Wascally Wabbit
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Q: How can I reposition an icon on the dock in OS X 10.11.2

Hi All,

 

I have read on Apple's support files that an icon on the dock in a machine running El Capitan can be repositioned by "pressing and holding the icon, then dragging it to the desired location".

 

I tried that using the touch pad on my MB Pro, and using my Magic Mouse. Neither one moves any icon on the dock.

 

How can I rearrange the icons to the setup I want?

 

Thanks.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11), 512 Gb SSD, 16 mg ram, mid 2015 15"

Posted on Dec 23, 2015 1:31 PM

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Wascally Wabbit

Q: How can I reposition an icon on the dock in OS X 10.11.2

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 23, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit
    Level 6 (14,299 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit

    Would appear you tried the suggested method, however in this article under

    Mouse clicks and key combinations for the Dock are several items...

    Mac OS X: Additional features of the Dock - Apple Support

     

    Click and Drag icons within the Dock works for me. However there may be a

    setting in use that prevents this simple action, so that could be a reason why

    you've had difficulty. I've made sure to not select the option when I found it.

     

    {Rather certain a free utility such as OnyX has a setting, instead of using the

    terminal to make changes to the OS beneath the GUI.} Not sure if the item

    I recollect was an addition to keep kids from removing dock items altogether.

    In an un-altered Mac OS X, simply click on the icon with mouse or touchpad

    and drag the icon into a new position in the Dock.

     

    There's this to Lock it:

    http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/how-to-lock-mac-dock

     

    A free script to automate instead of terminal:

    http://junecloud.com/journal/mac/quickly-lock-and-unlock-the-icons-in-your-dock. html

     

    So, I don't remember where this option to 'lock/unlock the dock' is, now...!

     

    edited

  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Dec 23, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit
    Level 8 (48,668 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 23, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit

    Pressing and holding is not the best way to describe the action. Simply drag the icon to a new place in the Dock.

     

    If you press and hold it will cause a contextual menu to appear. You won't be able to move the icon that way.

  • by Wascally Wabbit,

    Wascally Wabbit Wascally Wabbit Dec 23, 2015 2:09 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 2:09 PM in response to John Galt

    Hilarious! Your suggestion worked perfectly. Thank you.

  • by Wascally Wabbit,

    Wascally Wabbit Wascally Wabbit Dec 23, 2015 2:11 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 2:11 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Thanks for the reply. I started with the simplest explanation first, and since it worked, I didn't try your suggestion. Regardless, thank you for taking the time to help. I appreciate it.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 23, 2015 2:26 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit
    Level 6 (14,299 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 2:26 PM in response to Wascally Wabbit

    Well, if you ever needed to unlock or lock the Dock, that's there.

     

    And to click & drag has been standard fare as long as the Dock

    has been in OS X. With a few exceptions. I've used almost all of

    the OS X from 10.0.0 (including the first pre-release b_ata X)

     

    When a post is edited, the time stamp changes; so the time isn't

    indicative of the first post necessarily.

     

    As much trouble I have with keyboard issues, I'm not going to try

    as often to add any recommendation more than a Yes or No.

  • by cheeky-monkey,

    cheeky-monkey cheeky-monkey Mar 26, 2016 5:56 AM in response to Wascally Wabbit
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 26, 2016 5:56 AM in response to Wascally Wabbit

    For some reason,  I find that clicking and holding simply do not work in el Capitan on a MacBook Pro with the uber sensitive trackpad.  But just using ONE finger and touching and dragging (leaving the thumb you normally click with out of it) works fine!   I found at first I was trying too hard, trying to do it like I did in snow leopard.    Now it's much easier!