Keys: Aimed at keyboard traditionalists, this option mimics the F-keys that occupy the Touch Bar’s position on every other keyboard in the universe. The Expanded Control Strip option fills the rest of the Touch Bar with more buttons. Expanded Control Strip: The Control Strip, which appears by default on the right side of the Touch Bar, lets you adjust common settings like brightness and volume.This option is the most generally useful, though how much so depends on whether the apps you use support the Touch Bar in helpful ways. App Controls: The controls that appear when you choose this option vary by app.You have two choices here, what appears in the Touch Bar normally, and how it changes if you press the Fn key in the lower-left corner of the keyboard. Logical, but perhaps not where you might have looked first if you were thinking of the Touch Bar as an extension of the trackpad. You may never have noticed the Touch Bar’s settings because Apple has hidden them in the Keyboard pane of System Preferences. (Plus, although we’re not going into those details here, Apple is making the Touch Bar even more useful and customizable in macOS 11 Big Sur.) Choose What the Touch Bar Shows Nevertheless, it provides useful shortcuts in many apps, and you can customize it more to your liking. As a result, developers haven’t been as enthusiastic about supporting the Touch Bar as they might have been. Since its launch, however, the Touch Bar hasn’t migrated to any other Macs or keyboards, although the MacBook Air picked up a Touch ID sensor without the rest of the Touch Bar.
Finally, it includes the Touch ID sensor that brings fingerprint authentication to the Mac. By default, it changes depending on which app you’re in, and it also displays the Control Strip, a collection of controls that roughly mimics the functions accessible from the F-keys that traditionally live in that position. It’s a long, thin display above the number keys on the keyboard that shows a variety of buttons and controls. However, that will probably only be necessary if something physical – such as water damage – has impacted how it works.In 2016, Apple introduced the Touch Bar with the MacBook Pro. In other instances, you might need to get your Touch Bar replaced.
Usually, a simple software update or device restart should do the trick. If it stops working for whatever reason, you’ve got plenty of options to fix it.
The Touch Bar is a useful way to navigate around tabs on your MacBook and make quick adjustments to volume and brightness. If your computer isn’t under warranty, you’ll need to pay – but doing so is still a safer option than trying to fix things alone. Instead, you should take your MacBook to a certified repair store. Trying to change it on your own can void any warranties you might have, and we don’t recommend it. Go down to “Touch Bar shows” and make sure that App Controls is selected.į all else fails, you might need to get your Touch Bar replaced. Go to the Apple logo and select System Preferences.ģ. Luckily, fixing this isn’t too difficult. If all of the tips so far haven’t worked, you might have a problem with your Touch Bar’s settings. Hold control on your keyboard and click on the app you want to close. If your MacBook Pro Touch Bar isn’t working, closing apps you’re not using might fix the issue.ġ. Having too many apps open can impact your computer’s performance, especially if they demand a lot of energy. If your MacBook has frozen, hold onto the on/off button until your device shuts down. When your computer is switched off, turn it on again via the on/off button in the top right of your keyboard. When the pop-up window appears, click on Shut Down again.Ĥ. Click on the Apple logo in the top left-hand corner.ģ. If your Touch Bar isn’t working, you can try restarting your computer. Sometimes, functions on your MacBook will stop responding. And if your software is up-to-date, you’ll see the screen below. Your computer will restart during the process. If you need to update your software, you’ll see a prompt asking you to do so. Go to the Apple logo in the top left-hand corner.ģ. Checking for potential software updates is a wise starting point if your MacBook Pro Touch Bar isn’t working. You might notice glitches and other annoyances when you don’t have the latest macOS software on your computer.