So, you eventually decided to splurge and invest in one of the high-end MacBook Pros that come with the Touch Bar in substitute of the good old function keys. Without a doubt, the Touch Bar is one of the primary upgrades that Apple has put on their premium laptop line, and we know how Apple won’t just throw in new features. While the MacBook Pro Touch Bar was expected to be a game-changer, adding to the hype about the latest MacBooks, it is after the keynote and purchase that some users really realize what they’re in for.
What some users fail to realize upon unboxing their new Macs is that the power of the MacBook Touch Bar can only be fully unleashed through customization. So, if you are one of those who can’t seem to grasp the reality that there are none of those function keys on your MacBook Pro Touch Bar anymore, read on to know how you can customize and maximize this new feature.
How to Customize Touch Bar on Mac
It’s pretty easy to customize what keys and functions to show on the Touch Bar. Just follow these steps:
- First, click on the Apple menu (Apple icon) in the upper-left corner of your Desktop.
- Next, select System Preferences.
- Then, select Keyboard.
- Choose Customize Touch Bar. The existing Touch Bar icons will now begin to shake, indicating that they can now be moved, removed or replaced.
- You can expand the Control Strip first to show the full Touch Bar and see what icons are available for moving to the Control Strip, which is the visible part of the Touch Bar.
- You can now start removing and adding items to the Control Strip. Swap items that you don’t usually use with those that you often need access to.
- Move your cursor down to the Touch Bar (yes, your cursor can go “outside” the screen) to rearrange icons as you wish.
Unfortunately, the Touch Bar can’t contain everything. You will get four easy-to-access icons in addition to the constant ESC button. You’ll have to tap the < icon to show the other items or tools. And if you’re wondering where Mission Control, Launch Pad, and the media keys that used to occupy the top row of the keyboard along with the function keys went, you’ll also have to tap the < icon on the Control Strip. Furthermore, the Touch Bar can be customized further to add shortcuts for specific apps that support it including Evernote, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Office.
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