Problem solving · MacBook
MacBook Touch Bar Not Working? Fix Guide
Touch Bar issues affect every MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2022. Most are software (free fix in 60 seconds). The hardware fixes start at AED 600.
MacBook Touch Bar Not Working? Fix Guide?
Quick answer
Which MacBooks have Touch Bar
Touch Bar shipped on the Apple Pro line from late 2016 to mid-2022:
- MacBook Pro 13″ (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) - Touch Bar models (separate non-Touch Bar 2-port versions also existed)
- MacBook Pro 15″ (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) - all Touch Bar
- MacBook Pro 16″ Intel (2019) - all Touch Bar
- MacBook Pro 13″ M1 (2020), M2 (2022) - kept Touch Bar
- MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″ M1 Pro/Max (2021 onward) - Touch Bar removed, function row returned
Touch Bar was officially discontinued with the last 13″ MacBook Pro M2 in 2022. Current M3/M4/M5 MacBooks use traditional physical function keys.
Step 1 - Restart Touch Bar (Terminal command)
The fastest fix. Open Applications → Utilities → Terminal and run:
sudo pkill "Touch Bar agent"
Enter your account password (the cursor doesn't move while you type - that's normal). Press Enter. The Touch Bar relaunches itself in about 2 seconds. Fixes about 60% of "Touch Bar frozen" cases without rebooting the Mac.
Step 2 - Force restart the MacBook
Hold the power button for a full 10 seconds, release, wait 5 seconds, then press power normally. Forces a clean boot of every macOS daemon including Touch Bar controllers. Fixes the cases where the Terminal restart didn't work.
Step 3 - Reset SMC (Intel T2 only)
All Touch Bar MacBooks are Intel-based and most have the T2 security chip. The SMC governs Touch Bar power delivery. To reset on T2 MacBook Pro:
- Shut down the MacBook
- Hold Shift + Control + Option (left side) + Power button together for 10 seconds
- Release all four together, wait 5 seconds
- Press power normally
Step 4 - Update macOS
Apple shipped multiple Touch Bar bug fixes across point releases:
- macOS 12.4 (May 2022) - fixed Touch Bar freeze with external displays connected
- macOS 12.6 (September 2022) - fixed Touch Bar dimming when waking from sleep
- macOS 13.2 (January 2023) - fixed Touch Bar customisation losing layout
- macOS 14.x and later - minor Touch Bar daemon improvements
System Settings → General → Software Update. Touch Bar MacBooks officially support up to macOS Sonoma (14); Sequoia (15) is unofficially installable via OpenCore.
Step 5 - Safe Boot test
Shut down, then hold Shift while pressing power until you reach the login screen. Safe Boot disables all third-party kernel extensions and login items. If your Touch Bar works correctly in Safe Boot but fails in normal boot, the cause is a third-party app or driver - most commonly: BetterTouchTool, MTMR, Karabiner-Elements, or a screen-recording app with TouchBar overlay.
When it's hardware (display issues, dead spots)
If after all 5 software steps the Touch Bar is still faulty, common hardware causes:
- Dead pixel rows or columns - physical OLED damage on the Touch Bar strip. Often caused by liquid spill (coffee splash hits the Touch Bar before spreading further). Replacement only.
- Touch unresponsive in specific zones - touch digitiser failure. Common after 4+ years of use. Replacement only.
- Touch Bar completely black, but Mac otherwise fine - Touch Bar flex cable disconnected (can happen after a top-case repair) or Touch Bar power regulator failed on the logic board.
- Touch Bar shows partial image, flickers, or shows static lines - OLED display panel failure. Replacement only.
Touch Bar repair cost in Dubai
- Touch Bar OLED + digitiser assembly replacement: AED 600 same-day
- Flex cable reseat (if disconnected): AED 250 same-day
- Logic board Touch Bar power regulator repair: AED 800-1,000 (1-2 days)
- Free diagnostic, no charge if we can't fix it
- Apple Store comparison: AED 1,799 (replaces entire top-case)
Apple's official service for Touch Bar issues is whole top-case replacement (palmrest + keyboard + Touch Bar + battery). We can replace just the Touch Bar strip - saving AED 1,200+ versus Apple Store.
Why Apple removed Touch Bar from new MacBooks
Three reasons Apple eventually killed Touch Bar:
- Pro user backlash. The function row provided F1-F12 keys with tactile feedback essential for video editing, music production, and developer workflows. Touch Bar replaced these with software keys you couldn't feel.
- Reliability issues. The OLED strip and its flex cable were among the most failure-prone parts of the 2016-2019 MacBook Pro. By the time M-series launched, "no Touch Bar" was a feature in customers' eyes.
- Cost. The Touch Bar OLED, controller, and software stack added roughly USD 30 to the BOM. Removing it freed budget for the M-chip thermal solution.
See our MacBook keyboard repair page for full Touch Bar service details.
Frequently asked questions
- It force-kills the Touch Bar's macOS background process. macOS automatically relaunches it within 2 seconds, fresh state. About 60% of frozen Touch Bar cases are caused by a hung daemon and this command fixes them without rebooting.
- If your AppleCare is still active, take it to Apple first - they cover Touch Bar failures under the standard 1-year warranty and AppleCare+. If you're out of warranty, third-party Touch Bar replacement does not affect anything else (no other warranty applies).
- Yes - install BetterTouchTool (free trial, then one-time purchase) and set the Touch Bar to 'always show F1-F12' or 'always blank'. The Touch Bar stays on but behaves like static function keys. About 40% of our Touch Bar MacBook customers ask us to do this.
- Known macOS bug from 2020-2022, fixed in macOS 12.4. Update macOS. If you're stuck on an older macOS, the workaround is unplugging and replugging the external display (it resets the Touch Bar brightness controller).
- Honest answer: depends on the rest of the machine. If the battery, screen, and keyboard are still good, AED 600 to fix the Touch Bar makes sense. If the MacBook also has Flexgate, butterfly keyboard issues, or weak battery, total repair cost may exceed the resale value - at which point upgrading to a 14″ M-series Pro is better value.
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About the author
Usman is a senior macbook pro repair technician at MacBook Repair Dubai, Dubai's longest-running Apple-only repair workshop (since 2004). Personally signs the QC checklist on every job leaving the bench.