If you want to show or hide the menu bar in fullscreen mode on a Mac, there are a few ways to do it. Here are three methods: Method 1: Use the Option key to change the fullscreen mode of your Mac. Method 2: Use System Preferences. Method 3: Use the Menu Bar and Trackpad Commands. Method 1: Use the Option key to change the fullscreen mode of your Mac. To change fullscreen mode on a Mac, use the Option key (or press Command-O). To return to normal screen size, use Command-N or hit Return. The following example changes fullscreen mode to landscape orientation and shows the menu bar at top left: Press Option-F5 to open System Preferences and select “Full Screen” under “General”. Then click on “Apply” and confirm your selection. Method 2: Use System Preferences. To change fullscreen mode on a Mac, use System Preferences (or press Command-S). To return to normal screen size, use Command-N or hit Return. The following example changes fullscreen mode to landscape orientation and shows the menu bar at top left: In System Preferences, click on “Layout” under “Screen”. Then click on “Full Screen” under “Layout”. Click on OK when you’re done changing settings. Method 3: Use the Menu Bar and Trackpad Commands. To change fullscreen mode on a Mac, use the Menu Bar and Trackpad Commands (or press Command-Option-T). To return to normal screen size, useCommand-N or hit Return. The following example changes fullcreen mode to landscape orientation and shows the menu bar at top left using trackpad commands only: To change between portrait and landscape orientations using trackpad commands only, hold downCommand-Option-T while moving your mouse around in portrait or landscape orientation; then release those keys when
RELATED: How to Automatically Hide or Show the Menu Bar on a Mac
How to Show Menu Bar in Fullscreen Mode on Mac
In order to force the menu bar to be visible in fullscreen mode, your Mac needs to run at least macOS Monterey or later. If it isn’t, be sure to update your Mac.
First, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select “System Preferences.”
When the “System Preferences” window pops up, select “Dock & Menu Bar.”
Under the “Menu Bar” section in the lower right-hand side of the window, uncheck the box next to the “Automatically Hide or Show the Menu Bar in Full Screen” option.
Close the Dock & Menu Bar window. Next, open any app and view it in fullscreen mode. You’ll continue to see the menu bar at the top.
If you change your mind later, you can check the box again for the “Automatically Hide or Show the Menu Bar in Full Screen” option in Dock & Menu Bar. That’ll hide the menu bar when using apps in fullscreen mode.
While you’re optimizing your Mac’s interface, take a look at our recommendations for essential productivity tweaks on Mac.
RELATED: 7 macOS Tweaks to Boost Your Productivity
