How to move the Dock to the side of the screen on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-move-the-dock-to-the-side-of-the-screen-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 4 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Desktop & Dock

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

4 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar

   It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.

   Done

3. 

   Set Dock position on screen

   Click the menu in that row and choose Left, Bottom or Right. In the picture it is set to Bottom.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Your Mac has System Preferences, not System Settings. Apple says that on macOS Monterey you choose System Preferences, Dock & Menu Bar. The setting there is called Position on screen. Source: Change Dock & Menu Bar preferences on Mac
• You cannot find Desktop & Dock in the sidebar. Apple says you can type a word, such as Dock, in the search field at the top of System Settings and click the matching option. Source: Find options in System Settings on Mac

If this does not work

• The Dock has disappeared. If Automatically hide and show the Dock is on, Apple says you move the pointer to the edge of the screen where the Dock is, so now the left or right edge. Source: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac
• The Dock is too big or too small at the side. Apple says you can drag the Size slider in Desktop & Dock, or drag the separator line in the Dock up or down when a double arrow appears. Source: Use the Dock on Mac · Source: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac

About this guide

Most screens are wider than they are tall, so the Dock at the bottom takes height that documents and web pages need. At the left or right edge it uses width, of which there is more.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

To have it disappear when not in use: how to hide the Dock automatically on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Dock position on screen.