MacBook Pro apps or menu bar hidden by the notch? Here's the fix.
What you need to know
- Apple's new MacBook Pro features a notch to house its front-facing camera.
- Early reports indicate it doesn't always play nicely with some apps or the menu bars.
- Apple has confirmed users can get around this with a handy 'scale to fit' setting.
Following some viral videos yesterday of Apple's new MacBook Pro (2021) displaying some pretty whacky formatting around the notch, Apple has revealed how users can stop apps and menu bar items from disappearing behind the camera housing.
In a new support document Apple states:
Apple says turning this on will ensure that any apps with items or windows that might have otherwise appeared behind the camera housing will appear below the camera until you stop using the app.
If you have an app that won't play ball, here are the steps Apple says you should follow:
- Quit the app.
- Click the Finder icon in the Dock, then click Applications in the Finder sidebar.
- Select the app, then choose File > Get Info, or press Command-I.
- In the Info window that opens, select "Scale to fit below built-in camera."
As you can see from the tweet below, this does work, but there's a trade-off that brings back the MacBook's larger bezels:
Good news for notch haters! If you've got an app (or apps) with menus that collide with the notch, just Get Info on the app, and enable "Scale to fit below built-in camera".
While the app is running (even in the bg), your display is scaled.#Apple #M1Pro #M1Max #MacBookPro2021 pic.twitter.com/nlGqkFkXAHGood news for notch haters! If you've got an app (or apps) with menus that collide with the notch, just Get Info on the app, and enable "Scale to fit below built-in camera".
While the app is running (even in the bg), your display is scaled.#Apple #M1Pro #M1Max #MacBookPro2021 pic.twitter.com/nlGqkFkXAH— Joseph from Sketch (@Jatodaro) October 27, 2021October 27, 2021
Importantly, Apple notes that it has also given developers the tools to stop the notch impeding any information display by their apps. If a developer has activated the correct settings, this scale-to-fit option won't be available to users, as it shouldn't be necessary. Interestingly, the support document Apple published regarding full-screen use around the notch has been taken down. It previously stated:
Apple's new MacBook Pro is the best MacBook the company has ever made, although it caused a stir at launch because of its distinctive notch that houses a new 1080p webcam, along with more space for the menu and status bars at the top macOS.
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Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9