As we all know, the menu bar is one of the most important and interesting features in an operating system, including Mac. It makes accessing certain apps and settings easy and displays some vital information.
But sometimes you might think, “Why not make this menu bar a bit more ‘me’?” Well, you’re in for a treat because personalizing your Mac’s menu bar is like giving it a little wardrobe upgrade.
You can edit the menu bar by rearranging, adding, and removing icons or settings to suit your preference. We’re not just here for the glam though – we’ve got some troubleshooting tricks up our sleeves too.
So, buckle up for a journey into the world of Mac menu bars, where personalization meets problem-solving.
Table of Contents
Personalizing The Menu Bar On Mac: Tips and Tricks
In this section, you will learn several ways to customize your MacBook top bar settings. These include adding, removing, and rearranging settings, changing the look of the date and time, and hiding the menu bar.
- Adding or removing settings
Navigate to the Control Center on the Menu bar and drag and drop the settings you wish to add. If you want to remove any settings from the menu bar, drag and drop them out. Besides the Control Center, you can use System Preferences to add or remove settings on the Menu bar.
By going to System Preferences, click Dock & Menu Bar > choose the setting you want to add > tick the box next to Show in Menu Bar. If you wish to remove any setting, follow the same step but uncheck the box next to Show in Menu Bar.
- Rearranging Settings
Rearranging settings in the Mac menu bar is as simple as ABC. All you have to do is hold Command, then drag the setting on the menu bar to your preferred position.
You can do this to any setting or icon on the menu bar, including the clock – there is literally no restriction.
However, the only icon you can’t adjust is the Notification Center. Apple ensures that it remains at the far right corner of the menu bar.
- Changing The Date And Time Look
Open Date & Time Preferences by clicking on the date and time in the right corner of your menu bar. Then, move to the Clock tab and input the administrator password of your MacBook to unlock the preferences, so you can make changes.
After doing that, you can either choose between the Digital or Analog time display options. To instantly toggle between these time display options, select the date and time on the Mac menu bar, then choose “View as Digital” or “View as Analog.”
- Hiding Menu Bar
Similar to the Windows operating system, Mac allows you to automatically hide the menu bar. To enable this feature, first open “System Preferences” and go to “General”.
Then, check the “Automatically hide and show the menu bar” box. Hence, the menu bar should disappear. To display the menu bar, all you have to do is move the cursor to the top of the screen and wait for a second.
Customize Menu Bar On Mac Using Third-party App
There are several third-party apps for customizing the menu bar on Mac. These applications give you control over how your Mac menu bar looks and functions.
For instance, the BitBar app allows you to customize your menu bar using plugins written in various programming languages. Other helpful third-party apps for customizing the menu bar on Mac include uBar, WidgetWall, and Vanilla.
How To Troubleshoot Menu Bar-related Problems?
Sometimes, the menu bar runs into issues, for instance, it may freeze or stop you from accessing settings. Gladly, there are some solutions for fixing the majority of these problems. They include;
Restart Mac
Restarting a device is one of the most effective ways to fix minor issues. In some cases, restarting your Mac if the menu bar doesn’t work can potentially fix it.
So, press and hold the power button to shut down your Mac, then turn it back on.
Disable scaled resolution
Scaled resolution is the adjustment of the display resolution to make text and elements on the screen appear larger or smaller. It’s a feature that enhances usability and readability based on user preferences.
However, scaled resolution may cause your Mac Menu Bar to misbehave.
Disabling the feature can sometimes fix the issue. To do that, simply go to “System Preferences” > “Displays” > “Resolution”. Finally, select “Default for Display.”
Check for Software Updates:
In some cases, outdated software can be a menu bar menace. So, head to the “Apple menu” > “System Preferences” > “Software Update”. Make sure your Mac is up to date.
Conclusion
There you have it, Mac maestro! You’ve sprinkled your personality onto that menu bar, turning it into a virtual masterpiece.
If problems related to the menu bar come knocking, you’re armed with troubleshooting tips to show them who’s boss. Your Mac is now not just a machine but an extension of your style and preferences.
Keep personalizing, keep troubleshooting, and keep rocking that Mac magic!
