Level 1

43 points

MacBook Air 2022 menu bar won't move to main display after OS 27.0.1 update

I just upgraded to OS 27.0.1 on my MacBook Air 2022 and I also just moved my computer to a different room. In setting things up again, I find that I can't move the menu bar from my extended display to the main display (the one on my MacBook. I used a few different AI apps and went through many steps to try to correct this, but didn't find the solution.

Could someone please tell me how to fix this?

Thank you in advance.

MacBook Air, macOS 27.0

Posted on Oct 3, 2026 4:20 AM

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

68,359 points

Posted on Oct 3, 2026 6:09 AM

To designate the main display on macOS with multiple displays connected, follow these steps:

Change Main Display Assignment

Go to System Settings ➔ Displays
Select your Built-in display icon, then click the drop-down menu next to Use as and select Main
Alternatively, click the Arrange button, then drag the white menu bar in the Arrangement from your external monitor to your laptop screen icon to designate it as primary

More info from Apple: Displays settings on Mac - Apple Support

Note that with an extended display, you should be seeing the menu bar on both displays. On the active display (the one in which you are currently working), it should be 'normal' and on the other display (without an active app), it should be 'dimmed' but still visible.

If you are not seeing that behavior, then you may need to take additional troubleshooting steps. Have you rebooted your Mac? If not, that's the first step. If that does not help, then see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

Those steps will help to isolate the problem.

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28 replies

Oct 3, 2026 8:59 AM in response to NotAnExile

NotAnExile wrote:

You can change that by clicking on "Sort By"

Where?

In you open, for example, this one discussion, you see the original post at the top, followed by a "Top ranking reply".

Just below this "Top ranking reply", and on the right side, you will see this (yours will say "Rank", but you should choose "Oldest"):

Oct 3, 2026 9:09 AM in response to NotAnExile

Follow Owl-53's advice:

select your hard drive and you'll see the word "Continue";
hold down Shift and "Continue" becomes "Continue in Safe Mode".
keep holding Shift and click "Continue in Safe Mode"

NotAnExile Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 5, 2026 1:35 AM in response to NotAnExile

I have an update. I still can't move the menu bar to the display I want (I move the white bar in Arrange) to the other display, but the menu bar stays where it is.

But I did find out that if I move the internal display to the left of the external one and change this in Arrange, the menu bar goes there. In other words, the menu bar always stays on the monitor that's on the left side.

Strange? I thought so!

Any further suggestions. I'm still not able to enter Safe Mode.

Oh, and I bought a Display to HDMI cable to replace my Display to USB-C cable but when I connect it to the HDMI port on a hub, it doesn't work. The display thinks there's no cable installed.

NotAnExile Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 5, 2026 8:07 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Thank you, neuranatomist,, for this information.

I'll wait to do the First Aid on my hard disk until the end of my day since it says it can take hours to complete.

As for the display not working when connected to the USB hub, I did a little research (thank you AI) and found something I didn't know: that not all USB hubs are built to handle video. Most are just for data. So "live and learn". For now I'm fine with the Display to USB-C cable I have, I just wanted to see if this problem with the menu bar would be solved with a different connection. Also, the cable doesn't seem to connect well to my MacBook's USB-C port. Again, this is livable.

I'll do the First Aid this evening and post the results here tomorrow.

NotAnExile Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 5, 2026 10:05 AM in response to NotAnExile

Well, I ran First Aid and it took less than 10 seconds. I didn't see any error messages.

Then I tried to start in Safe Mode again but was taken to the regular mode. (I turned off my MacBook, then held down the start button until I saw the screen that included my hard drive. I held down the Shift button on my MacBook (not the external keyboard), clicked on the hard drive icon, then on continue, holding down the Shift button the whole time.)

My bet is that this is a glitch with MacOS 27, but then again who knows?

Oct 5, 2026 10:24 AM in response to NotAnExile

NotAnExile wrote:

Then I tried to start in Safe Mode again but was taken to the regular mode. ... My bet is that this is a glitch with MacOS 27, but then again who knows?

Based on your post, my bet is user error.

You need to follow the instructions carefully and in the stated order. For example:

Open the can of soup
Pour the soup into the bowl
Put the bowl in the microwave and heat it

If you do step 3 before step 2, you will not get hot soup.

What you said:

1. held down the start button until I saw the screen that included my hard drive. 2. held down the Shift button 3. clicked on the hard drive icon 4. then on continue

What the instructions say:

1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac until “Loading startup options” appears. 2. Select a volume [@me adding: you click on it to select it] 3. Press and hold the Shift key 4. then click Continue in Safe Mode.

In other words, you said that you pressed the Shift key then selected the drive and clicked continue, but the instructions say to select the drive then press the Shift key then click continue. Order matters. You keep doing step 3 before step 2, and you keep getting cold soup.

NotAnExile Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 3, 2026 7:14 AM in response to Owl-53

Yes Owl-53 and neuroanatomist, thank you, I've tried this. On my Mac it shows the white bar in the main display, but in the actual monitors, the menu bar is on the extended display.

NotAnExile Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 3, 2026 8:33 AM in response to NotAnExile

I wish these comments and replies were place in this site where they should be! Replies should be shown directly after the comments they're a reply to!!