Customizing your Mac’s menu bar improves workflow efficiency and reduces visual clutter by letting you control which icons appear, their order, and even their functionality. The process involves two main areas: managing built-in macOS controls through System Settings and handling third-party app icons. You can rearrange items by dragging them while holding the Command key, remove unwanted icons by dragging them out, and restore missing ones via System Preferences or Control Center. For advanced organization, third-party tools like Bartender or Hidden Bar offer additional features such as hiding icons, grouping them, or changing their appearance.

Key takeaways from the sources:

• Use System Settings > Menu Bar to toggle macOS icons like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and battery status ^[2]
• Rearrange or remove icons by Command-dragging them ^[1][4]
• Add Control Center settings (e.g., Display, Sound) directly to the menu bar ^[3][5]
• Third-party apps like Bartender 5 enable hiding, styling, and advanced management of icons ^[5][7][10]

Customizing the Mac Menu Bar

Managing Built-in macOS Menu Bar Items

The menu bar’s default items—such as Wi-Fi, battery percentage, and clock—can be toggled or reconfigured through System Settings. This section covers how to enable, disable, or adjust these native elements without additional software.

macOS provides granular control over which system icons appear. Start by opening System Settings (or System Preferences in older macOS versions) and navigating to Control Center or Menu Bar (depending on your macOS version). Here’s how to customize the core components:

• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Sound: Toggle visibility by selecting "Show in Menu Bar" for each item. For example, you can choose to display Wi-Fi only when active or keep it permanently visible ^[2][5].
• Battery Status: Enable the battery percentage alongside the icon by going to System Settings > Control Center > Battery and selecting "Show Percentage" ^[3].
• Clock and Date: Customize the clock’s format (e.g., 24-hour time, seconds display) in System Settings > Control Center > Clock. You can also choose to hide the date or AM/PM indicators ^[10].
• Spotlight and Siri: Adjust their menu bar presence under System Settings > Siri & Spotlight, where you can disable the icon or change its behavior ^[2].

For macOS Monterey and later, the Control Center acts as a hub for these settings. Drag items like Display, Sound, or Now Playing directly from Control Center to the menu bar for quick access ^[3]. Note that some icons, such as the Notification Center, cannot be moved or removed ^[10].

Advanced Customization with Third-Party Tools

While macOS offers basic customization, third-party applications unlock deeper personalization, including icon hiding, grouping, and visual styling. Tools like Bartender, Hidden Bar, and iStat Menus are frequently recommended for users seeking a cleaner or more functional menu bar.

Third-party apps address limitations in macOS’s native customization. Here’s how they enhance the experience:

• Bartender 5: Allows you to:
• Hide icons behind a collapsible menu or set them to appear only when active ^[5][7].
• Reorder icons freely, including those macOS locks in place (e.g., Notification Center) ^[10].
• Apply custom colors or themes to icons for better visual hierarchy ^[7].
• Schedule icon visibility (e.g., hide work apps during off-hours) ^[5].
• Hidden Bar: A lightweight alternative that lets you hide icons behind a toggleable overlay, reducing clutter while keeping items accessible ^[7].
• iStat Menus: Replaces default system icons with detailed monitoring tools (e.g., CPU, GPU, network stats) while maintaining a native macOS look ^[5].
• cDock and iBar: Focus on visual customization, such as changing icon spacing, transparency, or adding custom backgrounds ^[5].

For users with M1/M2 Macs, some third-party tools may require additional permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security to function properly. If the menu bar becomes unresponsive after installation, try restarting the Mac or force-quitting the app via Activity Monitor ^[10].

Practical Workflow Tips

• Command-Drag Trick: Hold Command while dragging any icon to reposition it. This works for both native and third-party icons ^[1][4].
• Removing Stubborn Icons: Some third-party apps (e.g., Dropbox, Zoom) require quitting the app entirely before their icons can be removed. Right-click the icon and look for a "Quit" or "Hide" option ^[10].
• Auto-Hiding Menu Bar: Enable this in System Settings > Desktop & Dock to free up screen space. The menu bar will reappear when you move the cursor to the top edge ^[10].
• Notch Utilization: Apps like NotchNook help organize icons around the MacBook Pro notch, though macOS does not natively support hiding the notch ^[10].