:

• App location: /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app
• Bundle identifier: com.apple.tips

• App location: /System/Applications/Tips.app
• Bundle identifier: com.apple.helpviewer

Even more interesting is that only the Tips app located at /System/Applications/Tips.app has a CFBundleDisplayName identifier of Tips.

The CFBundleDisplayName identifier for the Tips app located at /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app is TipsSpotlightHandler.

Apple is using Finder localization to make the Tips app located at /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app appear to have the name of Tips, in place of TipsSpotlightHandler.

Going back to my earlier post about using a URL to open the Tips app, when you call the URL, what’s getting launched? In my testing, it’s the Tips app located at /System/Applications/Tips.app. So that app’s com.apple.helpviewer bundle identifier is the one you need to block the notifications, right?

Nope, the bundle identifier you need to use to block notifications is the com.apple.tips bundle identifier for the Tips app located at /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app, otherwise known as /System/Library/CoreServices/TipsSpotlightHandler.app:

• App location: /System/Library/CoreServices/Tips.app
• Bundle identifier: com.apple.tips

Why is it this way? Honestly, no idea. If someone does know, please let me know in the comments. But for those who need to block Notification Center notifications for the Tips app, now you have the right bundle identifier to use.