Always show scrollbars on Mac

Updated 2026 · 4 min read

Since OS X Lion, macOS hides scrollbars unless you're actively scrolling — or using a mouse instead of a trackpad. It's a reasonable default for a clean look, but it makes a lot of people feel lost: you can't tell how long a page is, or whether there's more content below. Here's how to bring scrollbars back permanently.

Why macOS hides scrollbars by default

The setting is called Show scroll bars and it lives in System Settings → Appearance. By default it's set to "Automatically based on mouse or trackpad." If you're on a trackpad, macOS assumes you'll swipe to scroll, and the scrollbar disappears when not in use. On a mouse, they stay visible — which is why plugging in an external mouse magically "fixes" this for some people.

The three possible values are:

Automatically based on mouse or trackpad — the default; trackpad users rarely see them.
When scrolling — the scrollbar flashes into view only while your fingers are moving.
Always — the scrollbar is always visible, like it was in classic Mac OS.

Method 1: System Settings (no Terminal needed)

Open System Settings (Apple menu → System Settings, or System Preferences on macOS 12 and earlier).
Click Appearance in the sidebar.
Under Show scroll bars, select Always.

The change takes effect immediately in every app — no restart, no log-out required. You'll notice scrollbars reappear in Safari, Notes, Mail, and every other app at once.

Method 2: Terminal command

If you prefer the command line — or want to script this across machines — open Terminal (Applications → Utilities) and run:

# always show scrollbars system-wide
defaults write -g AppleShowScrollBars -string "Always"

The change applies immediately without needing to restart anything. To verify it took effect:

defaults read -g AppleShowScrollBars

You should see Always printed back.

How to undo it

To restore the default (auto-detect based on input device), run:

# restore default scrollbar behaviour
defaults write -g AppleShowScrollBars -string "Automatic"

Or use the "When scrolling" value for a middle-ground approach:

defaults write -g AppleShowScrollBars -string "WhenScrolling"

All three valid values are: "Always", "WhenScrolling", and "Automatic".

Does this affect all apps?

Yes — because -g writes to the global domain, the setting applies everywhere that respects standard macOS scroll view behaviour. That covers Finder, Safari, Mail, Notes, Xcode, and most third-party apps. Some Electron or cross-platform apps manage their own scrollbars and won't be affected, but they're the exception.

A note on scroll bar width

macOS scrollbars are noticeably thinner than they were in older versions of OS X. Unfortunately there's no system default to widen them again without third-party tools. What you can do is make sure they're always visible — which at least removes the frustration of hunting for the scroll position.

Do it in one click

Mainspring includes an Always show scrollbars toggle that flips this setting with one click — and flips it back just as easily. No Terminal commands to remember, no digging through System Settings. It's one of 90+ macOS defaults Mainspring surfaces as clearly labelled, reversible switches.

Try Mainspring free →

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Related tweaks worth knowing

If you're adjusting how macOS presents content, a few other settings pair well with always-on scrollbars. Showing file extensions in Finder means you always know what you're looking at. Showing hidden files reveals the full directory tree. And if you find macOS animations sluggish while you're in System Settings anyway, the Reduce Motion option under Accessibility → Display is worth a look.