# 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's Dock configuration, admins can standardize the user experience across endpoints by pinning essential applications, removing unnecessary items, and controlling 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-central/help/images/mac-dock-navigation.webp)

In the Endpoint Central 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-central/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-central/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-central/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: **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 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 from removing the Dock item:
  - Select **Allow** in the Dock Removal field to allow 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-central/help/images/dock-items-reorder-preview.webp)

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

- Applications in the Dock are positioned before other items such as Files, Folders, and Web Shortcuts. Other items cannot be reordered 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

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

To modify an added Dock item:

1. Click 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 create a new one.

### Deleting Dock Items

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

To delete an added Dock item:

1. Click the three dots icon in the **Actions** column and select **Delete**.
2. A confirmation pop-up will appear:
   - Click **Yes** to proceed with deletion.
   - Click **No** to cancel.

### Configuring Dock Settings

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

To customize the Dock:

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

### Configuring Dock Windows Behaviour

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

To customize window behavior:

1. **Minimize windows using:**  
   - Select **Genie Effect** or **Scale Effect**.  
   - To prevent modification, check **Restrict User Modification**.
2. **Minimize into application icon:**  
   - Select **Enable** or **Disable**.  
   - To prevent modification, check **Restrict User Modification**.
3. **Double-click a window's title bar to:**  
   - Select **Minimize**, **Zoom**, or **None**.  
   - To prevent modification, check **Restrict User Modification**.
4. **Prefer tabs when opening documents:**  
   - Select **Full Screen**, **Always**, or **Never**.  
   - Applicable only when viewing documents using Preview (default PDF viewer in macOS).

### Previewing the Dock Configured

![Dock preview image](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-central/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 directly in the preview.

## Defining the Target

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

[Define the Target](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/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-central/help/images/execution-settings-dock.webp)

Configuring the **Execution Settings** is optional. The Execution settings include:

- Retrying the Configuration on failed targets
- Enable Notification

To learn more about the Execution Settings, refer to this [link](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/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 when deploying enterprise software to newly added computers or users. Refer to this [link](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/configuration-management/user_defined_templates.html) to learn more about User-Defined Templates.

## Modifying the Configuration

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

To modify the configuration:

1. In the Endpoint Central 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

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

The Dock Settings configuration can be moved to trash when it is no longer required or when you want to revert the configuration on macOS devices. The configuration will be reverted once moved to trash, as Dock Settings is an MDM profile-supported configuration.

To move the configuration to trash:

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

## Suspending and Resuming the Configuration

### Suspending the Configuration

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

To suspend the configuration:

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

### Resuming the Configuration

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

To resume a suspended configuration:

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