Apple released the Dock in 2001 in the first version of OS X, but it took until 2008 before the company was awarded a patent on it. The Dock doesn’t have to live at the bottom of the display; you can customize the Dock’s location to take up residence along the left or right side of your display. Most users consider the Mac’s Dock an app launcher, where a single click opens a favorite app. However, it is also a convenient way to access frequently used documents and manage currently running apps.
Apps in the Dock
The Dock comes populated with several Apple-supplied apps. In a sense, the Dock is configured to help you get going with your Mac and easily access popular Mac apps, such as Mail, Safari, a web browser, the Mac App Store, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Photos, iTunes, and more. You’re not limited to the apps Apple includes in the Dock, nor are you stuck with apps you don’t often use that take up precious space in the Dock. Removing apps from the Dock is easy, as is rearranging the icons in the Dock. Simply click and drag an icon to the location you prefer. One of the most-used features of the Dock is the ability to add additional apps to the Dock, which supports two methods of adding apps: drag and drop and a Keep in Dock option. Beginning with macOS 10.14 Mojave, you can also add documents to the Dock on the right side of the Dock separator line.
Adding an App to the Dock Using Drag and Drop
To add an app to the Dock:
Keep in Dock
The second method of adding an app to the Dock requires that the application is already running. Running apps that haven’t been manually added to the Dock are temporarily displayed on the Dock while they’re in use and then automatically removed from the Dock when you quit using the app. The Keep in Dock method of adding a running app permanently to the Dock makes use of one of the Dock’s hidden features — Dock menus.
Moving Dock Icons
You don’t need to keep the added app’s icon in its current location. You can move it anywhere on the Dock left of the Dock separator line. Click and hold the app icon you want to move and then drag the icon to a new location on the Dock. Other Dock icons move out of the way to make room for the new icon. When the icon is positioned where you want it, release the mouse button to drop it in position. When rearranging the icons on the Dock, you may discover a few items you don’t need. Click on the icon and select Options > Remove from Dock in the pop-up menus. Removing application icons from your Mac’s Dock cleans up the Dock and makes room for new Dock items.
