MacBook Touch Bar Not Working/Showing? 8 Effective Fixes

Running into a problem with your MacBook’s Touch Bar is very common. In fact, many users report that their Touch Bar becomes unresponsive or stops showing completely, especially after macOS updates or system changes.

In this article, we are going to list the reasons for the issue of the MacBook Touch Bar not working. We’ll also discuss 8 easy solutions to solve this problem quickly.

And in case that you need to read or edit PDF frequently, we will introduce one PDF Editor, UPDF for Mac, to you. Download UPDF for Mac via the button below or via the App Store to stay productive after fixing your MacBook Touch Bar issues.

Part 1. Why is MacBook Touch Bar Not Showing/Working

Here are the potential reasons your MacBook’s touch may not be showing or working:

1. Touch Bar setting issues:

If there is an issue with the touch bar setting, then the touch bar might appear inactive or blank.  Similarly, when switching between apps, the Touch Bar may stay empty or fail to update if the settings aren’t correct. Some system settings can also stop it from working properly.

2. App issues

If the app you're using doesn't support the Touch Bar, it may stop working. Also, if the app crashes or freezes, the touch bar might not update or respond. Some apps also offer very limited Touch Bar functionality, which can be mistaken for a malfunction.

3. System issues

 System issues often involve a crash or failure of the TouchBarServer process, which controls the Touch Bar interface. Similarly, sometimes a macOS update can contain bugs that can cause the Touch Bar to go blank or not show up.

Also Read: How to Fix Mac Battery Not Charging? 8 Effective Methods

Part 2. How to Fix MacBook Touch Bar Not Showing/Working

Here are 8 quick and easy fixes to solve the problem of Touch Bar not showing/working on your MacBook.

Fix 1. Check Keyboard Settings

If your MacBook’s Touch Bar settings are not configured properly, the Touch Bar can stop working. To fix this, you just need to re-enable the Touch Bar to get it working again. To do this:

Step 1:  Go to system preferences, and then select “Keyboard.”

Step 2: In the menu next to "Touch Bar shows," choose "App Controls" and make sure "Show Control Strip" is turned on.

Fix 2. Force Quit and Re-open Touchbar Service

If any glitches are interfering with the Touch Bar working properly, then you can simply force quit and re-open the Touch Bar service from the Activity Monitor. All of the processes that are active on your system are displayed in the Activity Monitor.

Step 1: Open “Applications”, then go to “Utilities” and open “Terminal”.

Step 2: Type this command and press “Return” (Enter): sudo touchbarserver

Step 3: If it asks for your admin password, type it in and press “Return” again.

Step 4: Then close Terminal. The touch bar will restart itself.

Fix 3. Force Quit All Apps

Sometimes an app may cause the Touch Bar to stop working. In that case, just force quit all apps to fix this problem:

Step 1: Press Command+Option+Esc.

Step 2: Choose all open apps one by one and click Force Quit.

Step 3: Check if the Touch Bar is restored.

Fix 4. Restart Your Mac

Restarting your Mac removes temporary files and checks your boot disc for errors on Macs built with Apple silicon. Restarting is sometimes the only solution to issues like your Touch Bar not functioning. To restart your MacBook, click Apple menu > Restart. Once rebooted, check if the Touch Bar is working.

Fix 5. Clear Cache Files

Certain issues can be fixed by clearing the Touch Bar's specific cache files. Your Mac stores non-essential files called cache files to make using programs a little bit easier.

Step 1: Launch Finder.

Step 2: Select Go > Go to Folder.

Step 3: Enter "~/Library/Caches/ and press enter." Next, remove any cache files connected to the Touch Bar.

Fix 6. Reset the Touch Bar

Another quick and easy solution for fixing glitches that can cause your Touch Bar to become unresponsive is resetting the Touch Bar.

Here’s how to reset the Touch Bar:

Step 1: First, go to “Applications”, and then select “Utilities.”

Step 2: Double-click Activity Monitor.

Step 3: Type “TouchBarServer” in the search box. When you see it, click on it, then press the X button to close it. After that, close “Activity Monitor.”

Fix 7. Update macOS

An outdated version of macOS could be the source of the issue. Or at least there might be an update that fixes the issue. Here’s how to install updates:

Step 1: Select System Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 2: Install the update by following the on-screen directions if one is available.

Fix 8. Reset the SMC and NVRAM

Deeper system problems can be fixed by resetting the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) and System Management Controller (SMC).

How to reset the SMC:

Step 1: Turn off your Mac.

Step 2: Hold down Shift, Control, Option, and the Power button.

Step 3: Release after holding for ten seconds or more. Restart your MacBook by pressing the Power button once more.

How to reset the NVRAM or PRAM:

Step 1: Select Shut Down from the Apple menu.

Step 2: Hold Option + Command + P + R for roughly 20 seconds at startup.

Step 3: Release the keys and let your Mac reboot normally.

Also Read: How to Fix “macOS Cannot Verify That This App is Free from Malware” Error? Here Are Effective Ways

Part 3. Bonus Tip: The Best PDF Reader or Editor for Mac

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Final Words

If your MacBook Touch Bar isn't showing or functioning, don’t worry! it may be due to app, system, or setting issues. Try simple fixes like checking settings, force quitting the Touch Bar process, restarting your Mac, clearing cache, updating macOS, or resetting SMC and NVRAM to get this issue resolved quickly.

And you can simplify your PDF-related tasks on your MacBook today by downloading UPDF after fixing the issues that you have on Mac.