macbook pro touch bar pet

Customise the Touch Bar on Mac

If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can change settings that control which buttons are shown in it, including the Control Strip. For some apps, you can customise the Touch Bar so that it contains buttons for your favourite tasks in that app.

Change Touch Bar settings

Set options to control what's shown in the Touch Bar. For example, you can have the Touch Bar show just the expanded Control Strip or just app buttons. You can also change what happens when you press and hold the Fn key or the Globe key on the keyboard.

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Keyboard.

Open Keyboard preferences for me
Set options for the Touch Bar.
- Touch Bar shows: Click the pop-up menu, then choose what you want the Touch Bar to show — for example, app buttons or the expanded Control Strip.
  
  If you don't want the Control Strip to be shown at the same time as app buttons, quick actions, or spaces, deselect the Show Control Strip tick box.
- Press and hold Fn key to or Press and holdto: Click the pop-up menu, then choose what you want to happen when you press and hold the key — for example, show the Control Strip or quick actions.
  
  The choices vary depending on what you set for "Touch Bar shows."

To always show function keys (F1, F2, etc.) in the Touch Bar for specific apps, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, click Shortcuts, select Function Keys in the list on the left, then add the apps on the right.

Open the Shortcuts pane for me

Change Control Strip buttons

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click Keyboard.

Open Keyboard preferences for me
Click Customise Control Strip.

Expand the Control Strip in the Touch Bar, if you want.
Add, rearrange or remove buttons in the Control Strip.
- Add buttons: Use the trackpad or mouse to drag a button from the screen to the Control Strip; buttons in the Control Strip jiggle slightly.
- Rearrange buttons: Use your finger on the Control Strip to drag a button.
- Remove buttons: Use the trackpad or mouse to drag a button from the Control Strip to the screen.
When you're finished, click Done on the screen (or tap Done in the Touch Bar, if it's shown there).

Change Touch Bar buttons for apps

In an app, choose View > Customise Touch Bar.
Add, rearrange or remove buttons in the Touch Bar.

To switch between changing buttons for the current app and the Control Strip, just tap the Touch Bar. (You can't customise buttons for all apps.)
- Add buttons: Use the trackpad or mouse to drag a button from the screen to the Touch Bar; buttons in the Touch Bar jiggle slightly.
- Rearrange buttons: Use your finger on the Touch Bar to drag a button.
- Remove buttons: Use the trackpad or mouse to drag a button from the Touch Bar to the screen.
When you're finished, click Done on the screen (or tap Done in the Touch Bar, if it's shown there).

Thanks for your feedback.