# Dock Settings

*Last Updated On: 23 Jul 2026*  
*18 minutes read*

Dock configuration allows IT administrators to customize the appearance and behavior of the Dock on Mac devices. Using Endpoint Central MSP's Dock configuration, admins can standardize the user experience of the endpoints by pinning essential applications, removing unnecessary items, and controlling the layout preferences in the Dock. This helps ensure consistency across all endpoints.

## Steps to Configure Dock Settings

![Mac Dock Navigation](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/mac-dock-navigation.webp)

In the Endpoint Central MSP console, navigate to the **Configuration tab > Add Configurations > Configuration > Mac > Dock Settings.**

## Name the Configuration

![Naming Mac Dock Config](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/naming-mac-dock-config.webp)

Provide a **Name** and **Description** for the configuration.

## Defining the Configuration

### Adding Dock Items

To add a Dock item, follow the steps given below:

![Add Dock Items Navigation](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/add-dock-items-navigation.webp)

- To add Dock items, click on **Add Items**. You can add applications, files, folders, and web shortcuts to the Dock.

![Adding Dock Items](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/adding-dock-items.webp)

- In the **Type** field, choose the Dock item you want to add by selecting from the drop-down menu based on your requirement as **App**, **File**, **Folder**, **Web Shortcut**.
- In the **Path** field, provide the path of the Dock item you want to add:
  - For files, applications, and web shortcuts, specify their **absolute path** (starting from the root directory).  
    Example:  
    **/Applications/Safari.app**
  - For folders, specify either a **relative path** (from the home directory) or an absolute path.  
    Example:  
    **~/Documents/Project**

**NOTE:** Provide the path for the web shortcuts in the `.webloc` format. Example: `/Documents/ManageEngine.webloc`

- Provide the label for the Dock item in the **Dock Label** field.
- You can allow or restrict the end-user to remove the Dock item:
  - Select **Allow** in the Dock Removal field to permit removal.
  - Select **Restrict** to prevent removal.
- Click **Save** to add the Dock item.
- Click **Save and New** to save the configured Dock item and proceed to add another item.
- Click **Cancel** to discard the current Dock item configuration.

### Reordering Dock Items

![Dock Items Reorder Preview](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-items-reorder-preview.webp)

The configured Dock items can be reordered based on your requirement to appear in the Dock. Once the Dock items are added, you can reorder them by dragging the Dock items listed in the table.

- Applications in the Dock are positioned before other Dock items such as Files, Folders, and Web Shortcuts. Other Dock items cannot be reordered to appear before Applications.
- Restricted Dock items are positioned before Allowed Dock items. Allowed Dock items cannot be reordered before Restricted Dock items.
- Reordering is allowed within Restricted and Allowed Dock items.

### Modifying Dock Items

To modify the added Dock item, follow the steps below:

![Dock Item Modify](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-item-modify.webp)

1. Click on the three dots icon in the **Actions** column of the Dock item and select **Modify**.
2. After making the necessary changes:
   - Click **Save** to save the Dock item.
   - Click **Save and New** to save the Dock item and proceed to create a new one.

### Deleting Dock Items

To delete the added Dock item, follow the steps below:

![Dock Item Deletion](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-item-deletion.webp)

1. Click on the three dots icon in the **Actions** column of the Dock item you want to delete and select **Delete**.
2. A confirmation pop-up will appear before deletion:
   - Click **Yes** to proceed.
   - Click **No** to cancel.

### Configuring Dock Settings

To customize the Dock, follow the steps below:

![Dock Settings](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-settings.webp)

1. In the **Position on screen** field, select **Bottom**, **Left**, or **Right**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent users from changing the Dock position.
2. Use the slider in the **Dock Size** field to adjust the size.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent size changes.
3. In **Automatically hide and show the Dock**, select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
4. In **Animate opening applications**, select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
5. In **Show suggested and recent applications in Dock**, select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
6. In **Show indicators for open applications**, select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.

### Configuring Dock Windows Behaviour

To customize window behavior, follow the steps below:

![Dock Windows Behaviour](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-windows-behaviour.webp)

1. In **Minimize windows using**, select:
   - **Genie Effect**
   - **Scale Effect**  
   Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
2. In **Minimize into application icon**, select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
3. In **Double-click a window's title bar to**, select:
   - **Minimize**
   - **Zoom**
   - **None**  
   Check **Restrict User Modification** to prevent changes.
4. In **Prefer tabs when opening documents** (applicable only for Preview):
   - Select **Full Screen** to open in full screen in a new tab.
   - Select **Always** to always open in a new tab.
   - Select **Never** to open in a new window.

### Previewing the Dock Configured

![Dock preview image](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/dock-preview.webp)

In the **Preview** section, you can preview the configured Dock items and their position on screen. You can also drag and reorder the Dock items to customize them.

## Defining the Target

![Define Targets](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/define-targets.webp)

[Define the Target](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/general/defining_targets.html) computers to which you are deploying the Dock configuration.

## Execution Settings and Scheduler Settings

![Execution settings dock image](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/execution-settings-dock.webp)

Configuring the **Execution Settings** is optional. Based on your requirement, configure:

- Retrying the Configuration on failed targets
- Enable Notification

To learn more about the Execution Settings, refer to this [link](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/configuration-management/configuring_execution_settings.html).

## Deploying the Configuration

- Select **Deploy** to deploy the Dock Settings configuration during the 90-minute Refresh Cycle or System Start-up.
- Select **Deploy Immediately** to deploy the Dock Settings configuration to the target computers immediately.

## Saving the Configuration

The created Dock Settings configuration can be saved as:

- **Draft:** The configuration can be saved as a draft for later use.
- **User Defined Templates:** The configuration can be saved as a template and reused instead of creating a new configuration when deploying enterprise software to newly added computers or users. Refer to this [link](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/configuration-management/user_defined_templates.html) to learn more about User-Defined Templates.

## Modifying the Configuration

The created Dock Settings configuration can be modified as needed.

![Modifying dock configuration image](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/modifying-dock-config.webp)

1. In the Endpoint Central MSP console, navigate to **Configurations > Views > All Configurations**.
2. Select the configuration you want to modify.
3. Under the **Action** column, select the three dots icon and choose **Modify > Configuration**.

## Moving Configuration to Trash

The Dock Settings configuration can be moved to trash when it is no longer required or when you need to revert it on macOS devices. The configuration will be reverted once moved to trash, as it is an MDM Profile Supported configuration.

![Move dock configuration to trash](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/move-dock-config-to-trash.webp)

1. In the Endpoint Central MSP console, navigate to **Configurations > Views > All Configurations**.
2. Select the Dock Settings configuration you want to move to trash.
3. Under the **Action** column, select the three dots icon and choose **Move to Trash**.

## Suspending and Resuming the Configuration

The Dock Settings configuration can be suspended to stop deployment to target computers.

![Suspend Mac dock configuration](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/suspend-mac-dock-config.webp)

To suspend the configuration:

- In the Endpoint Central MSP console, navigate to **Configurations > Views > All Configurations**.
- Select the Dock Settings configuration you want to suspend.
- Under the **Action** column, select the three dots icon and choose **Suspend**.

You can resume a suspended configuration:

![Resume dock configuration](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-management-msp/help/images/resume-dock-configuration.webp)

1. In the Endpoint Central MSP console, navigate to **Configurations > Views > All Configurations**.
2. Select the suspended Dock Settings configuration you want to resume.
3. Under the **Action** column, select the three dots icon and choose **Resume**.