MacBook Pro Touch Bar Not Working — Fix Guide

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing extra and helps keep this site free.

The Touch Bar is convenient but temperamental. When it freezes, becomes unresponsive, or displays nothing, the fix is usually a software reset—not a hardware replacement. Let's get it working again.

Diagnose the Problem

Before fixing, identify what's happening:

• Touch Bar is completely dark: Likely a software or display issue
• Touch Bar shows buttons but doesn't respond to taps: Unresponsive input or software crash
• Touch Bar shows wrong controls: Software is running but misconfigured
• Touch Bar is cracked or physically damaged: Hardware replacement needed (skip to the bottom section)

Restart the Touch Bar Controller (Easy Method)

This is the first and often most effective fix. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities) and run this command:

killall -9 TouchBarServer

Press Enter. The Touch Bar will go dark for a second, then restart automatically. If you see your controls return, the fix worked. Test by tapping the Touch Bar—it should respond normally.

Kill All Related Processes

If the above didn't work, try killing multiple Touch Bar processes:

In Terminal, run this command:

killall -9 ControlStrip SystemUIServer

Wait 5 seconds. The entire top menu bar (date, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) will restart along with the Touch Bar. Both should come back online within seconds.

Restart Your Mac

If terminal fixes don't work, a full restart often solves the issue. Go to Apple menu → Restart. Let your Mac reboot completely and test the Touch Bar after login.

Update macOS

Touch Bar bugs are fixed in macOS updates. An outdated OS might have a known Touch Bar issue that's already patched.

Go to System Settings → General → Software Update. Install any available updates and restart. Test the Touch Bar afterward.

Check Touch Bar Preferences

Misconfigured settings can make the Touch Bar appear broken.

Go to System Settings → Control Center or Keyboard (depending on your macOS version). Check that the Touch Bar is enabled and not set to show only the function keys (F1–F12). Adjust the setting if needed and test.

Test in Safe Mode

Safe Mode disables third-party extensions that might interfere with the Touch Bar. Restart and hold Shift during startup until the login window appears. Log in and test the Touch Bar. If it works in Safe Mode, a third-party app is the culprit—uninstall or update recently installed apps one at a time.

Reset the NVRAM

NVRAM stores Touch Bar settings. Corrupted NVRAM can cause Touch Bar issues.

Shut down your Mac. Power on and hold Command + Option + P + R until the Apple logo appears and disappears twice. This resets NVRAM.

Hardware Touch Bar Failure

If nothing above works and the Touch Bar won't respond or display anything, hardware failure is likely. The Touch Bar is a complex component with its own microprocessor and display ribbon cable. Failure typically results from:

• Corrupted Touch Bar microcontroller: The chip that controls the Touch Bar is damaged or unresponsive
• Loose or damaged display cable: The ribbon cable connecting the Touch Bar to the logic board is disconnected or broken
• Logic board failure: The Touch Bar connector on the motherboard is faulty

Hardware failure is confirmed by professional diagnostics and requires component replacement.

Touch Bar Replacement Cost

Apple charges for Touch Bar replacement depending on warranty status:

• In-warranty (manufacturing defect): Free repair
• AppleCare+: $99 service fee
• Out-of-warranty: $150–$250 for Touch Bar replacement depending on model

The Touch Bar can't be repaired individually—it's part of the keyboard assembly on most models, so replacement might involve replacing the entire top case.

Workaround: Use Function Keys

While waiting for repair, you can use traditional function keys (F1–F12) instead of the Touch Bar. Most MacBook Pros allow you to hold the Fn key while pressing these keys to access their traditional functions (volume, brightness, etc.). Go to System Settings → Keyboard and enable "Use F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys" if available.