CrackMacMac Dock disappeared? How to get it back and keep it there
Press Command-Option-D. That shortcut turns Dock hiding on and off, and turning it on by accident is the most common reason the Dock vanishes. If it's still gone, it's probably set to a different side of the screen, sitting on another display, or stuck, and each takes a few seconds to fix.
Bring it back
- Turn off hiding. Press Command-Option-D, or open System Settings, Desktop & Dock and turn off "Automatically hide and show the Dock".
- Check its position. In the same settings, look at "Position on screen". It may have moved to the left or right edge. Here's how to move it back, or to another display.
- Leave full screen. Full-screen apps hide the Dock. Press Globe-F or Control-Command-F to leave full screen.
- Check your other display. With more than one display, a bottom Dock follows the pointer. Move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen you want, and it moves there.
- Restart the Dock. Open Activity Monitor, select Dock, click the stop button and choose Quit. macOS relaunches it immediately.
If the Dock sits on a broken part of the screen
When the bottom of the display is damaged, the Dock is drawn right into the dead area. Move it to the left or right edge, whichever side still works, and keep auto-hide off so it doesn't pop up from the damaged edge. If a side Dock has too many apps to fit, macOS shrinks or stretches it along the whole height, so remove apps you don't use or lower the size slider.
If the damage runs along one edge, CrackMac can keep windows, menus and the pointer off it. There's a free 30-minute trial.
Quick answers
How do I get my Dock back on a Mac?
Press Command-Option-D, which turns Dock hiding on or off. If it's still missing, check where it's set to appear in System Settings, Desktop and Dock, and look at your other displays.
How do I restart the Dock on a Mac?
Open Activity Monitor, find Dock, select it and click the stop button, then choose Quit. macOS starts the Dock again within a second.
Dock under a broken edge?
CrackMac keeps windows clear of the dead strip and helps a side Dock fit on the working glass, so the last icon and its menu stay where you can see them.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.