"Automatically hide and show the menu bar" setting stuck at "In Full Screen only"

This kind of thing is sometimes caused by a corrupted plist file.

In that case, deleting the affected file usually is enough to fix things, letting one set the preferences as desired.

I tried to see which preference file stores this, but alas I could not find it.

Hello iaroslav42,

Based on what you've shared, and the steps recommended above, the next best step will be to reach out for additional support in your region. You can review options available to you here: Get Support

Take care.

Hey iaroslav42,

Thanks for participating in Apple Support Communities. First we recommend backing up your Mac and updating the software. Updates help by installing bug fixes and security updates. Just in case, here's a guide with both steps: Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support

Use Software Update

Before following these steps, it's a good idea to back up your Mac.

1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences.

• If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. Then click Software Update on the right.

• If you chose System Preferences, click Software Update in the window.

2. Software Update then checks for new software. 

• If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it. The button might be named Update Now, Upgrade Now, Install Now, or Restart Now, for example. You might then be asked to enter your administrator password.

• If Software Update says that your Mac is up to date, then no new software is currently available for your Mac model. Software Update shows only software that is compatible with your Mac.

After updating, test to see if you experience the same behavior with the Menu Bar settings: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac - Apple Support

Keep us posted on the results.

Take care!

Luckily it got stuck in the only sensible setting- sorry I had to get that out of my chest 😎

Try restarting in Safe Mode and see if the changes er… stick. If it works in Safe Mode, then restart normally and see if it still works.

If the problem persists you may have a corrupted plist file, and in that case deleting it and setting preferences again should work. I am away from my mac now, but I may try to ascertain which plist file later (most likely tomorrow).

Here is a simple test that you can do.

Create a new user account, and try to make the changes in that new account.

If those changes "take" (and I am convinced that they will), it will confirm that the issue is restricted to your own account (probably a corrupted plist and not some software conflict, since the problem occurs also in Safe Mode).