No more Touch Bar on your MacBook: what are the alternatives?

The Touch Bar has had a turbulent existence. The feature arrived as part of the MacBook Pro lineup in 2016. Instead of fixed function keys, the touchscreen OLED panel was a handy shortcut to various functions.

It sounds like a fantastic functionality, but the success is disappointing. Users can only display a few function keys at a time and the operation was a bit unreliable at times. It is therefore not surprising that almost all current MacBooks are equipped with physical keys.

Do you miss the Touch Bar? Then use these 5 alternatives

The return to physical buttons is nice, but there were certainly advantages to the Touch Bar that we miss today. Fortunately, with the help of some simple alternatives, these are still usable. We have listed the best for you.

1. Learn keyboard shortcuts

Perhaps the cheapest and most obvious alternative to a Touch Bar is to teach yourself shortcuts. Almost all apps on macOS offer some form of keyboard shortcuts for frequently used actions. In many cases you will find them in the menus of apps. Shortcuts aren’t just limited to apps, though. macOS itself also has a wide variety of lightning shortcuts. Apple made a list of the most common. Becoming a master of keyboard shortcuts takes time and practice, but is well worth the effort.

2. Sidecar for iPad

Sidecar is a feature that has been around for a few years. It makes it possible to turn your iPad into an extra screen for your Mac or MacBook. You enable the feature by connecting via USB or wirelessly. While the main benefit of the feature is that you can turn your iPad into a portable display for your Mac, there is also another side benefit: a software Touch Bar. The software appears at the bottom of the screen and works exactly the same as the ‘old’ equivalent. In this video you can see exactly how it works.

3. Elgato Stream Deck

Normally, the Elgato Stream Deck is associated with game streaming. However, the accessory offers a handy selection of buttons that can serve as a Touch Bar. Three versions are available: one with 6, 15 or 32 buttons. You can set the Stream Deck to perform various shortcuts. All at the touch of a button. You can adjust each individual button quickly and easily. It’s an easy way to get something done with minimal effort. The feature also has a mobile version that you can download from the App Store.

4. Touch Bar Simulator

If you like the Touch Bar interface, but don’t want a touchscreen, this free app might be for you. Touch Bar Simulator for macOS mimics the Touch Bar experience on your Mac’s desktop. It works just like the real version, but without touchscreen controls. The simulator is visible as a floating window at the top or bottom of your screen.

5. BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool is an application for macOS that allows you to customize the various inputs available to your Ma. For example, the trackpad, the magic mouse, the magic trackpad and standard mouse and keyboard. The tool also includes features to customize the Touch Bar for MacBook Pro models that do have one.

However, an update from early 2022 will add a new feature for users without Touch Bar. The developers call it the ‘Notch Bar’. Basically the Notch Bar works the same as the Touch Bar Simulator. However, the Notch Bar has two different modes: a widget mode and a menu bar mode. Both modes allow you to display different categories and shortcuts.