Guides
How to show only open apps in the Mac Dock
If you open apps from Spotlight anyway, the Dock can show only what’s running. It takes one Terminal command, and one more to undo it.
Turn it on
- Open Terminal: press Command-Space, type Terminal and press Return.
- Paste this line and press Return:
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true; killall DockThe Dock restarts. Your pinned apps leave it, and only apps that are running stay. Quit an app and its icon goes too.
Undo it
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool false; killall DockYour pinned apps come back.
A lighter option
If you only want the Dock to stop collecting apps, open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock and turn off “Show suggested and recent apps in Dock”. Your pinned apps stay.
Keep a few apps one click away
An empty Dock means opening even your favorite apps from Spotlight. A middle ground: keep the Dock short and put the apps you use now and then into one folder. Step by step: how to make app folders in the Mac Dock.