The function "Automatically hide and show the dock" doesn't work

Question

Level 1

9 points

The function "Automatically hide and show the dock" doesn't work

Hi guys!

It's been half a year my Mac doesn't let the Dock automatically show up and hide. I like this function but I can't turn it on. Well, I do turn it on in the Settings but the Dock just hides and won't show up when the cursor is hovered over it. I tried setting the Dock to be on the left or the right side or in the bottom - nothing works. I have to turn this function off so that the Dock is always shown. It's not a big deal but some extra space on the screen never goes amiss.

I just can't understand this issue. Since I faced this problem the MacOS was updated several times but this little bug is always there. I find this strange...

I always keep my Mac up to date.

MacBook Pro M1.

Is there any ideas about this issue?

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Dec 26, 2025 5:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

105,589 points

Dec 26, 2025 8:02 AM in response to gorgurgon

Barring all else working and as a last resort

In Finder >> Go

To reveal the User Library

Hold Option key

Then, maneuver to Library >> Preferences

Find the com.apple.dock.plist

STOP

Drag the com.apple.dock.plist to a safe place incase you need it again

Delete the com.apple.dock.plist

Restart the computer which should recreate a new com.apple.dock.plist

If all good there after

Delete to Older file from your safe keeping location

Reply

Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

105,589 points

Dec 26, 2025 7:42 AM in response to gorgurgon

AFAIK, this Dock issue was resolved with the latest and greatest Tahoe 26.2 released Dec 12, 2025

Apart from the previously supplied good suggestions

In Terminal

Use the below command which is case sensitive

killall Dock

This would cause the Dock to disappear and reappears

Sometimes you may need to to a restart for this to stick 🤞

Reply

Answer 3

gorgurgon Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 26, 2025 8:59 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thank you for your help! Of course I ment to push the cursor into the edge. I didn't try rebooting in the safe mode since the trick from Owl-53 worked fine. Maybe your advice would have worked, too.

Reply

Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

105,589 points

Dec 26, 2025 9:12 AM in response to gorgurgon

You are welcome

🦉-53

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 26, 2025 6:25 AM in response to gorgurgon

The Dock should appear when you push the cursor into the edge of the screen where the Dock resides, i.e to simply "hover over it" will not do the job.

If the Dock doesn't appear when you push the cursor to the edge, then yes, your auto hide function is not working properly.

Try starting the Mac in safe mode and see if that has any affect on the issue. Safe mode will often correct weird software behavior by forcing the OS to clear caches, do disk repair and other self-maintenance and housekeeping and temporarily disables third-party mods.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Does the problem go away in Safe mode?

If so, this may indicate an OSconflict with some third party software.

Reply

Answer 6

gorgurgon Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 26, 2025 8:56 AM in response to Owl-53

Well, thank you very much! This trick worked! As you wrote I deleted the com.apple.dock.plist and restarted the Mac. And bingo! The dock is now working! Finally)) Thanks a lot!

Reply