How To Fix macOS Big Sur Touch Bar Bug On MacBook Pro
Last updated on August 25th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Posted in How To by Vlad on November 15, 2020
macos Big Sur Touch Bar bug! Source: Reddit
Is the Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro not working properly anymore ever since you updated to macOS 11.0.1? This seems to be a common issue, because multiple users have reported this problem to us, within the last 24 hours.
This macOS Big Sur bug is causing parts of your MacBook’s Pro Touch Bar to disappear. Other claim that the entire Touch bar doesn’t display. In both cases the digital buttons seem to be working normally, making this more a visual problem than a functional one.
4 Ways To Fix macOS Big Sur Touch Bar Bug
This most likely is a software glitch that managed to find its way in the public release of macOS 11.0.1. However, until Apple issues and official fix you can try to following troubleshooting tips:
1. Reboot Mac
The first thing that you should attempt to do in order to fix this is to restart your MacBook Pro computer and hope that a fresh start will make the Touch Bar display normally again.
How To: Click the Apple logo available in the top-left corner of the screen, select Restart… and click Restart again to confirm your selection.
2. Turn Off Mac
You can also try to shutdown your Macbook wait for a couple of seconds and switch it back On.
3. Terminal App Trick
If the macOS Big Sur Touch Bar issue persists you can apply the following tip to re-spring the Touch Bar:
- Click on Finder and search for Terminal.
Tip: Make sure that you use This Mac as filtering option and not Recents. - Double-click on Terminal.
- Type the following code: $ sudo pkill TouchBarServer;
4. Reset NVRAM/PRAM And SMC
Stephen confirmed that he was able to fix the macOS touch bar issue with a NVRAM/PRAM and SMC reset.
Tip: For a detailed step-by-step guide about how to reset the SMC please read here.
Fact: This touch bar fix only works for Intel-based MacBooks. M1 Mac don’t support SMC reset!
Extra Tip: Unplug MacBook From Power Outlet
In rare cases the MacBook touch bar problem can be caused by a faulty power outlet. Is the touch bar flickering or malfunctioning only when your machine is plugged in? Disconnect it and try a different power outlet or charging cable.
More: Water damage can also be the cause of the MacBook Pro touch bar not working. If you or someone else accidentally spilled water or some other liquid on the keyboard the digital touch buttons could stop displaying and working altogether.
Is the Touch Bar also not displaying properly on your MacBook Pro? Do any of the above mentioned tips work for you? Use the comments section and let us know. Do you have a better fix? Don’t hesitate to share it!
Update:
Although not related, another user reports that the Universal Clipboard between iPad and Mac has stopped working since the computer was updated to macOS Big Sur. Is your Mac also plagued by a bug after you updated to macOS 11.0.1? Don’t hesitate to use our bug report page and share it with us!
Related: You haven’t managed to update to macOS Big Sur yet because your device hasn’t enough storage? Here are a couple of tricks that will help you out!
This did not help my touch bar, which isn’t even lit up at all since the update. I can force click it and the screen will show me what I am clicking on but I still can’t do anything with it. Very annoying
Raquel, thanks for sharing your feedback. Unfortunately, we don’t have any other recommendations at the moment. We have reported this problem to Apple and this topic has been added to the report. The more confirmations, the stronger the case. We’ll update this article as soon as something changes.
Did you find a fix to it? I’m having additional problems as well with mine, where it doesn’t shut down properly and freezing every now and then. Since I have a M1 MBP, I’m pretty much out of luck.
I’m having the same issue. I had it with Catalina and fixed it but none of the fixes you mention are working for me. Very annoying. My Mac seems so buggy lately.
Elizabeth, I’m sorry to hear that the tips did not work for you. Can you remember how you fixed it in macOS Catalina?
I had success doing an VRAM and SCM reset. After doing both, Touch Bar came back online…though not sure how long it’ll last…
Stephen thanks for letting us know. Please get back to us if the bug reoccurs.
I thought that would do it for me, but unfortunately I cannot reset VRAM and SMC on a M1 Chip MacBook Pro. I’m out of luck.
Fazal, yes M1 Macs don’t have NVRAM or SMC reset option. SMC reset on non-Apple Silicone chip Macs required to completely cut the power source to your machine. Since the M1 MacBook Pro doesn’t come with a removable battery, and there’s also no SMC reset command, you could attempt to deplete the battery until the machine shuts down because of lack of power. Then wait a couple of hours or even more to make sure that there’s no juice at all left. When you think that you achieved this step connect your Mac to a charger and power it back on.
Important: This troubleshooting steps hasn’t been tested. It’s pure speculation, so act accordingly.
You could also try to reinstall macOS Big Sur and see if this fixed the Touch Bar issue!
After upgrading BigSur 10.15 in M1 MacBook Pro, my Touch Bar is not displaying but I can touch the button. Do you have any idea to solve this?
What happens if you update to macOS Big Sur 11.6? Does it make any difference?
This worked for me, thanks, Stephen!
Thanks for confirming.
Email report:
Baskaran: “My touch bar does not show up any more but functions as normal as if the buttons are there as you touch the bar the bar shows up on the bottom of the screen. MAC Book pro 16 inch 2016.”
This issue just happened to me, the touch bar works but it just isnt lighting up.
Robert, thanks for sharing. Does this happen in macOS Big Sur 11.1?
Having the same issues in 11.2 and 11.2, touch. bar actually functions, but the bar is black, you just have to guess where the buttons are. I do see half of the ‘escape’ button on the left side of the bar.
Kevin thanks for sharing. Did you manage to fix it in the meantime? Would appreciate a follow up.
My fingerprint ID function has stopped working ever since the latest install of Big Sur (2 days ago). Finger Print ID shows up as enabled but the entire Touch Bar has gone dead too since the install.
Jon, thanks for reporting this. Have you tried to contact Apple support? Let us know if you manage to find a workaround.
I’m having the same touch bar problem as all those above. Tried the Terminal pkill etc. moves but absolutely nothing worked. The Touch Bar is completely dark but if I press on it, the screen will show the function. Just bought this darn thing in July 2020 for $$$$ and it starts malfunctioning after 6 months? Seriously Apple?
Janet, this must be frustrating indeed. Can you confirm that your MacBook is updated to macOS Big Sur 11.1?
I have the same problem as too! My TouchBar is not showing but I can press the buttons on it. My MacBook is up to date as well. I just got this thing barely over a month too :/
Can you provide some additional feedback? Is your TouchBar working normally in the meantime?
I am also having the Touch Bar issue after upgrading to Big Sur. It’s not lighting up at all, however, it seems to be responsive when I push on it – I just can’t tell which “button” I’m pushing on. Super annoying.
Running Big Sur 11.2 on 15″ MacBook Pro 2016.
Thanks for confirming this issue. Let us know if you manage to troubleshoot it. You can also attempt to contact Apple support and see what they have to offer.
MBP M1 , 13″ 2020, Big Sur 11.3.1, Touch Bar Pixelated with no visibility though works when you touch it (having to guess which control is where). The pkill Touch Bar Agent and Touch Bar Server command do not work to have the issue resolved.
Would really appreciate a solution.
Andrew, thanks for reporting this and for confirming that the issue is still available in macOS Big Sur 11.3.1. Not sure what else to suggest. Have you contacted Apple support and see if they have a solution?
I just did all of the above NVRAM and SMC and the touch bar keeps going bonkers for over 10 minutes. I can’t even open an app without the touch bar pressing buttons by itself. Right now it appears to be calmed down but once again this issue reappears over and over again. I don’t know if it has to do with the update to Big Sur or my user because I took it to a store and it says that my user had issues but what issues. I reset my macbook for my user twice and the touch Bar keeps running by itself without stopping. What can I do in this case wait for OS Monterey to be available
When did you update to macOS Big Sur. Was it just recently? Did the Touch Bar start acting weird right after the update? Is there any chance that liquids have been accidentally spilled on it?
If this is too annoying and you think that Big Sur is to blame, you can already try out the macOS Monterey Public Beta!
Just used the “terminal” method and it worked for me with the exception that my Touch Bar is now always expanded. I will take that over not being able to use my Touch Bar!
Thanks for the feedback. Happy to partially help you.