Mac keeps all apps in the Dock - WHY?

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Level 1

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Mac keeps all apps in the Dock - WHY?

Hi,

I am using a new MacBook Pro (specs below) and since day one (January 2024) I am dealing with the following issue. I have saved my favorite apps in my dock. Every time a open an app, that is not in the Dock, it stays there. Even after closing the app or rebooting the Mac. I have to manually 'delete from dock' the app.

In the end, this creates a super messy Dock and that's why I am reaching out to the community. Does anyone have an idea what I can do here?

Thanks,

Tobi

SYSTEM SPECS

MacBook Pro, 14", Nov. 2023

M3 Pro Chip, 36 GB RAM

Sonoma 14.5 (the issue described above started with earlier versions as well and was not solved with the latest updates)

MacBook Pro 13″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jun 11, 2024 12:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Servant of Cats

Level 8

38,147 points

Jun 11, 2024 3:02 AM in response to tobiwei

It's normal for an application's icon to be in the Dock while you are running the application – whether or not the application is normally there.

Ventura likes to keep icons for the three most recently launched programs (that don't have "permanent" Dock entries) in a segment to the right of the main one. I looked in Settings > Desktop & Dock. Under Dock, I saw a "Show recent applications in Dock" switch. Turning it off made that three-icon Dock segment go away.

I'm guessing that Sonoma has the same control.

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Answer 2

hot2chef

Level 1

125 points

Jun 11, 2024 8:20 AM in response to tobiwei

Not sure if this helps but have you tried to control (right) click on the app you want to take out of dock as shown below and it will go off to the launcher/applications until you need it again? See screen shot attached. This is in Sonoma but same for all recent MacOS.

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Answer 3

tobiwei Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 12, 2024 1:44 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thanks for this hint. This worked. I wasn't aware that recent apps are being shown there on purpose.

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Mac keeps all apps in the Dock - WHY?

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