How to add and remove icons from Mac's dock

The Dock on a Mac computer is the bar of icons on the bottom or side of the screen. It lets users access programs with the click of a button, but also displays which programs are currently running and holds the minimized windows of running programs. By default, the Dock contains a certain amount of icons, such as pre-installed Mac programs, but you can easily add or remove any icons you wish. There are a variety of ways to add applications to the Dock, all simple and easy to master.

Instructions

1. Add a program to your Dock by opening your Applications folder, then dragging the icon that corresponds to the application to the Dock itself. Click and hold the icon, then drag it to the Dock and hover over it momentarily. You can move your mouse to set where the icon will show up--the other icons in the Dock will move to make room for it. When you are satisfied, release the mouse and the icon will remain there.

2. Change the options of a program that is already running by right-clicking on the icon (for single-button mice, press the "Ctrl" key and click), hover over "Options," then click "Keep in Dock." The icon will remain in the Dock until you choose to remove it.

3. Remove an icon from the Dock by clicking and holding it, then dragging it off the Dock onto a blank part of your screen and releasing your mouse. The icon will vanish in a puff of smoke-literally. The icon will not reappear in your Dock unless you open the program via another shortcut, and it will not remain there unless you right-click to change its options.

Tips & Warnings

• If for any reason you accidentally remove an application from your Dock, you can easily get it back by navigating to your Applications folder and opening it, at which point it will show up in your Dock again; however, you will have to right-click and edit the options to make it stay there.

References

• Apple: The Dock