Move Dock to Another Monitor on a Mac
To move the Dock to another monitor on a Mac, simply drag your cursor to the bottom edge of the screen on the target display—the Dock will follow. If it doesn’t, make sure “Displays have separate Spaces” is enabled in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control. This guide covers the exact steps, why the Dock sometimes stays put, and how to control which monitor shows it.
Why the Dock Moves (or Doesn’t)
The Dock on macOS is tied to the “active” display—the one where your menu bar is currently shown. When you move your mouse to the bottom of another screen, macOS treats that screen as the active display and relocates the Dock there. This behavior is controlled by the “Displays have separate Spaces” setting. When enabled, each monitor has its own menu bar and Dock, and the Dock appears on whichever display you’re actively using. When disabled, all displays share a single menu bar and Dock, which stays on the primary display only.
How to Move the Dock to Another Monitor
- Connect and arrange your monitors in System Settings > Displays (click “Arrange” if needed).
- Open System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
- Scroll to Mission Control and ensure “Displays have separate Spaces” is turned on.
- Move your mouse pointer to the bottom edge of the target monitor. The Dock should slide over within a second.
- If it doesn’t appear, move the mouse to the very bottom corner of that screen and pause briefly.
If you want the Dock to stay permanently on a specific monitor, make that monitor your primary display (drag the white menu bar in Displays settings to that screen). The Dock will then always appear there, regardless of which monitor you’re using.
What to Do If the Dock Won’t Move
If the Dock stays on the original monitor, try these fixes in order:
- Check that “Displays have separate Spaces” is enabled—this is the most common cause.
- Restart the Dock: open Terminal and type
killall Dock, then press Return. - Make sure your monitors are properly arranged in System Settings > Displays; if they overlap or are misaligned, the cursor may not reach the bottom edge.
- Toggle the setting off and on again, then test.
- Log out and back in, or restart your Mac if the issue persists.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Move the Dock
While there’s no direct keyboard shortcut to move the Dock to a different monitor, you can use the Mission Control shortcut to switch active displays. Press Control + Right Arrow or Control + Left Arrow to move between Spaces (if you have separate Spaces per display). This will also move the Dock to the newly active display. Alternatively, use Control + Down Arrow to show all windows, then click on the desktop of the target monitor—the Dock will follow.
Dock Position and Orientation on Each Monitor
When the Dock moves to another monitor, it maintains its current position (bottom, left, or right) and size. If you prefer a different orientation on a secondary display, you’ll need to change it each time—the Dock doesn’t remember per-display settings. For example, if you like the Dock on the bottom of your main monitor but on the left side of your secondary, you’ll have to adjust it manually after it moves. This is a limitation of macOS; third-party utilities can automate it, but they’re not needed for basic use.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
Many users think the Dock is “stuck” to the primary monitor, but that’s only true when “Displays have separate Spaces” is off. Another misconception is that you can drag the Dock itself—you can’t. The Dock only responds to cursor position at the screen edge. Also, note that the Dock will not appear on a monitor that is in mirroring mode (showing the same image as another display). For separate Dock behavior, use extended desktop mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Dock not appear on my second monitor?
Most likely “Displays have separate Spaces” is disabled. Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Mission Control and turn it on. Also ensure your displays are in extended mode (not mirrored) and that the cursor can physically reach the bottom edge of the second screen.
Can I set a different Dock position for each monitor?
No, macOS doesn’t support per-display Dock settings. The Dock position (bottom, left, right) is global. You can change it manually after the Dock moves, but it will apply to all displays.
How do I make the Dock stay on my external monitor?
Set the external monitor as your primary display. In System Settings > Displays, drag the white menu bar onto the external monitor’s rectangle. The Dock will then always appear on that monitor, even when you’re using the built-in screen.
Does the Dock move automatically when I switch apps?
No, the Dock follows the active display based on cursor position, not the app you’re using. If you click an app on the other monitor, the Dock won’t move unless you also move the cursor to that screen’s bottom edge.
Why is my Dock missing from both monitors?
This can happen if the Dock is hidden (Command+Option+D toggles hiding). If it’s hidden, move the cursor to the bottom edge of the active display and it should slide out. If it still doesn’t appear, check that the Dock isn’t disabled in System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
Can I use a third-party app to force the Dock to a specific monitor?
Yes, there are utilities that offer more control, but they’re not necessary for most users. The built-in method works reliably once “Displays have separate Spaces” is enabled. If you need per-display settings, a third-party tool might help, but be aware of potential compatibility issues with macOS updates.
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