How to Pin Menu Items to Menu Bar in macOS Big Sur

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how to pin menu items to menu bar on mac

macOS Big Sur has made the humble menu bar taller and more translucent. And for the first time ever it gets an iOS-like Control Center. This panel consolidates menu bar items into a single place so you don’t have to visit System Preferences too often. However, you might want to Pin menu items to the menu bar on Mac for faster & easier one-click access.

How to Pin System Control Items to Menu Bar in macOS Big Sur

The macOS Control Center can be invoked by clicking on a dual toggle icon from the Menu Bar. You can access many settings like display brightness, AirDrop, AirPlay, backlit keyboard, and Do Not Disturb from here.

To make things more convenient and faster, you might want to add some of these settings directly to the menu bar.

  1. Select the Control Center icon from the menu bar.click on control center from menubar in macos big sur
  2. Here, select the items from the panel
  3. Drag & drop them anywhere on the menu bar.drag and drop item from control center to menubar in macos big sur
  4. Now press (⌘) Command on our keyboard and drag an icon, to move them according to your convenience

It is indeed pretty simple! Although this does not delete or remove the setting from Control Panel, it just adds it to the Menu Bar as well.

You can drag almost all control items on the menu bar. But what if the menu item you want is not present in the Control Panel? Then you can try this below mentioned alternate method.

How to Pin Menu Items to Mac Menu Bar using System Preferences

  1. Click on the Apple icon and select System Preferences.open system preferences on mac running macos bug sur
  2. Here, click on Dock and Menu option.click on dock and menu in system preference on mac
  3. Select the menu item you want on the menu bar from the Side Bar.click on item from sidebar in dock and menu on mac
  4. Here check the box beside Show in Menu Bar. The item will instantly show up on your menu bar.pin menu items to menu bar using system preferences on mac runnig macos big sur

This method also applies when you want to add or remove items from the Control Center panel. Do note that listing on the Side Bar also shows where the feature is available or whether it is enabled or disabled.

How to Remove System Control Items from Mac Menu Bar

Quite like how you do in earlier versions of macOS, you can press command on the keyboard, click, drag & leave the menu item anywhere on the desktop.

Or you can choose a longer route, System Preferences → Dock and Menu, & unchecking the menu item.

open system preferences on mac running macos bug sur

click on dock and menu in system preference on macremove system control items from menubar on mac running macos big sur

Signing Off 

With macOS 11 Big Sur, Apple has revamped Mac’s operating system, from the redesigned icons to the addition of Control Center. In fact, it also incorporates quick access, dynamic iPadOS 14 like widgets that can be accessed from the Notification Center.

All-in-all macOS Big Sur has become more user-friendly and customizable, and we are loving it!

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A self-professed Geek who loves to explore all things Apple. I thoroughly enjoy discovering new hacks, troubleshooting issues, and finding and reviewing the best products and apps currently available. My expertise also includes curating opinionated and honest editorials. If not this, you might find me surfing the web or listening to audiobooks.