The function keys on a keyboard are sometimes very helpful and important. You can use it to adjust the brightness or the volume, among other things. But they are missing on one specific device: the fourth-generation MacBook Pro. A touch bar has been integrated here instead. You can find out how to adapt and change them below.
For most Mac users, the move to a Touch Bar was confusing. Instead of the classic F-keys, a digital bar has been set up on the MacBook Pro’s keyboard. Compared to the function keys, you can adjust the touch bar as you wish and individually.
How the MacBook Pro Touch Bar customization works
Basically, the Touch Bar consists of an app and task area and the Control Strip. The latter is the box on the right of the Touch Bar up to the arrow. You can design these individually. To make the adjustments, proceed as follows:
First, click on the Mac menu (Apple icon). Then go to “System Settings” and “Keyboard”. There you can set the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro. Under the Keyboard tab is the Touch Bar Shows drop-down menu. And this is where the adjustments are made.
app controls
If you opt for “app controls”, the most important functions of an app that are currently open or currently being used can be found on the Touch Bar. For example: If you are currently working in Microsoft Word, you will see the most important functions of the Word menu bar on the Touch Bar.
Extended Control Strip
The Control Strip represents the most important options and has no classic app tasks. With the Control Strip icons you can adjust the volume and brightness, but also use Siri. It is also possible to start the search function. A little tip: In the same tab there is a button “Customize Control Strip”. This allows you to customize the Touch Bar even more if you choose “Extended Control Strip”. If you don’t want to use the Control Strip at all, you can uncheck the “Show Control Strip” box.
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Keys F1, F2 etc.
This menu item is self-explanatory. If you decide to do this, the function keys F1 to F12 appear on the Touch Bar. To give you an overview, the respective purposes of the function keys are as follows:
- F1: Screen darker
- F2: Screen brighter
- F3: Mission Control
- F4: Search function (Spotlight)
- F5: VoiceOver
- Q6: Do not disturb
- F7: Rewind
- F8: Play/Pause
- F9: Fast forward
- F10: Mute
- F11: Volume down
- F12: Sound louder
Quick Actions
With this function it is possible to display frequently performed tasks in the Touch Bar. To do this, the “Quick Actions” logo must first be dragged into the Touch Bar via “Customize Control Strip…”. You can then select the quick actions in the system settings under “Extensions” under “Finder” and “Touch Bar”.
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spaces
This point is also quite self-explanatory. If you select this item, the open Spaces or work areas are displayed on the Touch Bar. Several spaces are especially helpful when you have many apps and programs open and the “desk” is confusing. Several Spaces can then remedy the situation.