On A Mac How Do Add App To Dock
The easiest way to add something to the Dock is to launch the program, then click-hold the mouse for a second or two until the menu pops up. While still holding down the mouse, move the cursor to “Options”. That’s the choice you want. The Dock is the center point of navigation on macOS. It’s the first place you go to after starting up the Mac. But, this does not mean that the Dock is perfect. Despite Apple’s continuous upgrades, there are a few things that you can’t do such as removing native apps, stretching the Dock to the sides, etc. Problem: macOS Dock is the command center for your Mac.With Apple Dock you can run applications, switch between apps, open documents and links. Unfortunately, Apple Dock lacks many useful features such as Window Management and Switching between Windows, appearance Customization, Hiding app icons. Solution: ActiveDock is a full replacement for Apple Launchpad and Dock with many new features.
Luckily, Dock is perfectly customizable. Today, we will teach you how to add apps to the Dock and remove them if they create clutter.
How to add or remove apps from the Dock?
Mac Dock’s can also get over-cluttered by too many shortcut icons to documents and folders you visit often. So much so that many people can’t tell one app or document from another.
So before you start deleting apps and shortcuts, there are changes that can be made to the Dock settings that will tidy it up.
Add App To Dock On Mac
Go to Preferences and open Dock. Here, you can change its size, customize the Dock’s position, and change other default settings. You can also choose to automatically hide the Dock when you don’t need it.
On A Mac How Do Add App To Dock Screen
However, if making those adjustments doesn't solve the problem, and you want more space for apps you are now using, you need to start removing apps from the Dock.
How you remove and add apps to the Dock has changed over the years. It depends which macOS you are currently using as to which approach is required. The Dock also comes with a few fixed items that can’t be removed or changed, such as the Finder icon, Trash, and the divider line between where apps sit.
How to add an app to Dock? Adding an app is really simple.
Drag the app from the Applications folder, or Desktop, into the Dock. The app itself isn't the home of that app, so removing it won’t delete the app. Instead, an alias - or shortcut is created - giving you a quick, easy link to the app you want to use. So removing an app from Dock doesn't remove it altogether; it only takes it out of the Dock.
Here is how you do that:
Removing apps from Dock
- Quit the app you want to remove from Dock.
- Right-click on the app’s icon.
- Choose Options.
- Click Remove from Dock.
Repeat these steps for all other apps you want to remove from Dock.
How to find your hidden apps?
Some apps on your Mac are neither shown in Dock nor your Applications. These are called “shadow apps” or launch agents. Such software plays a small supporting role for other applications. Although launch agents are meant to be practical and useful, they may slow down your Mac considerably.
I find CleanMyMac X extremely useful for finding and disabling the launch agents. This software uncovers everything you have installed on your computer.
- Get CleanMyMac X here
- Install and launch the app
- Go to the Optimization module
- Click View All (number) Items
- Click Launch Agents and select those you want to disable.
- Click Perform.
Well done. Now your Mac performance shouldn’t be interrupted.
Keeping the Dock tidy, you will ensure yourself quick access to the apps you use often. If you don't use some of the applications, remove them from Dock. Deleting an app from Dock doesn’t remove it from your Mac. You can then access it from Applications or Desktop.
If it seems like some app overload your CPU, consider disabling its Launch Agents. It’s also a good habit to check the Unused tab in the CleanMyMac X’s Uninstaller tab to make sure you don’t have many apps you don’t even open.
When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location.
You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Catalina.
How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac
Step #1. Decide which folder’s or app’s desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.
Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.
Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.
Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.
This is it!
You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.
If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.’
Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.
Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn’t it.
Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.
Not able to Find the Folder Location?
Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.
But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.
#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.
#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.
#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.
#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder’ (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.
Adding To Dock On Mac
Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop
The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.
Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.
Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.
Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don’t worry. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.
Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac
How To Remove App From Mac Dock
I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.
On A Mac How Do Add App To Dock Without
Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).
Wrapping up…
These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. https://vsnew773.weebly.com/blog/typing-trainer-download-for-mac. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.
Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.
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What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
On A Mac How Do Add App To Dock Mac
Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
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