Touch bar not showing brightness or volume controls despite being the only selected items

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Level 1

8 points

Touch bar not showing brightness or volume controls despite being the only selected items

Hi,

My touch bar is no longer showing my brightness, volume and siri controls on the right hand side in any app or desktop. App specific items in the touchbar appear e.g. word suggestions in messages etc.

I have reset and double checked that in the 'customise control strip' setting in system preferences that these items are selected yet they no longer appear on the touchbar when in use.

MacBook Pro is running on Big Sur 11.3.1 and device has been reset numerous times now.

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on May 17, 2021 6:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chris_g1

Community Specialist

May 18, 2021 8:14 AM in response to ev_d2

Hi ev_d2,

Thank you for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

We see that you have an issue with your Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro not showing brightness, volume or Siri controls. We want to help. You can try a couple of resets. Neither will affect your data.

You can reset the SMC. Here’s How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support

If that doesn’t help, please reset the NVRAM. Here’s how to Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If those steps don't work, does the issue happen in another user account? Does it happen in safe mode?

Here are a few quick notes about safe mode:

- Safe mode often looks and responds a bit different than what you're used to.

- Safe mode does not load everything that normally loads during a regular startup.

- Safe mode is a bit slower while loading and during normal operation as well.

- These differences can be cleared-up by a normal restart.

Test to see the issue happens in safe mode. Restart and test again in typical mode. Just booting into safe mode in and of itself can resolve some issues.

Reach back out with any questions.

Best Wishes!

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Answer 2

ev_d2 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 22, 2021 4:35 AM in response to chris_g1

Hi there,

I performed both resets, the SMC and NVRAM reset and neither showed any results.

The issue does not appear when I'm logged into a guest user, so the brightness, volume and siri controls appear like normal while in that profile, although the issue is still there when logged into my own.

I booted the macbook into safe mode and logged into my user and the controls still did not appear.

Is there anything else we can do?

Thanks again

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Answer 3

May 25, 2021 12:12 PM in response to ev_d2

Hi ev_d2,

Thank you for reaching back out to. Since the issue happens in safe mode as well, you can reinstall macOS Catalina. Here's How to reinstall macOS

Although you are not erasing and reinstalling macOS Catalina, it is always a good idea to back up your Mac to keep your data safe.

Best Regards!

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Touch bar not showing brightness or volume controls despite being the only selected items

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