{"id":82414,"date":"2018-09-10T10:05:01","date_gmt":"2018-09-10T17:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/?p=82414"},"modified":"2018-09-10T10:05:01","modified_gmt":"2018-09-10T17:05:01","slug":"customize-and-personalize-your-macbook-pros-touch-bar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/customize-and-personalize-your-macbook-pros-touch-bar\/","title":{"rendered":"Customize and Personalize Your MacBook Pro\u2019s Touch Bar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

In 2016, Apple introduced the Touch Bar<\/strong>. This touchscreen strip replaces the function keys on higher-end MacBook Pro models with a touchscreen canvas. Apps can use this to surface controls appropriate to the task you\u2019re performing.<\/p>\n

We elsewhere outline how to use the Touch Bar<\/a>, and the customization options Apple offers. However, Apple\u2019s settings only allow you to rearrange a small number of pre-defined buttons. Install BetterTouchTool<\/a> and you can go much further.<\/p>\n

Create a custom Touch Bar button<\/h3>\n

BetterTouchTool enables you to assign actions to all kinds of input devices \u2013\u00a0check out our guide on using it to power up your Mac\u2019s trackpad<\/a>. But here we\u2019re interested in the Touch Bar, and so click the TouchBar<\/strong> tab to get started.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll first create a button to open your Applications folder. Ensure Global<\/strong> is selected in the Select Application<\/strong> sidebar. Click TouchBar Button<\/strong> to create a new button, and then click Add Icon<\/strong>. Scroll down and drag the star icon to the Add Icon<\/strong> area. In Touch Bar Button Name<\/strong>, type Apps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Create<\/p>\n

From the Predefined Action<\/strong> menu, type launch<\/strong> in the search field, and then double-click Launch Application\/Open File<\/strong>. Select your Applications<\/strong> folder in the dialog box (taking care to ensure the folder<\/em> is selected \u2013 not an individual\u00a0app)\u00a0, and then Open<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Open<\/p>\n

If the BetterTouchTool strip is not already open on your Touch Bar, tap its icon. You should see your Apps button. Tap it and your Applications folder will\u00a0open in Finder.<\/p>\n

\"BetterTouchTool<\/p>\n

Get started with Touch Bar widgets<\/h3>\n

BetterTouchTool also includes a handful of readymade widgets you can add to your Touch Bar. Click Widget\/Gesture<\/strong>, and then click the Select Widget<\/strong> menu. You\u2019ll see widgets that mirror menu bar items (Remaining Battery Time<\/strong>; Date \/\u00a0Time<\/strong>), but the App Switcher<\/strong> and slider options are more interesting.<\/p>\n

Click App Switcher<\/strong> and a pane slides down for you to set its options \u2013 leave them alone for now and click Save<\/strong>. (You can always go back to later adjust\u00a0them by double-clicking App Switcher Widget<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0your list of\u00a0actions.)<\/p>\n

\"TouchBar<\/p>\n

Your Touch Bar will now display an app switcher, to let you quickly tap between open apps. Drag it\u00a0left or right to see any that are hidden.<\/p>\n

\"App<\/p>\n

Next, add a Volume Slider<\/strong> widget. Functionally, this is no different from Apple\u2019s. From a usability standpoint, though, you don\u2019t need to first tap a volume button, and then make adjustments \u2013 the entire slider is always active. If you feel it takes up too much space, open its options and have it only appear when a modifier is pressed.<\/p>\n

\"TouchBar<\/p>\n

Further customize your Touch Bar<\/h3>\n

Once you\u2019ve got a hang of the basics, you can take customization further in terms of aesthetics and functionality.<\/p>\n

Select an existing button from the list and then click Advanced Configuration<\/strong>. A pane will slide down, offering a slew of options, including being able to change the button\u2019s color, font, and\u00a0padding. You can define whether only an icon is displayed (thereby hiding the button\u2019s name), and whether you need to hold down a\u00a0modifier key to show the button.<\/p>\n

\"Customize<\/p>\n

The Add Icon<\/strong> area mentioned earlier is drag aware from Finder. This means that if you\u2019re good with a graphics package, you can make a personalized monochrome PNG to drag on to that area. For example, if you create a button that uses an Open URL<\/strong> action to launch a website in Safari, you could set its icon to be the website\u2019s logo.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, you can add apps to the Select Application<\/strong> sidebar, and then create buttons and widgets that only appear when you\u2019re working within specific applications. And by using General Touch Bar Settings<\/strong>, you can even have BetterTouchTool completely take over the Touch Bar \u2013\u00a0just deselect Show macOS Control Strip<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n