TIP
💡 Learn more : Azure portal documentation (opens new window).
# Use the Mac Touch Bar to launch the Azure Portal
For those new to the Mac Touch Bar, it sits at the top of your keyboard and adapts to what you're doing and provides intuitive shortcuts and app controls when you need them. For example, the controls will change when you are in Chrome vs Outlook. Below is a screenshot of the default layout before you switch to an application:
![](/AzureTipsAndTricks/files/keyboardaz1.png)
Screenshot courtesy of Apple
Kinda disappointing. I felt I could do better. After searching all over I found a tool called BetterTouchTool (opens new window) that allows you to customize the Mac Touch Bar. After spending an entire weekend playing with it, I landed on the following type (in case you are curious):
![](/AzureTipsAndTricks/files/keyboardaz2.png)
You'll see the following from left to right:
- Shortcut to VS Code
- Shortcut to Hyper.js
- Shortcut to Azure
- Shortcut to TextEdit
- Volume
- Current Temp where I'm at
- Clipboard Manager
- Create New File in Finder with Dialog
- Copy path to current folder in Finder
- BetterTouchTool
- Brightness
- Mute
- Lock Computer
- Spotlight
Since we're interested in adding a shortcut to the Azure Portal, all you have to do is download BetterTouchTool (opens new window) and click on the TouchBar option and Add a TouchBar Button and configure it to open a URL such portal.azure.com
![](/AzureTipsAndTricks/files/keyboardaz3.png)
Easy enough and will definitely get you a couple of extra nerd points!
What is also interesting is the ability to call an API and retrieve data and parse it to the Touch Bar like I did with the weather. Leave your ideas below on other ways to be more productive with Azure below.