Now You Can Finally Tidy up Your Mac’s Menu Bar (Without Using Third-Party Software).
The Mac menu bar is quite confusing. Too many apps try to fit icons in the upper right corner of the screen, and most users only want to see a portion of them. This problem is especially acute on the latest MacBook models, where the camera cutout obscures a significant portion of the space right in the middle of the menu bar. This is why Mac menu bar cleaner apps are so popular—clutter can make the interface feel overwhelming.
Here’s the thing, though: you probably don’t need to keep these apps running all the time. You can hide icons in macOS Preferences, and then use a free tool once to move all the icons closer together. Here’s how.
How to hide icons in System Preferences on Mac
Tahoe, also known as macOS 26, gave users a lot to talk about, leading to some features being largely overlooked . One of them: the ability to hide any icon in the menu bar without the need for third-party software. To use this feature, open System Preferences and go to the Menu Bar section. You’ll see an option to toggle system icons like Siri and Spotlight on and off. However, scrolling further, you’ll find the option to hide icons for any installed app. Simply disable any app you don’t want to see in the menu bar, and it will disappear.
I’ve been using this to disable unnecessary icons for several months now, and it works well. However, it’s not a perfect replacement. Apps like Bartender and Ice don’t just hide icons—they provide access to an additional tray where you can occasionally view hidden icons. There’s no quick way to do this through macOS settings. However, it’s a free way to hide unnecessary icons, and there’s no need to run third-party software.
Reduce the space between icons in the menu bar.
If your menu bar still feels cluttered, you can free up some space by moving all the icons closer together. The free app Menu Bar Spacing lets you change the spacing between menu bar icons . Simply download the app, move the slider, and the icons will move closer together.
The main advantage of Menu Bar Spacing is that you don’t have to keep it running. You can launch it once, make the necessary changes, and then delete it—your settings will still be in effect. This is because the app modifies several hidden macOS settings. You can make these changes yourself using Terminal if you prefer not to use the app, but I think the app makes things a little easier.
There’s a caveat for macOS 26 users. Due to a bug, only Apple-specific app icons will initially be aligned. For the icons to be aligned, you’ll need to restart other apps. This means you’ll have to manually close and restart each app or simply restart your Mac. This is annoying, but only applies immediately after changing the settings. Afterward, you’ll have much more space in the menu bar.