How to Change Mac Dock Position, Size, Magnification, and Auto-Hide
Use Desktop & Dock settings to change Dock size, position, icon magnification, auto-hide, and open-app indicators.
To change the Mac Dock’s position, size, magnification, or auto-hide behavior, open Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock. The same panel also controls indicators for open apps and suggested or recent apps.
Change the Dock’s size and position
- Open System Settings and select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
- Under Dock, adjust Size and choose Left, Bottom, or Right for Dock position on screen.
A smaller Dock can leave more room for windows; a side position can work better on a wide display. These are layout choices, so try one change at a time and keep the setting that makes your Dock easiest to reach.
Choose whether icons magnify
Turn Magnification on to enlarge icons when the pointer moves over them, then adjust the magnification slider. Turn it off if the movement distracts you or makes precise clicking harder.
Set auto-hide and open-app indicators
Automatically hide and show the Dock hides it until you move the pointer to its screen edge. Show indicators for open applications adds a small dot below apps that are running. If the Dock seems to vanish, seethe focused troubleshooting steps.
Recent apps are a separate choice
Show suggested and recent apps in Dock controls a temporary area; it does not unpin the apps you chose to keep. If that is the only setting you want to change, follow the guide to hiding recent apps.
The names above follow Apple’s current System Settings guide. On older macOS releases, the panel may be called System Preferences or Dock & Menu Bar. See Apple’s Desktop & Dock settings reference. To change which display has a Dock, see the multi-display guide.