How to always show scroll bars on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-always-show-scroll-bars-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and choose System Settings….

   Done

2. 

   Click Appearance in the sidebar

   On our MacBook Neo, Appearance is below Accessibility in the sidebar.

   Scroll down the page to the Windows heading, where Show scroll bars sits below Sidebar icon size and Tint window background with wallpaper color.

   Done

3. 

   Select Always under Show scroll bars

   There are three choices: Automatically based on mouse or trackpad, When scrolling and Always.

   On our MacBook Neo, Automatically based on mouse or trackpad was selected to begin with; the chosen option shows a filled green button.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• You cannot find Show scroll bars Scroll down the Appearance page. On our MacBook Neo it is in the Windows section, below the Theme settings.
• Scroll bars already stay visible Apple says with Automatically based on mouse or trackpad, scroll bars are shown all the time if your mouse or trackpad does not allow gestures. Source: Change Appearance settings on Mac · Source: Change General preferences on Mac
• Your Mac has System Preferences Apple's guide for macOS Monterey 12 says Show scroll bars is in System Preferences, General, with the same three choices. Source: Change Appearance settings on Mac · Source: Change General preferences on Mac

If this does not work

• No scroll bar appears Apple says scroll bars appear only when a window's content does not fit its current size. Source: Change Appearance settings on Mac · Source: Change General preferences on Mac
• Scroll bars still hide Go back to Appearance and check that the button next to Always is filled, not the one next to When scrolling.
• Clicking the bar jumps the wrong way Apple says to hold Option while clicking in the scroll bar to switch for a moment between jumping a page and jumping to the spot. Source: Change Appearance settings on Mac · Source: Change General preferences on Mac

About this guide

With a trackpad, macOS hides scroll bars until you scroll, so you cannot see at a glance how long a page is or where you are in it; one setting keeps them visible.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Click in the scroll bar to, the setting below, decides whether a click in the scroll bar jumps to the next page or to the spot that is clicked.

On our MacBook Neo, its two options are Jump to the next page, which was selected, and Jump to the spot that's clicked.

In short: Apple menu > System Settings… > Appearance > Show scroll bars: Always.