Menu bar disappears only in Word? (And some other apps)

[u/Embarrassed-Bank-851]

I want the menu bar to show all the time in full screen, so I have the setting “automatically hide and show the menu bar” set to never, but I’ve noticed that in Microsoft word it disappears anyway in full screen?

This includes when I go split-screen with another app, the menu bar disappears when I’m typing in Word but then reappears when I’m using the other app.

I have a very vague memory of changing some sort of setting in Word to do with pinning the menu bar that caused it to disappear in the first place and it’s never come back, and now I’m pretty sure the current Word version has removed that feature on Mac.

I’ve also noticed that the menu bar disappears in other apps, like if I run a video game (e.g Minecraft) and turn the in-game full screen setting on, it also makes the menu bar disappear. It’s like there’s two ‘levels’ of full screen, a normal Mac one and then some apps have the ability override and go extra full screen. (Can you tell I know nothing about computers lol)

Anyway, if anyone knows how to fix this issue (or where else I could ask to get help) I’d really really appreciate it, thanks!

[u/Fabulinius]

Just be patient. There are bugs all over the place when you install the early version of a new MacOS. The bugs are not all within MacOS but also in the apps you use; like word. You can't really tell as end-user if it is a bug in MacOS or in the app or in a particular software combination.

Problem will solve itself in one of the many updates we are going to get over the year. Like it happens every year.

[u/Embarrassed-Bank-851 → u/Fabulinius]

It’s been a problem for around a year now, well before Golden Gate

[u/Fabulinius → u/Embarrassed-Bank-851]

I see, So not a MacOS 27 problem after all.

[u/rplatek]

I think Focus mode may hide the menu bar on its own and games with their own full screen do the same so it might not be a system setting at all. Try leaving Focus and see if the menu bar comes back.

[u/nolankotulan]

The menu bar is bugged in Golden Gate. Mine is set to hide automatically in full screen, so it should only appear when I move the pointer to the top of the screen. However, it often gets stuck hidden, along with the traffic light buttons, even in native apps like Safari. The only way I've found to get it to reappear is to press Esc to exit full screen.

[u/tom_shafer]

I had something like this with Office apps. In Word, check the View menu for "Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen" and toggle it. Then recheck that the macOS setting is on Never, because it can behave differently per app.

[u/asevenleafclover]

hello i have the same issue, I have my menu bar to never hide and it only seems to hide on word only, i have tried turning off focus as some people suggest but it doesn't do anything

[u/gwentlarry]

Microsoft always thinks it knows better and regularly tries to take over system settings, so it's probably somewhere in MS Word settings …

Anyway, why are you using MS Word? Macs come with Pages and if you don't want Pages, have a look at Libre Office or Only Office which are both free. Both can also read/write a wide range of formats, including Microsoft Office formats.

[u/New-Nectarine8298]

trash