Menu Bar Not Showing on Mac (Sequoia)? 7 Fixes

The menu bar on Mac is a handy feature that gives users quick access to frequently used apps.

However, it’s not uncommon for the menu bar to go missing or freeze, which can be frustrating for Mac users.

Don’t worry! In this post, you'll learn 7 effective ways to fix the disappearing menu bar issue on your Mac.

Why Does My Menu Bar Keep Disappearing on Mac?

The menu bar might disappear for several reasons, such as incorrect settings for full-screen mode, system glitches, or app compatibility issues.

If your menu bar only disappears while using full-screen mode, you might have enabled the “Automatically hide and show the menu bar in full screen only” option.

To bring it back, you’ll need to adjust this setting. See the next section for detailed steps.

How to Fix the Menu Bar Disappearing on Mac

Now that you understand why your menu bar might be missing, here are 7 proven ways to fix the issue.

1. Use System Settings

As mentioned earlier, incorrect settings for full-screen mode are a common cause. You can fix this in System Settings.

Here’s how:

1. Open System Settings via Spotlight or the Dock (Spotlight shortcut: Command + Spacebar).
2. Click Control Center.
3. Scroll down to Automatically hide and show the menu bar.
4. Change the option from In Full Screen Only to Never.

2. Force Restart Your Mac

Sometimes, temporary system glitches can cause the menu bar to disappear.

Force restarting your Mac can close unresponsive apps and reset frozen system components, which may bring the menu bar back.

3. Disable Fast User Switching

Turning off Fast User Switching may also help restore the menu bar.

Here’s how:

Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Control Center > Fast User Switching > Show in Menu Bar > Don’t Show.

4. Reduce Transparency

With some wallpapers, high transparency can make the menu bar appear invisible. Reducing transparency may help make it visible again.

Here’s how:

Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Display > Reduce Transparency.

5. Update Your macOS

Updating your macOS can fix bugs that may be affecting the menu bar.

The latest version—macOS Sonoma—is now available. Update to Sonoma or the newest version your Mac supports.

6. Force Quit SystemUIServer

Another useful fix is to quit and relaunch the SystemUIServer process using Activity Monitor.

Here’s how:

1. Open Activity Monitor via Spotlight (shortcut: Command + Spacebar) or the Dock.
2. Search for SystemUIServer.
3. Select SystemUIServer and click the Quit button.
4. Click Quit or Force Quit.

   

5. This will stop the process and automatically relaunch it.

7. Reset System Settings

If none of the above methods work, you can reset your Mac’s system settings. Warning: This will erase all data, so make sure to back up important files first.

Here’s how:

Other helpful solutions include force-relaunching Finder, restarting problematic apps, disabling login items, booting into Safe Mode, resetting NVRAM, running First Aid in Disk Utility, reinstalling macOS, or logging out with Command + Shift + Q and logging back in.

How to Keep the Menu Bar Visible in Full-Screen Mode

The “Automatically hide and show the menu bar in full screen only” setting is designed to minimize distractions and maximize screen space.

But if you prefer always to see the menu bar in full-screen mode, here’s how to change the setting:

Go to the Apple menu > System Settings > Control Center > Scroll down to Automatically show and hide the menu bar > Change In Full Screen Only to Never.

How to Optimize Your Mac's Performance

Over time, junk files can build up and slow down your Mac. Poor system performance can even affect the menu bar, making it unresponsive.

To boost your Mac’s speed and performance, try using the features in BuhoCleaner, a powerful Mac cleaner and performance tool. It removes junk files, uninstalls unwanted apps, and frees up storage with just a few clicks. Whether your Mac is running slow or you’re running out of space, BuhoCleaner makes it easy to keep your Mac fast and organized—even if you’re not tech-savvy.

Conclusion

Have you figured out how to fix the “menu bar disappeared on Mac” issue after reading this post? Go ahead and try out the methods!