How to hide the Dock automatically on a Mac (macOS 26)

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 9 November 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-hide-the-dock-automatically-on-a-mac/ · Checked 9 November 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open System Settings
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
Switch on Automatically hide and show the Dock
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, and switch on Automatically hide and show the Dock. The Dock then hides when you are not using it. To show it, move the pointer to the edge of the screen where the Dock is located.

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 3 official sources below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: System Settings
Real screenshots: 3 of 3 steps
Checked: 9 November 2026
Sources: 3 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap the picture to see it full size
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Switch on Automatically hide and show the Dock
It is in the Dock group, below Minimize windows into application icon. In the picture it is off.
Done

About this guide

On a small laptop screen the Dock takes a strip of space that windows could use. Hidden, it stays out of the way and slides in when the pointer reaches its edge.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.