If you’re a Mac user, you’ve probably noticed the opaque menu bar at the top of your screen. While this can be helpful for some users, others may find it distracting or cluttered. Fortunately, there’s a way to make the menu bar clear, giving your Mac a cleaner and more modern look. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that.
To start, open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can find it in the Applications folder or by searching for it using Spotlight. Once the Terminal is open, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess reduceTransparency -bool true
“`
This command will change the transparency setting for the menu bar. However, it won’t take effect until you restart your Mac. So, go ahead and click on the Apple menu and select “Restart” from the list of options. Once your Mac has restarted, you’ll notice that the menu bar is now clear. You can now see through it to the desktop below.
Enable Transparency in System Preferences
Overview
The menu bar at the top of your Mac’s screen can be customized to be either opaque or transparent. By default, the menu bar is opaque, meaning that it has a solid color. However, you can change the opacity of the menu bar to make it transparent, so that you can see the desktop wallpaper behind it. This can give your Mac a more modern and minimalist look.
Steps
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Enable Transparency in System Preferences
- Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
- Click on the “General” icon.
- Check the box next to “Use dark menu bar and Dock”.
- Click on the “Dock & Menu Bar” tab.
- Drag the “Transparency” slider all the way to the right.
- Close the System Preferences window.
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Open Terminal by pressing Command+Space and typing “Terminal”.
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Copy and paste the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
plutil -convert xml1 ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
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This will convert the plist file to an XML format that you can edit. Locate the following line in the XML file and change “false” to “true”:
Edit the following line in the XML file: Before After <key>autohide</key> <false>/false><key>autohide</key> <true>/true> -
Save the XML file and quit TextEdit.
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Copy and paste the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
plutil -convert binary1 ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
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This will convert the XML file back to its original binary format.
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Restart your Mac to apply the changes.
- Open the Applications folder.
- Find the icon for the app you want to customize.
- Right-click on the icon and select “Get Info”.
- Click on the icon in the top left corner of the Get Info window.
- Click on the “Edit” menu and select “Paste”.
- The icon will now be updated with your custom icon.
Alternatively, here is a table with more detail on the steps to apply a custom dock icon:
Step Description 1 Open the Applications folder. 2 Find the icon for the app you want to customize. 3 Right-click on the icon and select “Get Info”. 4 Click on the preview icon in the top left corner of the Get Info window. 5 Click on the “Edit” menu and select “Paste”. 6 Close the Get Info window. Hide the Menu Bar in Full-Screen Mode
In the Full-Screen Mode, the menu bar can be automatically hidden to give you more screen real estate when viewing videos, presentations, or any other fullscreen content. Here’s how to enable this feature:
- Enter Full-Screen Mode by clicking the green button on the top left of any window.
- Move the cursor to the top edge of the screen.
- The menu bar will appear briefly.
- Once the menu bar is visible, click and hold on an empty space.
- Drag the menu bar down slightly.
- Release the mouse button when you see a gray line separating the top edge of the screen and the menu bar. This indicates that the “Auto-hide menu bar in full screen” option is enabled.
To exit Full-Screen Mode, move the cursor to the top edge of the screen and click on the menu bar that appears briefly.
Step Action 1 Enter Full-Screen Mode. 2 Move the cursor to the top edge of the screen. 3 Click and hold on an empty space on the menu bar. 4 Drag the menu bar down slightly. 5 Release the mouse button when you see a gray line. 6 Exit Full-Screen Mode from the menu bar. Adjust the Dock’s Magnification
The Dock’s magnification refers to the size of the icons it displays. By default, the magnification is set to “Automatic,” which means macOS will adjust the size based on the resolution of your display. However, you can manually adjust the magnification to make the icons larger or smaller to your preference.
To adjust the Dock’s magnification, follow these steps:
1. Open System Preferences
Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. Click on the “Dock & Menu Bar” Icon
In the System Preferences window, click on the icon labeled “Dock & Menu Bar.”
3. Adjust the “Magnification” Slider
Under the “Appearance” tab, you will see a slider labeled “Magnification.” Drag the slider to the left to make the icons smaller or to the right to make them larger.
4. Click the “Apply” Button
Once you have adjusted the magnification to your liking, click the “Apply” button to save your changes.
5. Customize the Dock’s Size Optionally
If you want the dock to be bigger or smaller, you can adjust the size setting under the “Size” tab.
6. Adjust Animation Effects
You can also customize the dock’s animation effects, such as the magnification animation when you hover over the dock or the slide-in/out animations when you open/close apps, under the “Minimize and Zoom Effects” section.
7. Fine-Tune Dock Settings
Additionally, you can fine-tune various dock settings like the position on the screen, click behavior, and visibility of recent apps under the “Other Options” section. By playing around with these settings, you can make the dock behave exactly how you want it to.
Disable Dock Shadows
The Dock’s default shadow effect can create a cluttered appearance, especially when the menu bar is translucent. Here’s how to disable the shadows and streamline your desktop experience:
- Open System Preferences from the Apple menu.
- Click on “Dock and Menu Bar” in the System Preferences window.
- Uncheck the “Show Shadow Below Dock” checkbox.
- The Dock’s shadow will now be disabled, revealing a cleaner and more modern interface.
Additional Tips for a Clear Menu Bar
Alongside disabling Dock shadows, here are some additional tips to further enhance the clarity of your menu bar:
- Use a light-colored wallpaper: A light-colored wallpaper can help the menu bar blend in seamlessly, making it less noticeable.
- Hide the menu bar when not in use: You can use an app like Bartender to automatically hide the menu bar when you’re not using it, creating a more immersive experience.
- Reduce the number of menu bar items: Remove unnecessary items from the menu bar by using the “Customize Menu Bar” option in System Preferences. This will help declutter the bar and make it easier to find what you need.
By following these tips, you can create a clean and transparent menu bar that complements your desktop and enhances your overall Mac experience.
Additional Tips Description Use a light-colored wallpaper Makes the menu bar less noticeable Hide the menu bar when not in use Creates a more immersive experience Reduce the number of menu bar items Declutters the bar and makes it easier to find what you need Replicate the Effect with a Clear Dock
For an even more streamlined look, you can combine the transparent menu bar with a clear Dock. Here’s how:
- Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
- Enter the following command:
defaults write com.apple.dock hide-mirror -bool true; killall Dock
- Hit Enter.
This will make the Dock transparent. To restore the opaque Dock, enter the following command in Terminal:
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defaults delete com.apple.dock hide-mirror; killall Dock
Additionally, you can customize the Dock’s appearance further by changing its size, position, and magnification.
Adjust Dock Size and Position
To adjust the Dock’s size and position:
- Right-click on the Dock and select “Position.”
- Choose “Left,” “Right,” or “Bottom” for the Dock’s position.
- Drag the slider to adjust the size of the Dock.
Magnify Dock Contents
To make the Dock contents easier to see, you can enable magnification:
- Right-click on the Dock and select “View.”
- Check the “Magnification” box.
Feature Option Dock Position Left, Right, Bottom Dock Size Adjustable Slider Dock Magnification On/Off Toggle Switch to a Different Menu Bar Style
If you’re not a fan of the translucent menu bar, you can switch to a different style. To do this:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select “System Preferences.”
- Click on “General.”
- In the “Appearance” section, select the desired menu bar style from the drop-down menu.
- You can choose between the following styles:
Translucent:
The menu bar will be translucent, allowing you to see the background behind it.
Solid:
The menu bar will be a solid color, and you will not be able to see the background behind it.
Tinted:
The menu bar will be a tinted version of the background color. This can help to make the menu bar more visible against certain backgrounds.
Automatic:
The menu bar will automatically switch between the translucent and solid styles, depending on the background color.
Once you have selected the desired menu bar style, click on the “Close” button to save your changes.
Menu Bar Style Description Translucent The menu bar will be translucent, allowing you to see the background behind it. Solid The menu bar will be a solid color, and you will not be able to see the background behind it. Tinted The menu bar will be a tinted version of the background color. This can help to make the menu bar more visible against certain backgrounds. Automatic The menu bar will automatically switch between the translucent and solid styles, depending on the background color. How to Make the Top Menu Bar Clear on Mac
The top menu bar on your Mac can be customized to make it more transparent. This can help to give your Mac a more modern look and feel. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the System Preferences application.
- Click on the “General” icon.
- In the “Appearance” section, select the “Dark” or “Light” appearance.
- Uncheck the “Show translucent menu bar” box.
Your top menu bar will now be transparent. You can also adjust the transparency of the menu bar by dragging the “Transparency” slider in the “General” section of the System Preferences application.
People Also Ask
How do I change the color of the top menu bar on Mac?
You can change the color of the top menu bar on Mac by following these steps:
- Open the System Preferences application.
- Click on the “General” icon.
- In the “Appearance” section, select the “Dark” or “Light” appearance.
- Click on the “Accent Color” button.
- Select the color you want to use for the top menu bar.
How do I make the top menu bar on Mac smaller?
You can make the top menu bar on Mac smaller by following these steps:
- Open the System Preferences application.
- Click on the “Dock & Menu Bar” icon.
- In the “Menu Bar” section, drag the “Size” slider to the left.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
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Additional Tips
If you want to make the menu bar even more transparent, you can use a third-party application such as MenuBarX. This application allows you to customize the appearance of the menu bar, including making it more transparent.
Use a Third-Party App
If you’re not satisfied with the built-in options on your Mac, you can turn to third-party apps to achieve the transparent menu bar look. These apps offer a range of customization options, allowing you to tweak the transparency level, add color gradients, or even set different levels of transparency for different parts of the menu bar.
Recommended Apps
Here are some recommended third-party apps for creating a transparent menu bar on Mac:
| App | Features |
|---|---|
| Bartender 4 | Advanced menu bar management with customizable transparency options. |
| Blurry Bar | Simple app that adds a subtle blur effect to the menu bar, achieving a semi-transparent look. |
| iStat Menus | System monitoring app with an option to enable a transparent menu bar. |
To use any of these apps, simply download and install the app from the App Store or the developer’s website. Follow the instructions provided by the app to activate the transparent menu bar feature. Some apps may require a paid subscription to unlock all features, such as advanced customization options.
Edit the Dock’s plist File
This method requires editing a hidden file called the “plist” file, which stores the Dock’s settings. It’s more advanced than the previous method and should be done with caution.
Terminal Commands to Set Transparency
1. Getting Started
To set menu bar transparency, open Terminal by searching for it in Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of your Mac’s menu bar). Once Terminal is open, type the following command:
defaults write -g AppleEnableMenuBarTransparency -bool true
2. Killing the Dock
Next, you need to kill the Dock so that the changes can take effect. Run the following command in Terminal:
killall Dock
3. Restarting the Dock
Once the Dock has been killed, restart it by running this command:
open -a Dock
4. Setting the Transparency Level
The command in Step 1 sets the menu bar transparency to ON, but you can also set the specific transparency level. Use the following command, replacing [transparency_level] with a value between 0.0 (fully transparent) and 1.0 (fully opaque):
defaults write com.apple.dock menubar-translucency -float [transparency_level]
| Transparency Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Fully transparent |
| 0.5 | 50% transparency |
| 1.0 | Fully opaque |
Note: If you encounter any issues, try logging out and back into your Mac or restarting your computer.
Apply a Custom Dock Icon
To make your custom icon appear in the Dock, you’ll need to create a .icns file. This is a special type of image file that Macs use for icons. You can create an .icns file using a variety of online tools or image editing software on the internet. The most important thing is to make sure that the image is in a 512×512 pixel square with a transparent background. Once you have created your .icns file, you can then follow these steps to apply it to the Dock:
