How to Customize Your Menu Bar in macOS Sonoma

What’s in the Menu Bar on Mac?

The menu bar is a crucial interface element at the top of Mac screens. It houses various menus and icons for accessing commands, performing tasks, and checking system status. The main components include:

1. Apple menu: In the top-left corner, it contains frequently used commands like updating apps, opening System Settings, and shutting down the Mac.
2. App menus: These application-specific menus appear next to the Apple menu, offering standard options like File, Edit, Format, and Window.
3. Status menus: Towards the right end, these icons allow users to check system status (e.g., battery charge) and customize features (e.g., Wi-Fi settings).
4. Spotlight: A magnifying glass icon for searching items on the Mac and the web.
5. Control Center: Provides quick access to features like AirDrop, Stage Manager, and Screen Mirroring.
6. Privacy indicators: Colored dots or arrows next to the Control Center icon show when the microphone, camera, system audio, or location services are in use.
7. Notification Centre: Accessed by clicking the date and time at the right end, it displays widgets and notifications.

Users can customize the menu bar by choosing which items to show, rearranging status menus, and setting an option to automatically hide it when not in use.

For more detailed information about the Mac menu bar and its features, visit the official Apple Support page at https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchlp1446/mac.

How to customize Your Menu Bar

Rearranging Icons

The macOS menu bar’s flexibility is one of its most appealing aspects. Here’s how to rearrange icons to suit your preferences:

1. Hold the Command Key: Locate the icon you want to move and press and hold the Command (⌘) key.
2. Drag the Icon: While holding Command, click and drag the icon to your desired location. Other icons will shift to accommodate the change.
3. Release the Icon: Once the icon is in place, release the mouse button, then the Command key. Your changes save automatically.

Removing Unwanted Icons via System Settings

To clean up your menu bar by removing unnecessary icons through System Settings > Control Center:

1. Open System Settings: Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select “System Settings”.
2. Navigate to Menu Bar Settings: Find and click “Control Center” in the sidebar to access menu bar customizations.
3. Manage Menu Bar Items: You’ll see options controlling what appears in your menu bar, including system icons, app icons, and other features.
4. Disable Unwanted Icons: Toggle the switch next to any item to remove it from your menu bar.

Using In-App Preferences to Manage Icons

Many menu bar apps offer their own preferences for customizing icon visibility. Here’s how to manage icons through individual app settings:

1. Identify the App Icon: Locate the menu bar icon of the app you want to modify (e.g., Slack, Spotify, Raycast).
2. Access Preferences: Right-click (or Control-click) the icon and look for “Preferences,” “Settings,” or a gear icon.
3. Explore Icon Settings: In the app’s preferences, find sections related to the menu bar icon. Look for options to show/hide the icon or customize its functionality.
4. Make Adjustments: Toggle the icon’s visibility or customize its behavior based on the available options.

Add Custom Icons to the Menu Bar

While system-provided icons (battery icon, Wi-Fi icon, etc.) are typically added through System Settings, and third-party apps often lack customization, Badgeify offers a solution for adding custom third-party icons to your menu bar.

Badgeify allows you to add custom icons and notifications, making it easy to track alerts and quickly launch apps. These extra icons adapt seamlessly to different background colors, mimicking system icons.

To use Badgeify for adding custom icons:

1. Download and Install Badgeify: Get the app from the Badgeify website.
2. Launch Badgeify: Open the application after installation.
3. Choose an App: Click the ”+” button to add a new app to your menu bar.
4. Customize the Icon: Choose from various icon styles, including the original app icon, Badgeify’s recommendation, or your own custom image.
5. Configure Notifications: Decide whether to display notification counts for the app in the menu bar.
6. Enjoy Your Customized Menu Bar: Your new custom application icons will appear in your Mac’s menu bar, offering quick access to favorite apps and their notifications.

With Badgeify, you can create a personalized menu bar that not only looks great but also boosts productivity by providing quick access to your most-used apps and their notifications.

Using Menu Bar Manager Apps to Hide Icons

For menu bar apps lacking built-in customization options, consider these Menu Bar Manager Apps:

• Ice: A versatile tool that hides, shows, and offers additional features for menu bar items.
• Bartender: An award-winning app providing total control over menu bar items, including conditional display.
• Hidden Bar: A lightweight macOS utility for hiding menu bar icons.
• Dozer: A simple tool for hiding menu bar icons on macOS.

I’d recommend Ice. It’s open-source, free, and offers functionality similar to Bartender.

Ensuring a Clean and Organized Menu Bar

Tips for Prioritizing Essential Icons

An efficient, organized menu bar streamlines your workflow. Here’s how to prioritize essential icons:

1. Identify Frequently Used Items: Prioritize menu bar items you use most often.
2. Group Similar Functions: Arrange related icons together, like clustering communication apps (Slack, Discord) in one area.
3. Use Hierarchical Menus: Utilize nested menus in menu bar manager apps to group less frequently used items.
4. Consider Your Workflow: Organize icons based on your daily routine, placing early-use icons to the left and later-use icons to the right.
5. Utilize Dynamic Icons: Prioritize apps like Badgeify that display notifications in their icons for at-a-glance information.

Balancing Functionality with Visual Appeal

While functionality is key, visual appeal enhances your overall Mac experience. Here’s how to strike the right balance:

1. Maintain Consistency: Choose icons with a uniform style, such as monochrome icons or those with similar visual weight.
2. Consider Color Use: Use color purposefully, as colorful icons can be distracting.
3. Adapt to Your Wallpaper: Consider how your menu bar icons look against different backgrounds, especially if you change wallpapers often. Apps like Badgeify, which adapt to system appearance, are particularly useful.
4. Regular Maintenance: Periodically review your menu bar setup. Remove rarely used icons and add ones that have become essential to your workflow.

By implementing these tips, you can create a menu bar that’s both visually appealing and productivity-boosting. Remember, the ideal menu bar setup is unique to you—it should reflect your needs, preferences, and work style. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect arrangement.