1) Adjust Dock's Response Time

By default, the Dock takes one second to reveal itself when you move the pointer towards it. For those who find this delay frustrating, adjusting it is simple.

I prefer an immediate response, so I used defaults write com.apple.Dock autohide-delay -float 0; killall Dock.

To revert back: Run the command again, changing the 0 back to 1.

2) Modify Speed of Appearance

To change the speed at which the Dock appears or hides, use defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 1; killall Dock.

• 1 is the default setting.
• 0 eliminates the animation.
• Values between 0 and 1 speed up the animation.
• Values above 1 slow it down (a fun prank for friends!).

3) Manually Show or Hide Dock

If you occasionally utilize auto-hide but prefer manual control, use the hotkey Command + Option + D while in Finder or on the Desktop.

# 4. Dock Separator Techniques

Notice the vertical line on the Dock that separates your applications and folders?

1) Access Quick Settings

Right-click on it to access quick Dock settings.

2) Adjust Dock Magnification

Drag the separator up or down to quickly change the Dock’s magnification.

To bypass the macOS limit on magnification, use defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -float 48; killall Dock.

• 48 is the standard size on most Macs.
• 16 is the smallest size possible in Settings.
• 1 is the absolute minimum (not practical without app magnification enabled).

3) Magnify Applications

To enhance the effect of app icons magnifying when hovered over, use defaults write com.apple.dock largesize -int 128; killall Dock.

• 128 is the maximum size available in Settings.
• 512 is the largest size achievable (a fun surprise for your friends!).

# 5. Application Tips

1) Scroll Up for All Open Windows

To see all open windows of an app easily, activate this setting using defaults write com.apple.dock scroll-to-open -bool TRUE; killall Dock.

Now, when you hover over an app's icon and scroll up, all its windows will be displayed.

2) Activate Hidden Suck Animation

macOS provides two default app minimizing effects, Genie and Scale, but there's a hidden effect called “Suck”.

Enable it with defaults write com.apple.dock mineffect suck; killall Dock.

To revert to a standard effect, run the command again, replacing "suck" with "genie" or "scale".

3) Add Useful Items to Dock

To add frequently used items to the Dock:

• Open Finder (or Desktop),
• Navigate to Go > Go to Folder… in the menu,
• Enter /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Applications/,
• Drag the desired icons to the Dock as if they were applications.

Done!

4) Display Only Active Apps

To keep your Dock minimal, use defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool TRUE; killall Dock. This will hide inactive apps and show only the active ones.

5) Enable Single App Mode

To hide all other active apps when clicking on an app’s icon, run defaults write com.apple.dock single-app -bool TRUE; killall Dock.

You can still switch to other apps using Command + Tab.

6) Dim Hidden App Icons

To make hidden app icons easier to identify, use defaults write com.apple.dock showhidden -bool TRUE; killall Dock.

Bonus: To hide an app window manually, use Command + H.

# In Case of Dock Malfunctions

Excitement over new Terminal tricks can sometimes lead to unintended changes in your Dock settings.

If you find your Dock misconfigured, reset it to factory defaults with defaults delete com.apple.dock; killall Dock.

For More macOS Tips and Terminal Commands, Check These Out

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<h2>Amazing Mac Tricks</h2>

<h3>Edit description</h3>

<p>nikhilvemu.medium.com</p>

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<div class="link-block">

<h2>Useful Mac Terminal Tricks</h2>

<h3>Edit description</h3>

<p>nikhilvemu.medium.com</p>

</div>

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