Here’s How You Can Make All the Basic Customisations to MacBook Pro’s Touchbar

In MacBook Pro’s 2016 update, the primary feature that was added was the Touch Bar. It is a thin touchscreen display that sits along the top of the keyboard in the place of the function keys. Since then, Apple has launched updated MacBook Pro models in 2017, and all of the updated models retain the feature.

So, if you have bought yourself a MacBook Pro in India and are confused as to how to make the best of the Touch Bar, this article will shed some light on how the feature functions for the commonly used apps. You will also learn how you can customize the Touch Bar so that it displays and works according to your preference.

The Touch Bar has the ability to simplify the tasks that you frequently do on your MacBook. The ease to correct spelling mistakes with just one tap is one of the best features. Apart from that, listed below are few other things which you can do with the help of the Touch Bar that enhance the overall experience.

Step 1: Use Touch Bar to Unlock Mac

If you have recently bought a MacBook Pro in India, you will have the option to set it up by adding your Fingerprint which can be used as ID to unlock the Mac. It will also confirm your identity for iTunes purchase and Apple Pay.

If you haven’t added your fingerprint during setup, you can also do it later by going to System Preferences and then Touch ID

All you have to do is select, 'Add a Fingerprint' and tap the small square area beside the Touch Bar. The integrated camera will capture your fingerprint. You can then open the Mac and needn’t enter any passcode. Instead, a single tap on the Touch ID will unlock your Mac.

Step 2: Use Apple Pay on MacBook Pro With Touch Bar

Once your Fingerprint has been used to confirm your identity to unlock your MacBook, you can use it to pay through Apple Pay. All you have to do is update your Apple Pay preferences and have your Mac verified with your bank before you use it with Apple Pay.

Step 3: How to Turn on the Touch Bar?

Usually, the Touch Bar is displayed on the Control Strip (Escape, Brightness, Volume and Siri) most of the times. However, if you have been inactive for a while, the Touch Bar will either switch off or dim down. In this case, just tap on the Touch Bar, and the options will appear

If the Touch Bar is still unresponsive after tapping, select a different app and then return to the one that you were using. It will start functioning after that.

Step 4: Customization of the Control Strip on the Touch Bar

Open System Preference> Keyboard> Customize Control Stripe

It will make the existing Touch Bar icons vibrate. Now you can drag and drop the Touch Bar icons that you need just like in Spotlight search.

Step 5: Adjust Brightness Using Touch Bar

Few Touch Bar options are available at all times, and Apple calls them the Control Strip and Brightness is one among them.

Touch the sun-like icon, and you’ll notice a slider appear on the Touch Bar. You can touch it and move your finger from left to right to adjust the screen brightness according to your preference.

Step 6: Adjust Volume Using the Touch Bar

The volume shortcut is also available on the Control Strip. Just tap on the speaker-shaped icon and use the slider to increase or decrease the volume. You can also tap on the speaker icon to mute it.

Step 7: Open Siri Using Touch Bar

The circle with a wave inside is the Siri button. Tap on it, and you can ask Siri your query.

Step 8: Mission Control, Launch Pad Etc. on the Touch Bar

The several other system controls that you usually found on top of a standard Apple keyboard does not appear on the Touch Bar by default. To be able to view them, you have to tap the < on the Control Strip.

Step 9: Using Predictive Text With Touch Bar

The predictive text suggestion automatically appears in Touch Bar while you’re typing in few of the Apple Apps. But, if you don’t see the suggestions automatically, tap on the Keyboard icon beside the Control Stripe. Now you can tap on the word to add it directly to your document or email.

Step 10: Correct Spelling Using the Touch Bar

Just select the misspelt word with your trackpad or mouse, and you’ll see suggestions for the correct spelling in the Touch Bar. Now just tap on the correct spelling to automatically change the misspelt word in your text.

Step 11: Format Text Using Touch Bar

You can minimize the predictive text suggestions in the Touch Bar to view more formatting options– Click on the > symbol beside the first suggested word. You will be able to view options for changing the color of the text, making it bold, italic, underlined, justify left, right and centre and the numbering and bullet options.

Step 12: Use Emoji Using Touch Bar

If you click on the smiley face in Mail or Messages, the Touch Bar transforms into a menu of emojis with the most frequently used, default etc. You can select the emoji you want to and add it to your text. If you’re looking for a specific emoji, you can search it by tapping on the magnifying glass icon and type the search term. The best match will appear on the Touch Bar.

Step 13: Function Keys on a Touch Bar

The function keys are replaced by the Touch Bar in MacBook Pro, but you can bring them back easily. Just press and hold the Function Key (Fn) on the bottom left of the keyboard to make the keys appear. Once you let go of the key, the function keys will vanish.

Step 14: Escape Key on Touch Bar

In most apps, the Esc button will be on the far left, but certain apps don’t include the button. You can check the customization panel palette, and if the button is available, you can add it to show up in the future.

So, if you’ve been planning to buy the latest MacBook Pro in India but were sceptical because of the Touch Bar, you have nothing to worry about now.