Apple publishes support document with workaround for MacBook Pro notch shenanigans

Apple’s new 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro features some of the highest performing and most efficient processors ever seen in a notebook. Unfortunately, the company’s decision to include a notched display has somewhat overshadowed the feats achieved by its new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. A number of users have highlighted the weird behaviour of Mac apps not yet optimized for the notch (or “camera housing”) as Apple calls it, exacerbating the controversy.

Apple has now released a support document that highlights an option called “Scale to fit below built-in camera” for an app. This stops apps that haven’t been tweaked to adjust for the new MacBook Pro notch that might ‘misbehave’ with menu bar items or windows appearing behind the camera housing, effectively hiding it. All other apps that share the same desktop space as the adjusted app will also appear below the camera until the app using the scaled setting has been quit.

The functionality has been built into macOS and will remain as an active option only for apps that haven’t been adjusted to compensate for the new MacBook Pro notch. Once an app has been updated to adjust for the notch, Apple says the option will disappear.  It’s no doubt an odd decision for Apple to have included the notch on the new MacBook Pro models as the additional screen space it yields is only worth around 8-10 mm. Apple Pro Mac Product Line Manager, Shruti Haldea recently defended the decision, calling calling the notch "seamless".

Purchase the new 14-inch MacBook Pro from Amazon starting from US$1,450.