Is it possible to remove the grey dock on the new iPad.

Egauger wrote:

So in the old version the dock existed but evidently not obvious since it didn’t “float”? Is there a way to “lock it” (as in the old version) so it is not using valuable desktop space? I have already deactivated it...don’t want all that worthless info cluttering my desktop...but still left with an empty gray bar.

No.

The new DOCK is what it Is.

It's been part of iOS 11 even during the developer months.

It will NOT disappear, either!

iOS 11 is a brand new iOS. Time to embrace change.

iOS 7 was a BIG iOS change.

iOS 11 is another VERY BIG change.

Maybe you need all of this to help you properly learn to use and navigate iOS 11.

iPad User Guide for iOS 11 by Apple Inc.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ipad-user-guide-for-ios-11/id1263310093?mt=11

Another very good iOS 11 Users Guide

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/ios-11-thoroughly-reviewed/

VIDEOS!!

iOS 11 Basics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnEfNBQ_F1Q&list=WL&index=81&t=904s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rgnwfgHXSg

iOS 11 Dock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2eXus8fweg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBoeJCmxnpA

iOS 11 Multitasking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsAh2EjyIVo&index=83&list=WL&t=8s

Good Luck to You!

I think that, at least, there should be an option to block the dock in apps, as there was for the old Control Center. Blocking it for selected apps (games, music) would be even better. Users with these problems should use feedback to let Apple know, link: Feedback - iPad - Apple.

Did I have the option to refuse this during update setup? It’s a complete nuisance and has to go! Have always kept my ”go to” apps on the bottom row and now it’s a mess. “Go to’s” no longer easy access.

Why can you not keep your 'go to' apps on the dock instead?

Not being facetious, just don't understand the difference.

In answer to your question, no. You cannot pick certain things from

the update and to ignore other features.

So in the old version the dock existed but evidently not obvious since it didn’t “float”? Is there a way to “lock it” (as in the old version) so it is not using valuable desktop space? I have already deactivated it...don’t want all that worthless info cluttering my desktop...but still left with an empty gray bar.

it won’t allow me to put in selected apps without opening to ALL my visited apps. Also, will not allow me to add mail, one of my “go to “ apps. If I choose to deactivate this option why not remove the empty gray bar as part of the deactivation? It’s obviously no longer needed.

Hi Egauger. It's not using valuable desktop space. You can put the same number of icons on the Home screen as before. Actually more, because you can stuff more in the dock than before.

And you can add any icon to the dock, including Mail. Just drag them in. They don't even need to be shaking.

You might want to look at the free iPad User Guide for iOS 11. It's a free download in the iBooks app. It has lots of info on the functionality.

Not really sure what you mean by it is using up valuable desktop space. There has always been the bar, and this one doesn't take up any more space then the one before. In fact, when you are in an app, it disappears unless you swipe from the bottom up to bring it back up. You can put more icons in it then before, and it even pulls up some of the recent apps that you have opened in the area where you haven't put icons that you want to keep there. Once you put the apps that you want to keep in it, it removes them off your desktop and puts them on the bar. If you don't want the recent ones to show, you can put more of the apps that you like on there as there is a maximum of around 14 and if you put all 14 there of the ones you want to keep there, it won't put any recent apps on it.

This is one change I choose not to embrace. It’s obvious you integrated some options into the settings. The last, “Show Suggested and Recent Apps” does exactly what I want, but leaves a useless gray dock. All I ask is why that is left if it serves no purpose now that the dock is dead? Wouldn’t it be simple enough to cause it to disappear when that option is deactivated?

One question, where was the dock hiding on my iPad up until today? My OS was up to date until I installed 11 today and blissfully absent from view.

Like that was stated, the Dock has always been there since iOS 7.

That bar was always called the DOCK.

It just floats, now. It's just not anchored to the bottom of the iPad's screen any longer.

AND the Dock was always only semi-translucent/transparent.

Takes up the same amount of space across your iPad, but can do more and hold more apps than the old anchored Dock could.

Why is this a hard concept for you to understand?

It, also, is designed now to stay out of way in many apps where once it was always there and in the way.

Ok, so I think we’ve got it...quite by accident. I now have the dock disappearing with a swipe and reappearing with another. All I needed was for someone to tell me this would happen once I left the desktop (which I now see another person explained much earlier—darn!). Also, had a lot of trouble getting the apps to swipe onto the dock. They kept bouncing back to their spot on the desktop (old habits die hard?). Nothing that several reboots wouldn't fix. So as things stand all is well. Hope this explains why it was such a hard concept for me to understand. I’m really not as stupid as it appeared, but fortunately I just happened to get lucky by straying from the desktop.

Thanks!

Really, MichelPM... “Why is this a hard concept for you to understand?” — That is a disappointing and unhelpful response.

The issue that you fail to see is that the Dock is flawed. On my iPad it interferes with efficient use of several apps, games, and videos with controls near bottom of screen. I’ve been trying to train my finger to avoid accidentally triggering the Dock to intrude into the screen, but each session the unwanted Dock appears. When I swipe it away the app often thinks I’ve given it a command. This requires continous corrections, and it is making my iPad experience less efficient.

The Dock requires an OFF button. Understand?

Diana is correct.

The Dock now intrudes into working apps, games, and videos, which is fine if you intentionally swipe for it, but on my small iPad many apps have controls at the very bottom of the screen. The tip of my finger is simply too large to avoid accidentally triggering the Dock. And when I swipe to remove it, the app often thinks I have given it a command. Constantly correcting these mistaken commands has eroded the efficiency and comfort of my previously valuable iPad.

Since everything contained in the Dock is already displayed on my screen, for me the current Dock is not only redundant and superfluous, it is frustrating. There really should be an OFF switch.

No, Sadly, I don't reccomend it and never will, but if you want to do so Jailbreaking the device will allow the posability of such if your so desperate. But only do this if you want to void your ipads service warranty.

The “new” Dock isn’t any different from the old Dock except that the new Dock floats instead of being locked to the bottom of the screen any longer.

Works exactly the same as the old anchored Dock.

You couldn't hide or disable to old Dock, either.

It’s even better because you can put 15 folders of apps into the new Dock whereas the old Dock was limited to 6 folder locations of apps.

Maybe Apple needs to make some tweaks or slight changes to the way the new Dock is invoked when you want to show or hide it to keep it out of the way when you don’t need it!