Tips for Personalizing the MacBook Pro Touch Bar

In 2016, Apple introduced the Touch Bar, a small OLED display strip that is responsive to contact and presents virtual buttons. The Touch Bar is only available on the MacBook Pro, and a control strip has replaced the upper row of function buttons on MacBook Pro versions with a Touch Bar. This control strip contains a Touch ID sensor that incorporates into the power button located on the right.

While using your Mac, you may have noticed that the Touch Bar provides contextual settings depending on the activity you were engaged in. You may see additional choices on the Touch Bar depending on the app you are currently using, or when you are typing, recommendations may appear depending on what you have previously ordered.

Related: New MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and M2 Max Expected Soon

Configure the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar

The information shown on the Touch Bar can adjust to suit your preferences. For instance, you can customize the Touch Bar only to show the enlarged Control Strip or program icons. The press-and-hold operations of the Fn key and Globe keys’ press-and-hold functions can also customize.

To modify your Mac’s Touch Bar:

1. To begin, navigate to System Preferences.
   
2. To configure the Touch Bar, go to Keyboard > Touch Bar Settings.
3. At that point, you can customize the Touch Bar shows you things like program shortcuts or the Control Strip.

The press-and-hold behaviors of the Fn and Globe buttons are also modifiable. Keypad Shortcuts is where you should go if you need to permanently assign a shortcut key to a particular program. The Touch Bar also has the option to enable input recommendations.

MacBook Pro Touch Bar Customization

1. To modify the Control Strip settings on your Mac, navigate to System Preferences from the Apple menu.
   
2. Then, in the toolbar, select Keyboard; finally, in the window that appears, choose Bar Touch Settings.
   
3. To modify the control panel to your liking, select “Customize Control Strip.” The Touch Bar’s Control Strip can expand if you need more room to enter commands, and the Control Strip’s controls can be rearranged and even removed entirely.
   
4. Move the desired icon from the screen and drop it onto the Control Strip using your trackpad or cursor. When a switch in the Control Strip can adjust, it will wiggle slightly.
5. You can move icons around by touching and dragging them on the Control Strip.
6. The last step in removing a button is to slide it back onto the screen from the Control Strip using the touchpad or cursor.

How to Rearrange App Buttons on the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar

1. Select View, then tap Customize Touch Bar to alter the app’s implementation of the Touch Bar. Remember that not all applications support customizing the Touch Bar’s icons by adding, removing, or rearranging them.
2. To add a new icon to the Touch Bar, move it from the main screen and place it there. Slide the controls you want to move around the Touch Bar to the new location.
3. Drag an icon off the Touch Bar onto the main display to delete it.
4. When you’re done making adjustments, select the Done icon on the main interface or tap the Done button on the Touch Bar.

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