In our opinion the default Dock size on Mac is almost perfect for most users. However, if you disagree or find the need to make the Dock smaller or bigger, you can follow the steps as provided below to resize the Dock to suit your special requirements.
The Dock on Macs
The Dock on Macs is usually placed at the bottom of the screen and it can be described as a Launching Pad for your most commonly used Apps and programs on Mac.
![How How](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134153294/738252815.jpg)
Most Mac users are known to stick to the default size and location of the Dock. However, at times the Dock can get in the way of doing things, requiring either a change in the location of Dock or simply a change in the size of the Dock.
If the customizable MacBook Dock seems like a nifty contraption to you, you’re right!— it’s like one of those big control rooms that NASA uses. From the Dock — that icon toolbar at the bottom of Mountain Lion’s desktop — you can launch an application, monitor what’s running, and even use the pop-up menu commands to control the. The big bar at the bottom (by default) of your Mac’s screen is called the Dock. When you first get your Mac there will be a number of icons in it. Most of these are icons for applications but there are other kinds as well. The Dock can be a bit confusing at first; this guide will make it more clear.
Luckily, it is really easy to change the position of Dock and also to make the Dock smaller or bigger.
Quick Way to Resize The Dock On Your Mac
The quickest and easiest way to resize the Dock on your Mac is to do it right on the Dock itself, without having to go through the Settings on your Mac.
1. Hover your mouse over the Dock Divider Line which separates the App icons on the Dock from the Trash can icon.
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2. Once you hover your mouse over the Divider Line you will see that the regular mouse pointer changing into a Resize pointer (See image below)
3. Now, simply drag your mouse either up or down (vertically) to resize the dock.
Resize Dock on Mac Through Settings
Another way of resizing the Dock on your Mac is through the Settings Menu.
1. Click on the Apple icon from the top Menu bar on your Mac and then click on System Preferences in the drop-down menu (See image below)
2. On the System Preferences screen click on Dock (See image below)
3. On the Dock Preferences screen use the slider beside the option Size to make your dock either bigger or smaller.
To make the dock smaller move the slider to your left and to make the dock bigger move the slider to your right.
Another Way of Resizing The Dock On Your Mac
There is another way of resizing the Dock, right from the Dock itself.
1. Right-click on the Dock Divider Line and then click on Dock Preferences option in the little Menu that pops up.
2. On the Dock Preferences screen, you can resize the Dock by using the slider beside the option Size. Move the sider to the left to make the Dock Smaller and if you want to make the Dock Larger, move the slider to the right.
When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location. Pomodoro writing app mac.
You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Catalina.
How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac
Step #1. Decide which folder’s or app’s desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.
Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.
Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.
Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.
This is it!
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You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.
If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.’
Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.
Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn’t it.
Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.
Not able to Find the Folder Location?
Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.
But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.
#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.
#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.
#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.
#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder’ (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.
Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop
The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.
Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.
Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.
Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don’t worry. How to lock app bar on mac. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.
Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac
I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.
Show Dock On Mac
Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).
Wrapping up…
These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.
Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.
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What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
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