Has any one else had the problem of the Toggle-button for overflowing items in the menu bar (toggling the visibility of items beyond the notch) missing since updating from MacOS 27 to 27.2?
I'm on a 16'' MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro. I really appreciated the toggle button for the overflowing items but noticed it not being there after the update to 27.2 recently.
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 27.2
Missing macOS menu bar overflow button after updating to macOS 27.2
This is worth investigating, particularly because the overflow indicator was introduced as a native macOS 27 feature and you noticed its disappearance immediately after updating to macOS 27.2.
Apple confirms the existence of this feature in its official macOS 27 enterprise release notes. Apple describes how the menu bar dynamically adapts when there isn't enough room to display every item, hiding items and replacing them with a compact overflow indicator that reveals the hidden items when clicked.
Official Apple reference:
What's new for enterprise in macOS Golden Gate 27 - Apple Support
Therefore, this is not simply functionality provided by a third-party application such as Bartender or Hidden Bar. It is a native macOS feature.
Apple's macOS 27.2 release notes do not specifically mention removing or changing this functionality. Consequently, I would not assume Apple intentionally removed it. It could instead be a regression or an issue with the menu bar interface following the update.
Here are some troubleshooting steps worth trying:
1. Check whether the overflow indicator is genuinely missing
Temporarily add several menu bar items or enable additional menu bar controls to ensure there are more items than can fit in the available space.
The overflow indicator should appear automatically when there is not enough room to display all the items.
If it does not appear even when the menu bar is clearly overcrowded, that makes a software issue more likely.
2. Rearrange the menu bar icons
Hold down the Command (⌘) key and drag menu bar icons to rearrange them.
Check whether the overflow indicator reappears when the available space is exceeded.
3. Temporarily disable third-party menu bar utilities
If you use applications such as Bartender, Ice, Hidden Bar or other menu bar management utilities, quit them completely and test again.
These applications can affect menu bar item visibility, so it's worth ruling out a possible conflict.
4. Restart your Mac
A restart can sometimes resolve temporary menu bar rendering or interface problems, particularly after a system update.
5. Test in Safe Mode
If the problem persists, try starting your Mac in Safe Mode. This can help determine whether third-party software or login items are contributing to the issue.
Once logged in, check whether the overflow indicator appears.
Restart normally to exit Safe Mode.
6. Report the issue to Apple
If none of these steps restores the indicator, I'd recommend submitting a report through and using the Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue
Include your exact macOS version (27.2), Mac model (16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro), and a screenshot showing the overcrowded menu bar without the overflow indicator.
Important distinction
Apple's documentation confirms that the native overflow indicator exists in macOS 27. However, I have not found an official Apple acknowledgement that its disappearance in macOS 27.2 is a known bug.
The disappearance following the update is therefore worth investigating as a potential software regression rather than assuming the feature has been intentionally removed.
Missing macOS menu bar overflow button after updating to macOS 27.2
This is worth investigating, particularly because the overflow indicator was introduced as a native macOS 27 feature and you noticed its disappearance immediately after updating to macOS 27.2.
Apple confirms the existence of this feature in its official macOS 27 enterprise release notes. Apple describes how the menu bar dynamically adapts when there isn't enough room to display every item, hiding items and replacing them with a compact overflow indicator that reveals the hidden items when clicked.
Official Apple reference:
What's new for enterprise in macOS Golden Gate 27 - Apple Support
Therefore, this is not simply functionality provided by a third-party application such as Bartender or Hidden Bar. It is a native macOS feature.
Apple's macOS 27.2 release notes do not specifically mention removing or changing this functionality. Consequently, I would not assume Apple intentionally removed it. It could instead be a regression or an issue with the menu bar interface following the update.
Here are some troubleshooting steps worth trying:
1. Check whether the overflow indicator is genuinely missing
Temporarily add several menu bar items or enable additional menu bar controls to ensure there are more items than can fit in the available space.
The overflow indicator should appear automatically when there is not enough room to display all the items.
If it does not appear even when the menu bar is clearly overcrowded, that makes a software issue more likely.
2. Rearrange the menu bar icons
Hold down the Command (⌘) key and drag menu bar icons to rearrange them.
Check whether the overflow indicator reappears when the available space is exceeded.
3. Temporarily disable third-party menu bar utilities
If you use applications such as Bartender, Ice, Hidden Bar or other menu bar management utilities, quit them completely and test again.
These applications can affect menu bar item visibility, so it's worth ruling out a possible conflict.
4. Restart your Mac
A restart can sometimes resolve temporary menu bar rendering or interface problems, particularly after a system update.
5. Test in Safe Mode
If the problem persists, try starting your Mac in Safe Mode. This can help determine whether third-party software or login items are contributing to the issue.
Once logged in, check whether the overflow indicator appears.
Restart normally to exit Safe Mode.
6. Report the issue to Apple
If none of these steps restores the indicator, I'd recommend submitting a report through and using the Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue
Include your exact macOS version (27.2), Mac model (16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro), and a screenshot showing the overcrowded menu bar without the overflow indicator.
Important distinction
Apple's documentation confirms that the native overflow indicator exists in macOS 27. However, I have not found an official Apple acknowledgement that its disappearance in macOS 27.2 is a known bug.
The disappearance following the update is therefore worth investigating as a potential software regression rather than assuming the feature has been intentionally removed.
Toggle-button for overflowing items in menu bar missing since 27.2
