Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Grey horizontal line at top of desktop screen intermittently seen

Z

Zapdoc

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Just set up MBN 512 Gb (Indigo) all good except I see from time to time a grey horizontal line at top of desktop screen. clicking on it can make it disappear looking like a shorter edge to screen - same on another MBN I tried (silver 512 model)

Any ideas what cuseing it and if I can stop it when it appears form time to time otherwise all else is great and working well
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-04-02 at 15.59.55.png
    Screenshot 2026-04-02 at 15.59.55.png
    6.7 MB · Views: 72
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bethanie21, Happy_John, bapegg and 3 others
Zapdoc said:
Here is screenshot of it
Click to expand...
It also seems to go around the whole 4 edges of screen but is most noticeable at top horizontally - it comes and goes and clicking the trackpad makes it go away but will return again intermittently - MB is only set up and fully updated to latest 26.4 OS and onml;y has MS Office 365 installed and my photos
 
AppleWes said:
It looks like it's what happens when you click in a blank area of any Mac desktop to edit widgets perhaps
(screen outline it goes around entire desktop wallpaper)
Click to expand...
AS I said its not causing any issues beyond me noticing not just wondered uf it could be a setting I could adjust but will likely get to ignore it over time
 
There are a number of trackpad gestures that will bring up things like Notification Center, etc. I suggest opening the Trackpad control in Settings, and disabling any gesture you're not actually using, or don't immediately recognize as being useful to you.
 
  • Love
Reactions: _Mitchan1999
AppleWes said:
It looks like that's what happens when you click in a blank area of any Mac desktop to view desktop
(screen outline it goes around entire desktop wallpaper)

*older OS versions but same topic

Sonoma: Remove black border when clicking… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com discussions.apple.com

9to5mac.com

How to disable 'Click wallpaper to reveal desktop' on macOS

Apple on Tuesday released macOS Sonoma to the public, and the update brings multiple new features – including some minor...
9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting. I normally don't do that so that explains why I didn't readily see it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TechnoMonk and AppleWes
Tdude96 said:
Yes, it happens by default when you click on the blank desktop. If you don't like the functionality, you should be able to turn it off by going to system settings and changing it from Always to Only in Stage Manager:
View attachment 2619230
Click to expand...
Great thanks for the fast replies - as long as its not something of concern and I am able to stop it that's OK - will look over your suggestion later but still playing about with new MBN at moment
Didn't realise there were so many options to set things to ones liking
 
  • Like
Reactions: NoelWalker and Andy_2341
AppleWes said:
It looks like that's what happens when you click in a blank area of any Mac desktop to view desktop
(screen outline it goes around entire desktop wallpaper)

*older OS versions but same topic

Sonoma: Remove black border when clicking… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com discussions.apple.com

9to5mac.com

How to disable 'Click wallpaper to reveal desktop' on macOS

Apple on Tuesday released macOS Sonoma to the public, and the update brings multiple new features – including some minor...
9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com
Click to expand...
Yes that is exactly what that is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AppleWes
Zapdoc said:
Just set up MBN 512 Gb (Indigo) all good except I see from time to time a grey horizontal line at top of desktop screen. clicking on it can make it disappear looking like a shorter edge to screen - same on another MBN I tried (silver 512 model)

Any ideas what cuseing it and if I can stop it when it appears form time to time otherwise all else is great and working well
Click to expand...
I think I experienced something similar. It’s just an annoying software bug then.
 
Mine would randomly flash a small vertical gray bar like this pic last week, but has stopped doing it after the update to 26.4. I just chalked it up to Tahoe's great UI. I do have AppleCare in case anything happens hardware wise down the road.

Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 4.20.00 PM.png
 
Zapdoc said:
What is the purpose of being designed like that ? Cannot see that is is a useful feature
Click to expand...
If you have any programs open it moves them out of the way so you can get to your desktop or other windows. You can also move windows to another virtual desktop. Which can then be found by a three finger swipe. I’d play around with it. It is an incredibly powerful feature.

Go to Macmost.com. Gary has so many hints for Mac interaction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4sallypat and bapegg
Zapdoc said:
What is the purpose of being designed like that ? Cannot see that is is a useful feature
Click to expand...
Biggest benefit I can think of is that you can see any files you have sitting on your desktop while it’s covered witb other windows.
 
Zazoh said:
If you have any programs open it moves them out of the way so you can get to your desktop or other windows. You can also move windows to another virtual desktop. Which can then be found by a three finger swipe. I’d play around with it. It is an incredibly powerful feature.

Go to Macmost.com. Gary has so many hints for Mac interaction.
Click to expand...
Three finger swipe on Macbooks also just works without clicking the desktop first. I use it alot cause I’m a chronic over-multitasker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zazoh
Like most strange behaviors in iOS and macOS these days, its a “feature” nobody asked for that is on by default and not explained.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back