diff --git a/archivebox/config/__init__.py b/archivebox/config/__init__.py
index efc2cb18..9e980778 100644
--- a/archivebox/config/__init__.py
+++ b/archivebox/config/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import sys
 import django
 import getpass
 import shutil
+import platform
 
 from hashlib import md5
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ CONFIG_DEFAULTS: Dict[str, ConfigDefaultDict] = {
     'SHELL_CONFIG': {
         'IS_TTY':                   {'type': bool,  'default': lambda _: sys.stdout.isatty()},
         'USE_COLOR':                {'type': bool,  'default': lambda c: c['IS_TTY']},
-        'SHOW_PROGRESS':            {'type': bool,  'default': lambda c: c['IS_TTY']},
+        'SHOW_PROGRESS':            {'type': bool,  'default': lambda c: False if platform.system() == 'Darwin' else c['IS_TTY']},  # TODO: remove this temporary hack once progress bars are fixed on macOS
         'IN_DOCKER':                {'type': bool,  'default': False},
         # TODO: 'SHOW_HINTS':       {'type:  bool,  'default': True},
     },