macOS 26: Lag and other issues with menu bar tool Bartender 6
With tools, users can bring order to the icons in the macOS menu bar. The app Bartender 6 has been causing problems under macOS 26 for months.
Bartender version 6: Issues with Tahoe.
(Image: Applause)
Changes in macOS 26 alias Tahoe are causing tools that interact with the menu bar to fail or only function partially – or even get in the way of users' daily work. The popular solution, Bartender, which was very controversial due to a change of ownership for a time, is particularly affected. Long-time users have since decided to switch to other programs or to sort their menu bar manually.
Tahoe changes by Apple
The current Bartender manufacturer Applause had released a new main version of the app as part of macOS 26 – Bartender 6. This was intended to address changes that Apple had implemented in menu bar handling in Tahoe. However, it turned out that this was only partially successful. For example, the app initially caused enormous system load, which could slow down the Mac with simple things like moving the mouse. This was supposed to have been fixed with version 6.1.0, but there are users who are still complaining about the problem in version 6.3.1, the latest.
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Among other things, Bartender 6 causes scrolling in windows to slow down, windows to move with a delay, and the entire operating system to react more sluggishly. The reason is apparently the app's approach, which, because there seems to be no other technical way, relies on screenshotting, among other things, to determine where icons are currently located in the menu bar. However, other issues are also being reported, such as cursor “hijacking” and ghost clicks. This makes moving menu bar icons impossible at times.
Other tools fix the problems
The changes in Tahoe not only caused Bartender developers to have to make changes. Other tools such as Ice, Hidden Bar, or Vanilla also had initial difficulties but have since received updates that have fixed many problems. It is unclear whether and when this will also succeed with Bartender, although manufacturer Applause regularly releases updates.
Bartender 6 costs over 20 euros. At least Applause, although this was feared at first, has not switched the app to a subscription model. The tool is also available as part of Setapp.
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