Menu Bar App Menu appears in a different place after Connecting/Disconnecting Displays via App Menu Toggle when using the Magnet window management tool

[mihirdutta]

I'm using BetterDisplay Version 4.1.3 Build 47474. I'm using the Pro version. I'm on an M2 Pro Mac mini running macOS Tahoe 26.2. I have 2 displays connected to my Mac.

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When the app starts fresh, clicking on the BetterDisplay icon, in the macOS menu bar, displays the app menu correctly.

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When I toggle off (disconnect) the main/primary display using the app menu, the secondary display becomes the main/primary display.

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Scenario 1

If I toggle on (connect) what was previously the main display and when the main/primary display turns back on, the BetterDisplay menu bar app menu appears at a different place on the screen (not underneath the macOS menu bar app icon). Clicking the BetterDisplay icon in the menu bar hides and shows the app menu, but the app menu continues to stay in the wrong place.

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Scenario 2

If I toggle off the secondary display, so that all displays are now disconnected (I've enabled the setting to do so), then BetterDisplay auto-connects all displays (this setting is on by default). When the main/primary display turns back on, the BetterDisplay menu bar app menu appears at a different place on the screen (not underneath the macOS menu bar app icon). Clicking the BetterDisplay icon in the menu bar hides and shows the app menu, but the app menu continues to stay in the wrong place.

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Temporary Fixes

Fix 1 (Restarting the App)
If I restart the app, then when I click on the BetterDisplay icon, in the macOS menu bar, the app menu displays correctly. The BetterDisplay icon also maintains its set position in the macOS menu bar.

Fix 2 (Without Restarting the App)
If I go the BetterDisplay Settings > Menu > and Toggle off and then on the "Show app icon in menu bar", then the app menu displays correctly. Unfortunately, using this method resets the set BetterDisplay icon position in the macOS menu bar (it appears as the leftmost icon).

[waydabber]

Hmm. Seemingly I can't reproduce the issue. Can you detail the display arrangements and whether resolutions change when connecting/disconnecting the displays so I can try recreating the problem as much as I can?

Are you using any kind of app that might interfere with window placement, window management or menubar icon placement?

[mihirdutta]

The displays are arranged side-by-side. Both are 1080p panels. They are the same Dell model. The resolutions remain the same when connecting/disconnecting via the BetterDisplay menu bar app menu.

I use the Magnet app (https://apps.apple.com/app/magnet/id441258766) to manage windows. I don't use any special app for menu bar icon placement. I use the standard macOS method to set icon placement in the menu bar (Command + Click, Drag, and Drop).

Is there a BetterDisplay log file that I can share with you via email that may give you more insight into the application's state and its environment?

[waydabber]

Do you have this issue when Magnet is not running?

[waydabber]

All right, I received your email asking for a refund. Since we won't be able to investigate this issue further, I'll close the issue. I believe the issue is with Magnet as it moves the menu window around with certain triggers, interfering with the app. But I am not entirely sure about this of course, just a hunch.

[waydabber]

(note: added "Magnet" to the title for easier discoverability, maybe this issue comes up again in the future).

[mihirdutta]

If it helps, I quit Magnet and tried again. I saw the same issues persist. I hope you're able to figure it out.

[waydabber]

I see. Well, this might be a generic issue then, but I am just unable to reproduce it for now. There is a key-value observation (KVO) on the location of the menu bar icon - when the icon moves, the app menu should follow. When a display disconnects, it is ok for the menu window to be disoriented briefly but as the active menu bar relocates, the menu window should follow (and it seems to do just that on my installation). Somehow this process seems to permanently break down on your config until you manually move (probably - by pressing comd + move it around) or hide/activate the menu icon. I am not sure why this happens.

There was a specific issue in early 26.0 betas where the KVO did not work for menubar extra buttons after a display configuration or resolution change, but this was fixed by Apple. This might be a regression in 26.2 maybe (I am on 26.3 beta, so maybe that's why I can't reproduce the problem - I am not entirely sure).

I'll reopen this for now and will still try to reproduce it. If I don't succeed, I'll move this over to Discussions.