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Monterey Menu Bar All Black With No Buttons

After a few hours of use, the menu bar stops working consistently. I've only been able to fix it with a restart.


On the desktop, the menu bar is still visible. On full screen apps, the menu bar is completely black with no buttons (although I can still click buttons as though they were there). When I try to hover over the menu bar in a fullscreen app, the app screen size adjusts as if the menu bar was appearing but I only get a black bar.


Any way to fix this? I've seen suggestions like disabling auto-hiding of the menu bar or disabling translucency. Neither of those worked, the menu bar is still black.



MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Jun 27, 2022 8:10 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 27, 2022 8:53 AM

MatthewPhysics wrote:

After a few hours of use, the menu bar stops working consistently. I've only been able to fix it with a restart.

On the desktop, the menu bar is still visible. On full screen apps, the menu bar is completely black with no buttons (although I can still click buttons as though they were there). When I try to hover over the menu bar in a fullscreen app, the app screen size adjusts as if the menu bar was appearing but I only get a black bar.

Any way to fix this? I've seen suggestions like disabling auto-hiding of the menu bar or disabling translucency. Neither of those worked, the menu bar is still black.



Try a —SafeBoot How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test.


7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 27, 2022 8:53 AM in response to MatthewPhysics

MatthewPhysics wrote:

After a few hours of use, the menu bar stops working consistently. I've only been able to fix it with a restart.

On the desktop, the menu bar is still visible. On full screen apps, the menu bar is completely black with no buttons (although I can still click buttons as though they were there). When I try to hover over the menu bar in a fullscreen app, the app screen size adjusts as if the menu bar was appearing but I only get a black bar.

Any way to fix this? I've seen suggestions like disabling auto-hiding of the menu bar or disabling translucency. Neither of those worked, the menu bar is still black.



Try a —SafeBoot How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test.


Jun 27, 2022 9:57 AM in response to MatthewPhysics

Yes, a Safe Boot could be a solution to your problem:


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Jun 27, 2022 9:04 AM in response to MatthewPhysics


MatthewPhysics wrote:

Rebooting is not really a solution to the problem.

Also, I'd prefer not to install 3rd party software.



It's your mac, your call. You did come here for help, and we can't do much without information.


It is a bit ironic, because it is most likely third party software that is causing the problem.

And yet you are wary of installing a simple diagnostic tool that was created with the sole purpose of helping users in these fora help others, by providing adequate information to look for problems, and which could lead us to find the cause of the problem.


Monterey Menu Bar All Black With No Buttons

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