The default macOS Dock displays many of the apps that come preinstalled on your Mac. A lot of users personalize it immediately by adding frequently used apps and removing the ones they don’t. However, some might prefer a minimal Dock with only essential apps visible. One way to achieve this is by configuring the Dock to display only running applications.

In addition to built-in apps, the Dock also shows manually added apps, recently launched ones, the Downloads folder, and the Trash bin for deleted files. If your Dock becomes cluttered, distinguishing between open and closed apps can become difficult, even with the small indicator dot beneath running apps. You can fix this by setting the Dock to show only active apps using a simple Terminal command.

How to Make Mac Dock Only Show Running Apps

We’ll use a simple Terminal command to configure your Mac to display only currently open apps. This method works across all versions of macOS.

1. First, locate and open the Terminal app. If you've never used Terminal before, start by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. When the Finder window opens, navigate to “Applications” from the left sidebar and locate the “Utilities” folder. Click on it.
3. Inside Utilities, find and click on the Terminal app to launch it.
4. Now, type the following command into the Terminal exactly as shown in the image and press “Return.” Wait a few seconds while the desktop refreshes with the updated Dock appearance. defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true; killall Dock
5. As seen below, the Dock now displays only running apps. Finder appears because it's always active, and Trash remains visible for easy file disposal.

That’s all there is to it. With this change, the Dock functions more like a taskbar showing only what’s currently running, rather than an app launcher.

This useful trick has been available since macOS Leopard and continues to work in modern versions such as Monterey, Big Sur, and beyond.

How to Revert Your Mac’s Dock Back to Default, Showing All Apps

If you decide later that you want to return to the original Dock behavior—showing both running and inactive apps—you can easily do so using another Terminal command. Here’s how:

1. Launch Terminal again on your Mac. You can also use Spotlight (Command Space) to quickly open it.
2. Type the following command precisely as shown in the image below: defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool false; killall DockAlternatively, try: defaults delete com.apple.dock static-only; killall Dock

After entering the command, your desktop will refresh and restore the Dock to its standard layout, displaying all apps once again.

Typically, this command restores the Dock to its original state with all apps reappearing just as they were. However, in rare cases, some users report issues where the Dock doesn’t reset properly. In such situations, you may need to manually drag and drop your favorite apps back onto the left side of the Dock.

You may also notice the Downloads folder missing after applying this change, but you can simply drag it back to the Dock if needed.

Ultimately, how you choose to customize and use your Dock is up to you. You're free to add or remove apps at any time, but for deeper behavioral changes like this one, Terminal commands are required.

What are your thoughts about using the Dock as a task manager instead of an app launcher? Share your opinions and preferred Dock customizations in the comments below.

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