You can’t remove the clock from the menu bar on a Mac, so how about removing the menu bar altogether? Make more space for content, creativity and apps with a menu bar that moves out of the way. Find out here how to hide the menu bar on a Mac.
First, Legs Overtaking Eyes
The tiger beetle is equipped with two big eyes and six long legs. Together, they allow it to survive on a diet of other insects.
Eyes and legs work together—but not at the same time. For when the beetle accelerates (with a top speed of up to 5.6 mph or 9 km/h!), the eyes cannot keep up, and the vision is thought to get blurry.
Now, want the menu bar to get blurry and blurrier until it has disappeared? You’ll neither have to accelerate nor close your eyes:
How to Hide the Menu Bar on a Mac
Always Hide the Menu Bar
Time needed: 3 minutes
To set the menu bar to hide on a Mac using macOS settings:
- Open System Settings on the Mac.
Here’s how: Select System Settings… from the Apple logo menu, for example.
- Go to the Control Center category.
- Select Always for Automatically show and hide the menu bar.
Not always: See below for the other choices that only hide the menu bar for certain views.
Always present: Select Never to have the menu bar always visible.
With the menu bar gone, now center your windows: How to Center a Window on a Mac (Incl. Shortcut)
Hide the Menu Bar Only in Full Screen or Desktop View
To have the Mac menu bar hide when you make an app full screen but show on desktops (or vice versa):
- Go to Control Center settings (see above).
- Choose either In Full Screen Only or On Desktop Only for Automatically hide and show the menu bar to have the menu bar hide only when you expand an app to full screen or only on Desktops respectively.
Temporarily Show the Mac Menu Bar
To peek at and use the menu bar when it ordinarily hidden:
- Move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen.
Here’s where: Anywhere along the top edge of the screen works.
How to Hide the Menu Bar on a Mac: FAQ
Can I show the hidden menu bar with a keyboard shortcut?
No.
While you can access the menu bar by pressing Control F2, the menu bar will remain hidden. When you press down (⬇), the menu itself will show, but the menu bar will still remain hidden.
You can use mouse keys to move the mouse pointer to the top and reveal the menu, of course.
Can I hide the menu bar with a keyboard shortcut?
No.
macOS does not include a keyboard shortcut for turning menu bar hiding on.
You can use Spotlight to go directly to the option in System Settings if you search for Automatically hide and show the menu bar (or parts of the phrase).
Can I hide the menu bar with Siri?
No.
You cannot tell Siri to turn on menu bar hiding.
(How to Hide the Menu Bar on a Mac tested with macOS Sequoia 15.2; first published January 2025)