The Mac version of the Windows system tray

Why it happens

On Windows these icons sit by the clock at the bottom of the screen. A Mac puts them at the other end, on the right side of the menu bar across the top. The quick toggles live in Control Center, which is one of those icons.

How to fix it

1. Move your eyes to the top-right of the screen. The row of small icons next to the clock is the Mac's equivalent of the system tray.

2. Click the Control Center icon, the one that looks like two small switches. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, Focus, screen brightness and sound in one place.

3. Click the date and time to open Notification Center, with your recent notifications and widgets.

4. To add an icon you miss, such as Sound or Battery, open Menu Bar in System Settings and turn it on under Menu Bar Controls.

   Menu Bar›Menu Bar Controls›Sound

5. App icons work like tray icons on Windows. Click one to see that app's quick menu.

Still not fixed?

1. Can't see the menu bar at all? It may be set to hide. Move the pointer to the very top of the screen, or turn off Automatically hide and show the menu bar in Menu Bar settings.

   Menu Bar›Automatically hide and show the menu bar

2. In a full-screen app, the menu bar slides away. Move the pointer to the top edge to bring it back.

3. If one app's icon is missing, turn that app on under Allow in the Menu Bar. On a MacBook with a notch, too many icons can also hide behind the camera.

   Menu Bar›Allow in the Menu Bar

4. If the menu bar or its icons stay missing after a restart, contact Apple Support.