DockLock Pro The world's first app that prevents your Mac Dock from jumping between displays without system modifications.
Lock the Dock to your preferred screen, keep it stable during screen sharing, and rely on smart behavior after wakeup, display changes, and connection events.
Compatible with OS X Mavericks 10.9 and newer as a small protest against how long this problem has existed. DockLock solves the Dock jumping issue across every affected macOS generation.
When you lose track of the pointer, the natural reaction is to move the mouse around until you find it. On a multi-display Mac, that quick search can touch the bottom edge of another screen and move the Dock to the wrong display.
DockLock runs continuously in the background to protect your Dock placement. It detects wakeups, display changes, and connection events, then automatically relocates the Dock back to the screen your workflow expects.
Lite is focused and fully sandboxed. Plus adds automation and a lifetime license. Pro is the upcoming website-only edition for Dock placement beyond App Store limits.
After the DockLock Lite trial ends, core Dock locking remains free. Modifier hotkey control, removing the Dock icon, and hiding the menu bar icon are paid upgrade features.
Simple. Focused. Core features stay free.
A focused edition with a 7-day full trial, no credit card required. After it ends, core Dock locking stays free. Modifier hotkey control, removing the Dock icon, and hiding the menu bar icon require the paid upgrade.
Power users. Automation. Lifetime license.
A lifetime license for power users who want automation. Adds Shortcuts, URL scheme control, CLI support, Raycast, and smarter Dock behavior.
Unlock Dock placement beyond App Store limits.
The upcoming website-only edition for placement beyond App Store limits. Move side Docks, unlock hidden layouts, and control where the Dock can live.
All DockLock editions share the core goal of keeping your Dock where you expect it. The right choice depends on how much automation and placement freedom your setup needs.
Read the FAQ| Feature | Lite | Plus | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock the Dock to a chosen monitor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hide Dock during meetings or screen sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Define which monitors allow Dock movement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-relocate after wakeup and screen changes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Modifier hotkey to temporarily move the Dock | Paid | Yes | Yes |
| Remove the Dock icon | Paid | Yes | Yes |
| Hide the menu bar icon | Paid | Yes | Yes |
| Mac App Store Family Sharing | Yes | Yes | - |
| Fully sandboxed Mac App Store version | Yes | Yes | - |
| Dock follows mouse, active window, or apps | - | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Shortcuts and Siri control | - | Yes | Yes |
| URL scheme automation | - | Yes | Yes |
| Command-line interface | - | Yes | Yes |
| Official Raycast extension | - | Yes | Yes |
| Place Dock on any screen edge | - | - | Yes |
| Move vertical Dock across displays | - | - | Yes |
| Works when Displays have separate Spaces is disabled | - | - | Yes |
| Unlock free space around the Dock for windows | - | - | Yes |
The Pro prototype moves beyond locking. It controls the real macOS Dock at runtime, supports side positions, can move a vertical Dock to any display, and unlocks free space around the Dock for windows. It does not write persistent system configuration and does not require disabling SIP.
DockLock Plus integrates with Apple Shortcuts, URL scheme calls, terminal scripts, Siri, and Raycast so your Dock follows the workflow instead of interrupting it.
Trigger DockLock Plus from Shortcuts, Siri, hotkeys, scripts, browsers, launchers, and other apps.
Learn moreUse scripts to set modes, move the Dock, allow displays, launch, quit, and query status.
Learn moreControl DockLock Plus directly from Raycast with the official extension.
Learn moreIf you use multiple monitors on a Mac, the Dock can jump the moment your cursor touches another screen edge. DockLock is not a one-time tweak. It is a background service that continuously protects Dock stability with professional-grade reliability.
It is useful for developers, designers, presenters, streamers, and anyone who wants a stable desktop while moving between screens.
DockLock began after months of research into a problem with no real alternative. It is a first-of-its-kind app built because the tool I needed did not exist.
DockLock is the result of over 900 hours of solo reverse engineering, development, and testing by Ihor July. Every purchase supports maintenance, future macOS compatibility, and original tools Apple did not build.
My focus is original macOS utilities, not copies. Supporting DockLock helps fund more first-of-their-kind apps. Supporting work that copies instead of invents only creates more copies.
DockLock apps are built in native C++ for performance, keep settings local, and do not make background network requests in the Mac App Store editions.
Users bought DockLock because the problem is real, old, and still disruptive on modern multi-display Macs.
Hands down, one of the best utilities that I came across for MacOS. First thing I install on a new Mac.
I run a MBP with an external screen and I was tired of constantly fighting with the dock settings… This app made it invisible !
I'm multi display user and that jumping dock was bothering me since begining of my mac journey. I was forced to use dock on the side which i'm not a fan of because it's far away to the left on my setup and can't fit that much icons as horizontal bottom dock. So thanks to this app I can finally use dock on the bottom, after 8 years of struggle and hoping for fix on every macos release each year. Thank you very much!
I've been using dual (and sometimes triple) monitors with macOS for years, and the Dock constantly jumping to whichever screen I brushed the bottom edge of was a real productivity killer. Since I installed DockLock Lite, that annoyance is gone: the Dock stays exactly where I set it on my preferred screen, even when I'm juggling full‑screen apps and screen sharing... The dev is quick to respond to feedback and has already fixed some stability bugs in recent updates.
I like this app especially when using Teams and sharing my second monitor 1) People don't get to see the dock 2) They also don't see - while I Command-Tab - the apps I have open
If you use a Mac with multiple monitors, DockLock Plus is the essential app you never knew you needed. For years, macOS users have struggled with the Dock unpredictably jumping between screens-a persistent annoyance that Apple never addressed. DockLock Plus finally delivers the seamless, frustration-free multi-monitor experience professionals have been waiting for.
At first glance it might seem that the app pricing is a bit high for "just" keeping the dock locked until you realize that 1. Apple has not fixed this in years. 2. If you have multiple monitors your productivity exceeds the cost of the app. Fantastic tool, does what it advertises and the developer is super responsive and very very helpful.
Do you struggle with your Dock staying put? If the answer is no, this app isn't for you. But if you've contracted a case of multiple monitors, beware: You're at risk to experience Apple's most hateful "feature", how the Dock hurdles itself to another display the moment your mouse innocently brushes the bottom of another screen like an overeager golden retriever chasing a ball. It's annoying. It's disruptive. It's like macOS is personally attempting to sabotage your carefully arranged windows just to watch your productivity suffer. Thankfully, DockLock Plus has solved this. And for a not unreasonable amount of money, ether. Just buy it. Your windows stay arranged, your workflow stays intact, and you'll have a shred more sanity.
I was searching for something like this for a long time hoping every year Apple would provide this feature out of the box in the new OS but I was disappointed. Until I found this. No more annoying unintended dock appearances on other screens. My favorite part is once you hide the menu bar icon and remove icon from dock, and enable at startup, you simply would never know if something like this exists. Works like a charm
This solves one of those "Why isn't this a native feature of MacOS?" issues. I use a 3 monitor setup...2 large monitors side by side, plus my MBP display below. My dock was having an identity crisis deciding where to live. I wanted it on a specific monitor and not be vertical. I tried various suggestions found online, but this app did what fiddling around with settings couldn't. An elegant solution with plenty of configuration options. I can now force the dock to stay on one specific monitor, or I can allow it to bounce between just the external monitors while avoiding the build in display, or various other combinations. Thank you!
Works as advertised! I've been trying to fix this problem for so long. Just a note, this works for docking stations too. Not sure if that's clearly stated anywhere. My docking station uses a DisplayLink driver and it all still works. Bravo!
So many years waiting for Apple to fix this. Now I can finally rest the dock on the bottom of my laptop's screen without it moving to the external screen, which happens frequently when placing the dock at the bottom and using the external screen on top of the smaller one (which is the best way to use it, IMHO, when you want to use both a small one from the laptop and a big one). This paid version allows dockLock to work with the dock hidden, which is also my preferred way to use it - but so impractical when we couldn't prevent it to be moved to the external screen. Works like a charm.
It blows my mind that this is not something that is natively able to be done on via the Mac's internal interface. However, this app is the BEST! A lot of the software I am using requires my mouse to be almost at the bottom of the screen, which would always cause the Dock to jump in the way of what I was working on. I love that I can set it on the single screen that I want it on (out of the 4 monitors I am using) and it no longer gets in the way. My productivity has increased. Everyone who has a Mac needs this app!
The Mac Dock's random jumping between screens has been a persistent source of frustration for countless macOS users over the years. It occurs frequently, disrupting focus and productivity during work. Despite numerous complaints, Apple has consistently disregarded customer feedback. To address this issue, Apple should acquire DockLock, ensuring its pre-installation on every Mac. DockLock is not a luxury but a necessity, and its inclusion would significantly enhance the user experience.
Working with two monitors just got so much better! No more accidentally moving the cursor to the bottom of the second screen and watching the Dock unexpectedly jump over. The bottom edge of my secondary screen is no longer a danger zone 😂. At the same time, if I do want to move the Dock, I can do it easily with a special key, or even lock it to the secondary monitor if that's what I prefer. Finally, I feel in control! 💪
My setup is 2-monitor vertically stacked: main 5K monitor and an iPad Pro 13 just below it, with wired sidecar. The jumping dock has always been a nuisance. With this App, the dock stays on main monitor when sidecar is off, and stays on sidecar iPad as soon as I connect it. Perfect. Immediately bought the plus version. Well done!
This is a small and really nice utility. If you work with multiple monitors, you tend to keep your Dock at the bottom of the screen. MacOS has this unnerving feature that, once you hit the bottom part of any screen with the mouse, it will move the Dock to that screen. This utility will stop MacOS from doing that every time. I waited a long time for a utility like this! Thumbs up!!
After years of struggling with this issue specially during screen sharing where the dock would just pop up when hovering over screen bottom, I am happy to say we have a fix in the form of DockLock. I had written feedback to apple numerous times on how annoying this was & they should fix it.
DockLock is part of a small family of practical Mac utilities built around local control, plain language, and no unnecessary background services.
Create dedicated app shortcuts that launch fully separate instances, each with its own data folder, profile, environment variables, and command-line arguments. You can also add an optional tray menu icon for any shortcut.
Check Mac apps before opening them. It explains signing, sandboxing, privacy permissions, network access, internal helpers, and other macOS security signals in plain language, including a Quick Look extension from Finder.
Create plain-text lock screen messages for owner notes, asset labels, shared Macs, and test machines. Preview the visible message and scroll-down details, then copy text ready for macOS System Settings.
Read important setup notes before buying, get help with your display arrangement, or contact support directly with macOS version and reproduction details.