macOS Tahoe introduces new tools to manage the growing clutter of menubar apps on Mac computers. The update brings expanded Control Center functionality and new system settings that give users more control over which apps appear in the menubar and when. Apple's changes address long-standing complaints about menubar overcrowding, particularly on MacBook models with smaller displays and notches.

Users can now disable unwanted menubar icons through System Settings under Menu Bar, preventing apps from automatically adding their icons. The new options let you show certain controls only when active, such as Focus or Sound, rather than permanently occupying space. While third-party utilities like Bartender offer more granular control, Apple's built-in solution provides a welcome improvement for managing the limited menubar real estate.

The Control Center itself becomes more customizable, allowing users to rearrange, resize, or remove controls, and even create multiple Control Center pages. However, unlike iOS, macOS doesn't automatically create new pages when dragging controls to a full Control Center. Users can also drag controls from Control Center to the menubar for permanent placement, though macOS may not remember custom arrangements after restart.