Dock issue with macOS 27 Golden Gate...

Updated my MacBook Pro to macOS 27 a few days ago (from 26.6.6). Working OK but for one problem that pops up now and then. I have some folders down in my Dock that, when I click on them, open above the Dock as a "List" of sub folders contained within the more major folders shown in the dock. Multiple times, though not every time, something goes wrong and I get the chronic spinning wheel inside that now raised (above the Dock) list... Just to report, I "sort by Name", "Display as Folder" and "View Content as List"... Nothing I've found to date can get me out of that situation other than to "logout" and then log back in... I tried doing a "forced restart" of the Finder but that doesn't help.

Never had that before this new version 27 (Golden Gate)... Clearly something coupled to this update... Is this a known problem??? Any ideas of how to fix??? Again, I can successfully open that list of folders say 10 times in a row OK but then on the next try, it happens... Log out, back in and soon after I get stuck there yet again... Thoughts??? Fixes??? thanks...

MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 2021)

Posted on Sep 22, 2026 8:27 AM

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

68,339 points

Posted on Sep 22, 2026 8:40 AM

First report that I've seen on this issue, but there have been a couple of other issues reported for the Dock and several with Spaces/Mission Control.

Some have been resolved by identifying and removing incompatible 3rd party extensions, others are bona fide bugs.

There have been many issues reported with Mission Control and Spaces on macOS 27 Golden Gate, especially regarding the way Full Screen apps and app switching are handled. Some have been resolved by identifying and removing incompatible 3rd party extensions, others are bona fide bugs.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

Those steps will help to isolate the problem.

It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed.

If the issue persists in safe mode and a new user account, that suggests that it's a bug that Apple needs to address. Bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

Reporting issues like this to Apple is the only way to get them fixed. They do prioritize bugs based on frequency of reports, so the more people who report it, the faster it will be addressed.

View in context

19 replies

Oct 4, 2026 12:04 PM in response to Robert Paris

Thank you for confirming! Same issue then. What could it be?! Golden Gate issue. Please let me know if you find a fix.

Oct 4, 2026 12:21 PM in response to Robert Paris

The kill commands are a good idea except you can’t enter them when the keyboard is locked out.

It happens for me in safe mode which is what makes me believe it’s an update issue.

Oct 4, 2026 12:22 PM in response to neuroanatomist

It happens for me in safe mode which is what makes me believe it’s an update issue, I don’t have any third party apps running as far as I am aware.

Oct 4, 2026 12:38 PM in response to neuroanatomist

It happened after the update, I had no issues with any of the previous OSs, so that makes it an update issue I am afraid.

I have 600 gb free on my internal drive so it’s not that, good idea though.

Dock issue with macOS 27 Golden Gate...