Dock keeps moving between monitors

I have connected on to my MacBook Pro Retina (Model Identifier: MacBookPro10,1) two monitors. A Thunderbolt Display connected to the Thunderbolt port (next to power connector), a HP LCD Monitor w2408h connected to the Thunderbolt port (next to USB) with a DisplayPort to DVI adapter (using DVI/HDMI cable) .

Display Arrangement is MacBook Retina (left), Thunderbolt Display (middle), and HP LCD (right). The main menu bar is on the middle monitor, which puts the Dock in the middle.

My Dock keeps moving randomly to any of the 3 monitors. It supposed to be in the middle.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Model ID: MacBookPro10,1

Posted on Nov 5, 2013 5:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

Topher Kessler

Level 6

9,955 points

Posted on Nov 5, 2013 5:54 AM

This is a feature of the way Mavericks handles multiple displays. As you move your mouse and focus to different displays, the system menu bar and Dock will appear on that display. To prevent this, go to the Mission Control system preferences and uncheck the "Displays have separate spaces" option.

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77 replies

orbfish

Level 1

5 points

Oct 22, 2014 11:19 AM in response to dipakcg

dipakcg:You don't have to minimize anything. That would make this an amazing pain, rather than just a huge pain.

BoaNeo

Level 1

11 points

Nov 18, 2013 11:38 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Hm, I feared as much. What a hopelessly stupid idea.

My third monitor is a Cintiq (I.e. a touch screen), and I frequently have the pen along the lower edge during a paint stroke, with the interresting result of dragging dock icons all over the place.

I don't care whether they call it a bug or a feature as long as it goes away 🙂.

Dec 18, 2014 6:05 AM in response to Felix Hernandez

This is an awful awful awful awful feature, if it is one. If it is a feature, where is it documented because I'd love to read up on the exact triggers. It seems so random in the way it moves the dock. My work around is hiding the dock, selecting the monitor I want it on, then unhiding the dock again to move it. I hope this feature/bug goes away or becomes an option to turn off. The wording in the Mission Control Settings panel could be "Turn Off annoying auto dock switching feature bug"

dawiley

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2014 1:51 PM in response to smithmr8

you got it

dinerdog

Level 1

4 points

Jan 8, 2014 5:52 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Thanks Sputnik Technoligies! This was driving me crazy. I actually restarted a couple times to get it back. Now I know this is a simple feature. 🙂

Dickie7

Level 1

11 points

Jan 9, 2014 6:32 PM in response to dinerdog

Thanks for the fix Sputnik! You've stopped the frustration that was eventually going to lead to a fist going through my Thunderbolt Display!

mayerbci

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2014 5:31 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Thanks! Great catch. For me I was using Fusion and moving to the 2nd monitor and then quickly down to the Windows task bar. Now I know what not to do. Thanks again!

Mar 14, 2014 7:19 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

THANK YOU so much Sputnik! I was so frustrated and you solved the problem for me! 🙂

emarino

Level 1

8 points

Mar 23, 2014 7:48 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Thank you SputnikTechnologies for the info. Although it was annoying when it appeared to randomly occur, I like the option, again thanks for enlightening us.

Willjjv

Level 1

4 points

Mar 26, 2014 10:37 AM in response to Petah.in.TX

Great suggestion!

jerang

Level 1

0 points

Apr 2, 2014 4:48 PM in response to SputnikTechnologies

It was driving me nuts, thanks Sputnik Technologies!

May 3, 2014 2:18 PM in response to Petah.in.TX

In a nutshell...but will they listen? let's hope so.

May 20, 2014 10:35 PM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Like everyone else, this has really been p****ing me off. However, using the workaround I found that it only works with the Trackpad and does not work with the Genius mouse!

Jun 13, 2014 4:53 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

thanks for sorting that

Jul 13, 2014 10:42 AM in response to SputnikTechnologies

Thank you - this helped! At least now we know how to control the behavior.

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Dock keeps moving between monitors