In the new Liquid Glass design from MacOS Tahoe, Apple has removed the background of the menu bar, so that it seamlessly matches the background you have chosen.
Some users see this as an improvement, while others prefer a menu bar with a background. For the latter group there is good news: the menu bar background can be switched on again.
Transparent menu bar, part of Liquid Glass
Liquid Glass is the new, glassy and transparent interface from Apple that bends and reflects slightly dynamically, making it look like you look through real glass. The design contains rounded buttons and floating menus that match the rounded screen corners of Apple devices, including a transparent menu bar.
This technology offers a smooth and lively user experience by responding to contact and movement. Liquid Glass is integrated in all Apple platforms such as iOS 26, Macos Tahoe, Watchos 26 and TVOS 26, and emphasizes content and readability.
It is the largest design update from Apple ever, which must make the interface both aesthetically attractive and interactive.
macOS menu bar
The menu bar in macOS serves as the central location at the top of the screen where you have access to system functions and app-specific menus. Here you will find the Apple menu, system status, shortcuts to settings, and functions such as volume, Wi-Fi and battery.
The menu bar is now completely transparent in MacOS Tahoe, which ensures a stylish, minimalist look. “Live activities” such as updates of apps or timers also appear directly in the menu bar, which makes it useful to see information quickly without opening apps.
Menu bar Entering background
The menu bar is transparent from Macos Tahoe 26 thanks to the Liquid Glass user interface. However, if you prefer a menu bar with a background, that is still possible.
Follow the steps below to switch on the background of the menu bar.
- Go to  ▸ System settings.
- In the left column, select the “Menu bar” option
- Activate the switch with the “Show Rear Grongd van Menubalk” option.
When the button is activated, the background of the menu bar becomes immediately visible. Turn it off to make the menu bar transparent again.