How to Always Show the Scrollbar on Your MacBook [Tutorial]

How to Always Show the Scrollbar on Your MacBook [Tutorial]

Once upon a time, every window on a Mac desktop had big, easy-to-click and impossible-to-miss scroll bars that never, ever disappeared.

Since 2011’s “Lion” update to Mac OS X, however, Apple has adopted an “barely there” policy when it comes to scroll bars.

Indeed, scroll bars on the Mac are now just as wafer-thin as they are on the iPhone and iPad—and in some cases, they may disappear completely when you’re not actively scrolling.

The scrollbars in new versions of macOS are hidden until activated by use, that is, by scrolling, making them invisible by default. This is the new default behavior that works very well if you primarily use a trackpad with your Mac. I use an external mouse with my Mac quite often though, and I find the hidden scrollbars to be annoying when I do. That’s my reason for bringing them back, but other people just like to see when content is available that needs to be scrolled to access.

This tutorial will apply for MacBook Pro, Air, Mini's running the macOS operating system. This tutorial was performed on a macOS Big Sur system.

[naturalgirly]

This was driving me nuts, thanks for a fast and simple solution 👏

[BOBBYNiO]

I realised the most frustrating Mac navigation in the world was not having this set to "always" hallelujah!! I am so relieved! lol thank you

[UntamedAnalyst]

Great video, it's simple and short. Thank you for your help Sir

[Trissa.]

Brilliant, thank you so much, you've saved me from more stress, what a relief!

[stuartellis]

thank you my friend !! even after 3 years now in 2024 everybody on YouTube is uploading a video showing the wrong method this is the only video I've come across that shows the correct method. thank you

[ColibriZurdo]

thank you!! Just got my MacBook and that scroll bar kept disappearing whenever I was about to put the pointer over it

[theblackstatuetv]

Thank you bro this was short concise and straight to the point great video 🙌🏾🔥

[LindaHutchings]

THANK YOU!!!! No idea why this keeps turning itself off, but it is back on now thanks to you!!! <3

[AyeeNickii]

Thank you so much! It worked for my M1, I was so stressed as a first time mac laptop user

[bruhcardi]

Thank you really helpful just got my first ever MacBook and this video was really useful again thank you 🙂

[powerchange]

I respect you! You were quick and straight to the point!

[evvvv]

I thought im going crazy with this! Thank you!

[Blackops]

This is where mine was Apple menu > System Settings, then click Appearance in the sidebar.

[jomararivera]

Excellent thank you so much from Puerto Rico😊

[Uyenvuyen]

If you are looking for scrolls to appear online with your browser you can need to have "always" selected but, also you may need to go to the Trackpad ("2nd from the bottom on Mac system settings") & select Scroll & Zoom & make sure you do not have Natural scrolling switched on.

[Stick-]

Straight to the point and explained it very well

[ericafurusa]

thank Ive been stressed ! Clicking Like a crazy person lol thank u so much

[thesoftparade]

I just got an M2 air and I don't want to see the scroll bar. Ive got only when scrolling selected but its still there. any thoughts?

[charmaccents]

That whole row of icons on the bottom of the page, where the settings how up and the finder is and pages, etc. everything, is missing and only pops up if I have the cursor down here. How can I fix that? I believe the cats stepped on soething during the night when my computer was open. I followed the tutorial and "always" was still checked. Please help, thank you.

[madplayer]

After 13 years I'm switching from windows to Mac os (MacBook Pro M3 Max)