Guides
How to remove apps from the Mac Dock
Removing an app from the Dock doesn’t delete it. It only takes away the icon.
Drag it out
Drag the app’s icon out of the Dock until you see Remove, then let go.
Or use the menu
Control-click the icon, choose Options, then Remove from Dock.
Why an app comes back
Every open app shows in the Dock while it runs – macOS does that for all apps. Quit the app and its icon leaves. If apps you never added keep appearing, open System Settings → Desktop & Dock and turn off “Show suggested and recent apps in Dock”.
Changed your mind?
Open the app, Control-click its icon in the Dock and choose Options → Keep in Dock.
Keep them close, just not in a row
Apps you still open now and then can live in one folder instead of a row of icons. See how to make app folders in the Mac Dock, or try TinyFolder on the Mac App Store.