How to Install Otterdock on macOS 14 or Later
Install Otterdock from the official download, create your first workflow group, and choose click mode or optional hover mode.
To install Otterdock, download the current Direct edition from the official page, move the app to Applications, create a workflow group, and begin with click mode. Otterdock requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Hover mode and some system-level integrations are optional enhancements, not prerequisites for basic organization.
1. Download the official build
Use the official Otterdock download page. It is the canonical source for the current DMG, edition facts, price, and system requirement.
2. Move the app to Applications
Open the DMG, drag Otterdock to Applications, and launch it. If macOS asks you to confirm the first launch, verify that the download came from the official Otterdock domain before continuing.
3. Create a workflow group
Open the menu bar otter and choose New Group. Name the group after a context—Development, Writing, Client A, or Study—then add apps, files, folders, and links. This is the point where Otterdock differs from a folder-only solution: the group follows the work, not just the filesystem.
4. Choose click or hover
The Direct edition uses macOS Accessibility permissions to detect hover activation and intercept click actions on its Dock icon. Native macOS Dock folders open using standard system interactions without extra permissions.
5. Stay free or upgrade
The free tier includes two groups with up to eight items each. Pro is listed at $6.99 as a one-time purchase; both the Direct and Mac App Store editions offer free downloads with an optional $6.99 Pro tier.
Next step: keep the first group small. A group that opens the whole context in one click is more useful than a second Dock full of 30 rarely used items.
Continue with the official Getting Started guide or read how to build a repeatable Mac Dock workflow.