Discover the Hidden Options of the Dock on Your Mac

The Dock in macOS is one of the most useful tools for quickly accessing your favorite apps and files. But did you know you can customize it to perfectly fit your needs? From resizing it to hiding it automatically, the Dock is full of little-known options that can boost your productivity and make your Mac experience even more comfortable.

In this article, we’ll show you how to uncover and take advantage of these hidden options.

1. Change the Size of the Dock

If you feel the Dock takes up too much space, or you prefer larger icons for better visibility, you can easily adjust it:

1. Right-click on the Dock divider (the line that separates apps from minimized files).

2. Select Dock Preferences or go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.

3. Use the slider to increase or decrease the Dock size.

   
   

💡 Tip: You can also resize it by dragging the divider up or down directly in the Dock.

2. Enable "Hiding Mode" to Save Space

For a cleaner desktop where the Dock only shows up when you need it:

1. Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.

2. Check the option Automatically hide and show the Dock.

   
   

How it works: The Dock will disappear until you move your cursor to the screen edge.

3. Change the Dock’s Position

The Dock doesn’t have to sit at the bottom of your screen. If you’d rather have it on the side:

1. Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.

2. Under Position on screen, choose Left, Right, or Bottom.

Ideal for: Users who need more vertical space or prefer a different layout.

4. Adjust the Minimize Effect

When you minimize a window, macOS applies a visual effect you can personalize:

1. Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.

2. Under Minimize windows using, choose Genie or Scale.

   
   

💡 Tip: Try both and pick the one that suits your style.

5. Show Only Active Applications

If your Dock feels cluttered with too many icons, you can set it to show only active apps:

1. Open Terminal (use Spotlight: Command + Space).

2. Enter this command and press Enter:

defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true; killall Dock

To revert: defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool false; killall Dock

6. Add Spacers to the Dock

Organize your Dock by inserting blank spaces:

1. Open Terminal.

2. Enter this command:

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{"tile-type"="spacer-tile";}'; killall Dock

How it works: A blank space will appear that you can move like any other icon..

7. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Navigate the Dock

Prefer the keyboard over the mouse? Try these shortcuts:

• Control + F3: Highlight the Dock and select the first app.

• Use arrow keys to move between icons.

• Press Enter to open the selected app.

Benefits of Customizing the Dock

1. Save Screen Space: Adjust size and position to maximize your workspace.

2. Quick Access: Organize apps and files so everything is just one click away.

3. More Comfort: Adapt the Dock to your workflow and personal preferences.

   
   
   
   

Explore More Mac Tips and Tricks

Your Mac is packed with features to make your life easier. Customizing the Dock is just the beginning. At iProX, we not only help you optimize your Mac but also provide expert advice to get the most out of it.

Need more than Dock tweaks? Contact us today for tailored solutions.