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macOS Sierra beta lets Mac users rearrange third-party menu bar extras

It’s been a pain-point for some Mac users for a while now: the inability to rearrange third-party menu bar extras. Sure, it’s been possible to move around stock menu bar extras by simply holding the Command key while dragging the icon, but third-party icons are no longer off limits.

Indeed, the macOS Sierra beta makes it possible for Mac users to rearrange third-party menu bar (NSStatusItems) extras, and that’s kind of a big deal. Previously, users have had to rely on third-party utilities, like Bartender, to help keep the menu bar tidy.

While Bartender is a great utility, it’s overkill for someone who simply wants to rearrange the position of third-party app icons on the menu bar. Fortunately, the macOS Sierra beta addresses this issue.

To move a menu bar extra, simply hold down the Command (⌘) key while dragging any icon (outside of Notification Center) that you wish to move.

Keep in mind that you can only move third party icons in the menu bar by dragging them around, you can’t outright remove them like you can with stock menu bar items. If you wish to disable a third-party menu bar icon, you’ll need to do so within the app’s respective preferences.

You can learn more about the new features in macOS Sierra by watching our hands-on video embedded below:

And if you’d like to learn more about Apple’s other WWDC 2016 efforts, have a look at our hands-on video walkthroughs:

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Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Jeff Benjamin

Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He initially joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.


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