Hide or Show the Dock on Mac: Quick Tricks You Should Know

The Dock gives you quick access to your favorite and most-used apps or even websites, helps you keep track of open windows, and keeps files or folders you often reach for right at hand. However, it also takes up valuable vertical space and can feel distracting if you’re trying to stay focused on a specific task.

Depending on how you use your Mac, the Dock can either be a blessing or an annoyance. The good news is that macOS gives you some control.

How to Hide or Show the Dock on Mac

There isn’t a direct “hide the Dock” switch on Mac. Instead, you can enable the Automatically hide and show the Dock option. This makes the Dock disappear when not in use and reappear whenever you move your pointer to the screen edge where it normally sits. 

It’s a simple way to keep your screen clear and still have the Dock when you need it.

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1. Using System Settings

You can enable Automatically hide and show the Dock option directly from System Settings. 

1. In System Settings > Desktop & Dock, turn on Automatically hide and show the Dock.
2. On older macOS: find the option under Dock & Menu Bar or simply Dock.
   

That’s it, now the Dock stays hidden until you need it.

2. Using Keyboard Shortcut

If you want a quicker way, press Command (⌘) + Option + D. This keyboard shortcut instantly enables or disables the Automatically hide and show the Dock option, without opening Settings.

So whenever you want the Dock back on your screen or hidden again, you can toggle it with this simple shortcut. 

3. From the Dock Itself

You can also right‑click the Dock separator (the vertical line between apps and folders) and select Turn Hiding On/Off to show or hide the Dock on the spot.

4. Using Terminal (Advanced)

If you prefer to customize things from Terminal, you can control Dock behavior with simple commands. Simply copy the command, open the Terminal app, paste it, and press Enter.

Caution: Only use Terminal if you know exactly what you’re doing; one wrong command can break things instead of fixing them.

To auto-hide the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true && killall Dock

To always show the Dock again:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool false && killall Dock

How to Speed Up the Dock

When you enable Automatically hide and show the Dock appears when you place the cursor at the screen’s edge. However, by default, the Dock slides in and out with a short delay. If you find it too slow, you can tweak it using Terminal. (There’s no native option in Settings.) Open Terminal, paste these commands, and press Enter.. As mentioned before, use Terminal only if you know what you’re doing.

To make the Dock appear instantly (removes all animation):

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0; killall Dock

To make it slide faster (but not instant):

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.15; killall Dock

(You can adjust the number, lower values mean faster speed.)

To reset it back:

defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier; killall Dock

Can You Disable the Dock Completely?

Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t have a built‑in way to completely turn off the Dock, even through the Terminal. But you can trick it with a little hack. Instead of removing it, you set such a long delay that it feels like the Dock is gone.

For example, to delay the Dock for 1000 seconds, run:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 1000; killall Dock

To bring it back to normal, use:

defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-delay; killall Dock

Some people prefer a smaller delay, like two seconds. That way, the Dock is still out of the way most of the time, but you can quickly reach it when you really need it.

Change Dock Size and Position

Rather than disabling the Dock, you can adjust its size and position. You don’t have to keep it at the bottom if it feels in the way. You can move it to the left or right edge, and even resize the icons if they seem too big or too small.

1. Open the Apple Menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Select Desktop & Dock (or Dock & Menu Bar in Monterey/Big Sur, just Dock in Catalina and earlier).
3. Use the Size slider to adjust icon size.
4. Use the Position on screen option to move the Dock to the left, right, or bottom.
   

You can also adjust Dock position and size directly from the Terminal.

To change the Dock position:

defaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string "left" && killall Dock
defaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string "right" && killall Dock
defaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string "bottom" && killall Dock

Just use the command depending on where you want the Dock to appear (left, right, or bottom), and the change will happen instantly.

To change the Dock size (icon size in pixels):

defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 36 && killall Dock  # 36 pixels
defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 64 && killall Dock  # 64 pixels (default)

Choose any integer for the icon size.

To reset Dock size to default:

defaults delete com.apple.dock tilesize && killall Dock

This will restore the default Dock icon size.

If you prefer a tiny Dock but still want icons readable, enable Magnification. This way, the Dock stays small until you hover over it, and icons under the cursor zoom in.

Fix Dock Not Hiding or Showing

Sometimes the Dock doesn’t behave as expected. It may stay visible even with auto-hide enabled or refuse to appear when you move your pointer to the edge. Here are some common causes and quick fixes:

• Third‑party apps: Certain apps can keep the Dock active in the background. Quit suspicious apps and check again.
• Mission Control or full‑screen apps: When you use Mission Control or switch to full‑screen mode, the Dock may behave differently by design. Exit those modes to see if the Dock returns.
• Restart the Dock: A quick refresh often fixes glitches. Open Terminal and run: killall Dock The Dock will restart instantly.

If the Dock still doesn’t respond, go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and toggle the auto‑hide option off and on. A simple restart of your Mac can also clear persistent issues.

Extra Tips to Customize the Dock

Beyond hiding and showing, you can make the Dock truly your own. Add or remove apps by dragging icons in or out of the Dock. Rearrange them to keep your favorites within easy reach.

Want to save space? Enable magnification so icons stay small until you hover over them. You can also trim clutter by choosing to show only apps that are currently open, keeping the Dock minimal but useful.

Play around with these settings until the Dock feels like it fits your workflow. Small tweaks here and there make a big difference in how smooth and personal your Mac experience feels.

Also Read: macOS Dock shortcuts: Tips to boost your productivity

Final Touches

Whether you like your Dock always visible, hidden until you need it, or customized with size and magnification, macOS gives you enough freedom to match your style. Try each method for a while, keyboard shortcut, auto-hide, right-click trick, or even the Terminal hack, and see what feels best for the way you use your Mac. The Dock may be small, but getting it right makes your Mac feel more personal and comfortable.

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