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How to Hide and Rearrange Icons with Bartender
Edited 1 day ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
BartenderMacIconsOrganizationSoftwareUtilitiesProductivityCustomizationmacOSWorkflow
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The Bartender app is a useful utility for macOS that allows users to manage their menu bar icons. If you have a lot of icons in your menu bar, Bartender enables you to hide them, rearrange them, and keep your workspace neat and organized. This document will provide detailed information on how to use Bartender to effectively manage your menu bar icons.
Introduction to Bartender
Bartender is an application designed specifically for Mac that helps users organize their menu bar items. It allows you to choose which icons will be visible and which will be hidden, appearing only when you need them. This is especially useful for users who have many applications that place icons in the menu bar, causing clutter and distraction. Using Bartender, you can customize your menu bar to enhance productivity and aesthetics.
Why use Bartender?
The macOS interface is usually clean and simple, but if you install many applications, the menu bar can get quite crowded. This clutter can be distracting, and it can take longer to find the icon you need. Bartender is a great solution for organizing and managing these icons. Here are some reasons why you should use Bartender:
- Clutter-free environment: Keep your menu bar clean and free from unnecessary icons, show only what you need.
- Customizable: You can decide which icons to hide completely, which icons to hide under the Bartender bar, and which icons to keep visible.
- Easy Access: Even the hidden icons can be easily accessed by clicking on the bartender icon.
- Better focus: Less visual clutter can help you focus better on your tasks.
Getting started with Bartender
Before we get into the specific steps for hiding and rearranging icons, it's important to install and set up Bartender. Bartender is available for download from macbartender.com. Once you've downloaded the app, follow the installation instructions on the website.
Launch of Bartender
When you launch Bartender for the first time, it will request the necessary access permissions to manage your menu bar icons. You must allow these permissions for Bartender to work correctly. After granting the necessary permissions, you will see the Bartender icon in your menu bar.
Hiding icons with Bartender
Hiding icons in your menu bar with Bartender is a straightforward process. You can choose to hide specific icons that you don’t need to see all the time. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the Bartender icon in your menu bar.
- You will see a drop-down menu of available options. Select “Preferences” from this menu.
- A new window will open, displaying a list of all the icons in your menu bar.
- To hide an icon, simply drag it from the “Menu Bar Items” section to the “Hidden Menu Bar Items” section.
- Once you have moved all the desired icons to the hidden section, close the Preferences window.
The icons you hid will now only appear when you click the Bartender icon. This will make your menu bar look cleaner and more organized.
Rearranging icons with Bartender
In addition to hiding icons, Bartender allows you to rearrange your menu bar icons for better organization and quick access. Here's how you can rearrange icons using Bartender:
- Again, click the Bartender icon in your menu bar and select "Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
- In the Preferences window, you'll see the list of icons as before.
- Click and hold on any icon to drag it to a new location in the "Menu Bar Items" section.
- Arrange these in any order that best suits your workflow.
- When you're satisfied with the arrangement, close the Preferences window.
Rearranging icons can help streamline your workflow by making your most frequently used icons easier to reach. Whether placing the clock and Wi-Fi icons in prominent locations or arranging third-party app icons in a specific order, Bartender offers the flexibility you need.
Advanced features
In addition to hiding and rearranging icons, Bartender offers several advanced features that allow even more control over your menu bar. Understanding these features can help you get the most out of the application:
Search functionality
Bartender includes a search feature that allows you to quickly find any icon in your menu bar. By typing the icon's name in the search bar, you can locate it without having to scroll through the list. This can be a huge time saver when you have many icons.
Auto hide
With Bartender, you can set icons to hide automatically after a certain period of inactivity or after they have been used. This feature can keep your menu bar as unobtrusive as possible while ensuring that essential icons appear when needed. To set up automatic hiding:
- In the Bartender Preferences window, select an icon from the list.
- Enable the auto-hide option for that icon by checking the appropriate box.
- You can also set how long an icon will be visible before it will automatically hide.
This feature is especially useful for users who want to see notifications or indicators for a short time without permanently occupying the menu bar.
It runs
Bartender allows you to set triggers for the icon. For example, if an app updates, sends a notification, or changes status, Bartender can be configured to automatically show or hide the icon based on these triggers. To set up a trigger:
- Select an icon in the Bartender Preferences window.
- Go to the “Show for updates” section.
- Set triggers like “any update”, “icon change” or specific rules provided by the app.
Triggers ensure you're always up to date without the app appearing in the menu bar.
Troubleshooting common problems
Although Bartender is generally a hassle-free application, users may sometimes encounter trouble with it. Here are some common problems and how to resolve them:
Problem: Icons are neither hiding nor showing
Sometimes you try to hide an icon, but it does not disappear from the menu bar. To solve this problem, follow these steps:
- Check if you've granted the necessary permissions to Bartender in System Preferences under Security & Privacy.
- Make sure Bartender is running. Restart the application if necessary and try hiding the icon again.
- Make sure the application associated with the icon is also up to date, as compatibility issues may prevent the icon from hiding correctly.
Problem: Bartender is not launching on startup
If Bartender doesn't start automatically when you boot a Mac, here's how to fix the problem:
- Open Bartender preferences.
- Go to the “Advanced” tab.
- Make sure the “Run Bartender at login” option is checked.
Conclusion
Bartender is a comprehensive solution for effectively managing your macOS menu bar. By allowing you to hide and rearrange icons, it provides a customized experience that aligns with your work style. Its functionality is further enhanced using advanced features like triggers, auto-hide, and search. Whether you want to reduce clutter, improve focus, or simply organize your workspace, Bartender is a powerful tool for achieving a neat and efficient menu bar experience.
As software development continues to evolve, Bartender remains an essential utility for macOS users who value aesthetic simplicity and efficiency in their digital workspace. By setting up Bartender according to your personal preferences, you can gain control over your menu bar and enjoy a cleaner, more organized desktop environment on your Mac.
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