Folders in the Dock are called “stacks.” A stack can be a folder of documents or applications—anything you need to access frequently. When you click a stack, it springs open in a fan or a grid, depending on the number of items. The Dock comes with an All My Files stack, for quick access to all your documents, images, and other files, and a Downloads stack, which saves files you download from the Internet or receive as “AirDrops.” Stacks are located near the right end of the Dock.
Add items to the Dock
- To add a document or folder, drag its icon to the Dock, and drop it to the right of the Dock’s separator line.
- To add an application, drag its icon to the Dock, and drop it to the left of the Dock’s separator line. Or, if the application is open, Control-click its icon in the Dock and choose Options > “Keep in Dock” from the pop-up menu.
Use the items in the Dock
- For quick access to all your applications, including ones that aren’t in the Dock, click the Launchpad icon.
- To open an item in the Dock, click its icon. You can also open a file that isn’t in the Dock by dragging its icon to the Dock icon of the application you want to use to open the file.
- To perform various actions on an application in the Dock (such as opening or quitting the application or removing it from the Dock), Control-click the application’s icon in the Dock, and choose an option from the menu that appears.
- To change the size or position of the Dock, or set other options, choose Apple menu > Dock > Dock Preferences.
- To rearrange icons, drag them into the order you prefer.
- To remove an item, drag it out of the Dock.