trouble with barre chords

It does take time.

You've not been playing long, according to your earlier posts; getting barre chords right could still take you a year or more.

Start by forming that shape at the 7th fret - it takes less welly to get the strings down - and don't move down to the 6th fret until you've got it sounding clear, string by string.

I learned barre chords first, so I can't say how long it will take, but two things that help are (1) make sure your guitar is set up properly so the action is as easy as it can be and (2) try to play them with as light finger pressure as you can - it's more about accuracy than brute force.

Notes

I would say the action of the strings (the distance from the fretboard to the strings) could be a factor, but the F major barre chord is also notoriously difficult to play for beginners. As has been suggested, check the action (maybe at your local guitar store) and also start playing barre chords up on higher frets (anything on the 5th fret or above). ALSO, try just getting used to the index finger being barred across all 6 strings and making each note sound clearly. Forget the major chord for a few days, just barre your index finger without your other fingers getting involved. Sure it won't sound like a major chord, but right now you should focus on the physical aspects instead of the musical, just a suggestion. Keep us updated on your progress!

Thanks guys! I know I'm impatient, and realistically, I shouldn't have these mastered for awhile. I'll keep at it!

When you make a barre chord, look at your finger - is it straight?

When students have trouble with barre chords, they almost always have the barre finger bent. In most cases the knuckle where your finger joins the hand is curving behind the plane of the fretboard... in a few cases it's the opposite, being raised above the fretboard. Either way it'll be impossible to get even pressure.

So place the other fingers first, then bring the barre down to the fretboard - and keep it straight! (By "straight", I mean it has to match the radius of the fretboard. It will be literally straight if you have a flat fretboard, as on most classical guitars, or it may follow a gentle curve if your fretboard is radiused. Most beginners curve far too much, which puts extra pressure on the outside strings, and not enough in the center.