The macOS menu bar at the top of your screen provides quick access to essential system controls and app menus. However, on MacBooks with smaller screens, this menu bar can consume valuable vertical screen real estate. Fortunately, Apple includes a built-in feature to automatically hide the menu bar when you aren’t using it.
How to Auto-Hide the Menu Bar
You can configure the menu bar to hide automatically depending on your workflow. Follow these steps in macOS Ventura or later:
- Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
- In the left sidebar, scroll down and click on Control Centre.
- On the right side, scroll down to the Menu Bar Only section.
- Look for the setting titled Automatically hide and show the menu bar.
- Click the dropdown menu next to it. You can choose to auto-hide the menu bar Always, On Desktop Only, or In Full Screen Only.
How to Access a Hidden Menu Bar
Once enabled, the menu bar will slide out of view, giving you a cleaner, edge-to-edge workspace. To access the menu bar again, simply move your mouse pointer to the very top edge of your screen. The menu bar will slide down instantly, allowing you to click on app menus, check your Wi-Fi, or view the time. When you move your cursor away, the menu bar will automatically hide itself again.