How to bookmark URL on Touch Bar

Searched forum and found old questions but no complete answers for how to add a Touch Bar button to open a preferred website. So here’s how to do it.

1. Open Automator.app (type automator in spotlight search);
2. Choose Quick Action;
3. Select Actions tab at top left;
4. In Library (on left below Actions tab), select Internet;
5. In Internet Actions column (second column from left) double click “Get Specified URLs”(or drag and drop it to the blank actions panel on right) it will appear in the actions panel;
6. In Internet Actions column double click “Display Webpages” it will appear below “Get Specified URLs” in action panel on right - NOTE the position is important so if any other order drag the action items to the proper location;
7. At top of right panel select “no input” from “Workflow receives current” dropdown (bottom of list) - NOTE label will change to “Worflow receives” deleting the word “current”;
8. In Address box of Get Specified URLs, edit the default http://www.apple.com entry to specify your desired URL;
9. Save and name the Quick Action (it will prompt for name upon saving and append .workflow) - NOTE keep the name short as it appears in Touch Bar;
10. Close the Automator.app window;
11. Open System Preferences (Click Apple Icon in main menu of any app and select “System Preferences”);
12. Click Keyboard icon;
13. Click Keyboard in tabs menu (it may already be selected);
14. Either:
    1. Add Quick Actions to Touch Bar but lose App Controls when you are in other apps. This gives you one click access to the URL, but wastes the Touch Bar for any other apps;
       1. Select “Quick Actions” from the “Touch Bar shows” dropdown. This will show the link in Touch Bar at all times;
       2. Close System Preferences window;
       3. Touch the new workflow item that appeared on the left of the Touchbar and your default browser will open the URL you specified above.
    2. Add Quick Actions to control strip or expanded control strip to reveal the Quick Action. This will result in either 2 or 3 touches to open your URL. You must replace an item already on the Control Strip or Expanded Control Strip for this to function. If you replace an item in Control Strip (reduced set of 4 functions) you will touch the Quick Actions item, then the URL Workflow. If you replace an item in the Expanded Control Strip you have to touch the < to expand, then touch the Quick Actions item, then touch the URL workflow;

1 - If you want 2 touch access to your URL, you must replace an item in the Control Strip (reduced strip on right side of Touch Bar) with the Quick Actions item:

a) Click “Customize Control Strip…” button. All windows will disappear except a set of icons you can drag to your Touch Bar;

b) Click and Drag the Quick Actions item below the screen and drop it on the Touch Bar over the item you will replace;

c) Click “Done”;

d) Close System Preferences window;

e) Touch the Quick Actions item in your Control Strip (looks like workflow model or two signs on a post with a down arrow);

f) Touch the new workflow item that appeared on the left of the Touchbar and your default browser will open the URL you specified above; or

2 - If you want to keep all the reduced set in Control Strip, you will have a 3 touch access to your URL.

a) Select Expanded Control Strip in the Touch Bar dropdown;

b) “Customize Control Strip…” button. All windows will disappear except a set of icons you can drag to your Touch Bar;

c) Click and Drag the Quick Actions item below the screen and drop it on the Touch Bar over the item you will replace;

d) Click “Done”;

e) Select Control Strip in the Touch Bar dropdown;

f) Close System Preferences window;

g) Touch the < on Touch Bar to expand the Control Strip;

h) Touch the Quick Actions item in your Control Strip (looks like workflow model or two signs on a post with a down arrow);

i) Touch the new workflow item that appeared on the left of the Touch Bar and your default browser will open the URL you specified above.

That’s it… enjoy!