Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing, How to Fix Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing?
by Vignesh L
Updated Jul 10, 2023
Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing
When the Touch Bar on a MacBook Pro is not showing, it signifies that the interactive display located at the top of the keyboard is not visible or operating as intended. The Touch Bar, designed to provide contextual controls and features, may appear blank or fail to respond to touch inputs.
This malfunction hinders users from accessing the dynamic functionalities and shortcuts it offers, significantly impacting their ability to utilize the Touch Bar's intended capabilities. In order to rectify the issue, it is necessary to perform troubleshooting steps to identify and address the root cause of the problem, ensuring the Touch Bar functions properly once again.
Why Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing?
There are various potential reasons for different issues related to the "MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working." To help identify the cause, we have compiled a list of possible factors that can lead to Touch Bar malfunctions.
Some of the reasons that may cause problems such as the Touch Bar not changing with apps, not lighting up, not displaying volume controls, unresponsiveness, random freezing, failure to show app-specific functions, and more, include:
1. Malfunctioning applications
2. Temporary software glitches
3. Outdated macOS version
4. Incorrect settings
5. Resource-intensive software running in the background
6. Recent keyboard replacement
7. Mac overheating
8. Insufficient memory or disk space
9. Liquid spillage on the Mac
10. Hardware issues
11. Connection to an external monitor
Now that you have a general understanding of the potential causes for your Mac's Touch Bar not working, it's time to address and resolve the issue.
How to Fix Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing?
This comprehensive guide provides solutions for fixing the "MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working" issue in various scenarios. These solutions apply to both Intel-based and M1 MacBook Pros. It is recommended to check if the Touch Bar returns to normal after each fix.
Sometimes, the Touch Bar may not light up or display invisible buttons, even though it responds to touch input. In such cases, you should connect your Mac to a power source. If that doesn't apply to your situation, continue reading the solutions below to resolve the "Touch Bar not working on MacBook Pro" problem.
If you notice the Touch Bar not responding or displaying controls after switching to a specific app, it is likely frozen or causing minor bugs. To fix this, force quit the problematic app.
Restart your Mac:
A simple restart can often resolve minor issues causing the MacBook Pro Touch Bar not to work. Click the Apple menu and select "Restart" to perform a reboot.
Refresh the Touch Bar:
Refreshing the Touch Bar can fix issues like the Touch Bar not lighting up or disappearing. Use either the Activity Monitor or Terminal to refresh the Touch Bar.
Refresh the Control Strip:
If the right side of the Touch Bar is not working correctly, refreshing the Control Strip can help. Use Terminal to execute the command "killall ControlStrip" and see if the issue is resolved.
Check Touch Bar display settings:
Adjust the Touch Bar display settings to ensure it is set to show "App Controls" instead of "Expanded Control Strip" or other options. This can resolve issues related to the Touch Bar not changing with apps.
Clear the Touch Bar cache files:
Resetting the Touch Bar's cache files and preferences can solve problems caused by corrupted cache files. Delete the "apple.touchbar.agent.plist" file and clear the contents of the Caches folder related to the Touch Bar.
Modify sound output:
If the Mac Touch Bar volume slider is not working after connecting an external display, try switching the output device in the Sound settings.
Update macOS:
Updating macOS to the latest version can address compatibility issues and bugs affecting the Touch Bar. Go to the System Preferences and select "Software Update" to install any available updates.
Reset the SMC and NVRAM:
Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) and NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory) can fix certain hardware-related Touch Bar problems. Perform a reset if needed.
Seek help from Apple Support:
If none of the solutions mentioned above work, it is recommended to seek assistance from Apple Support. They can diagnose and address potential hardware issues with your MacBook Pro.These steps should help resolve the "MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working" issue.
How Can I Reset the Touch Bar on My Macbook Pro?
To resolve the MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working issue, you can effectively reset the Touch Bar. Follow these steps to reset the Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro:
1. Open Terminal on your MacBook Pro. You can find Terminal in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder or by using Spotlight search.
2. In the Terminal window, type the following command: 'sudo pkill TouchBarServer;' (without quotes) and press Enter. You will be prompted to enter your password. Note that while typing your password, you won't see any visual feedback on the screen.
3. After entering your password, press Enter again. This command restarts the TouchBarServer process, which manages the Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro.
4. Next, enter the following command in Terminal: 'sudo killall ControlStrip' (without quotes) and press Enter. This command restarts the Control Strip, which is the part of the Touch Bar that contains volume, brightness, and other controls.
5. Once the commands have been executed, close Terminal and check if the Touch Bar is now functioning properly.
By resetting the Touch Bar using these Terminal commands, you can often resolve issues where the Touch Bar is unresponsive or not displaying correctly on your MacBook Pro.
Macbook Pro Touch Bar not Showing-FAQs
There could be several reasons for this issue, including malfunctioning applications, software glitches, outdated macOS version, incorrect settings, resource-intensive software running in the background, recent keyboard replacement, Mac overheating, insufficient memory or disk space, liquid spillage, hardware issues, or connection to an external monitor.
Press Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select the troublesome app and click "Force Quit" to close it.
You can refresh the Touch Bar by using the Activity Monitor or Terminal to restart the Touch Bar-related processes.
Go to System Preferences, click on "Keyboard," and select the "Keyboard" tab. Make sure the "Touch Bar shows" option is set to "App Controls.
Open Terminal and enter the command "sudo pkill TouchBarServer;" followed by your password. Then enter "sudo killall ControlStrip" and press Enter. This will restart the Touch Bar and the Control Strip. Close Terminal and check if the Touch Bar is now working properly.