OS X Mountain Lion

The Dock and Launchpad

Watch the video (3:24).

Two of the most useful features in OS X are the Dock and Launchpad. You'll use these features to open your apps and files, as well as to customize your desktop so your favorite items are easy to access. The Dock is available in all versions of OS X, but Launchpad was introduced in Lion.

Watch the video to learn how to use and customize the Dock and Launchpad.

The Dock

The Dock houses shortcuts to your favorite apps, files, and folders, as well as the Trash. You can customize the Dock by reorganizing it, adding or deleting items, and changing settings.

The Dock contains a divider that looks like a solid line. Everything to the left of the divider is an app, and everything to the right is a file or folder. You'll need to keep this in mind when you reorganize the Dock.

The Dock

To reorganize the Dock:

1. Add any apps, files, or folders by simply dragging them onto the Dock. For apps, it may be easiest to open Launchpad, since it contains all of your apps.
   
   Adding an app to the Dock
2. Remove any unwanted items from the Dock by dragging them onto the desktop. You cannot remove Finder or the Trash from the Dock.
   
   Removing an app from the Dock
3. Rearrange items on the Dock by dragging them to their desired locations.
   
   Rearranging the Dock

Everything on the Dock is a shortcut, so you won't delete anything by removing it from the Dock.

To customize Dock settings:

1. Click the divider, then drag up or down to change the size of the Dock.
   
   Resizing the Dock
2. Right-click the divider to see a menu where you can change options like Hiding, Magnification, Position on Screen, and more.
   
   Right-clicking the divider to change options

About Stacks

When you view a folder on the Dock, you may notice that it looks a little bit different from a normal folder. This is because the Dock uses a feature called Stacks, which displays folder contents as a Fan, Grid, or List. Because Stacks are accessible directly from the Dock, they make it easier to open your important files.

Fan

Grid

List

To change how Stacks are displayed:

• Right-click the icon for the Stack you want to change, and select the desired view.
  
  Changing how the Stack is displayed