Your Mac Dock is iconic. It’s always there, always visible, always following you around (even when you don’t want it to). But if you run multiple monitors, you already know the problem. Your Dock jumps between screens. You hunt for Slack on one display while your VS Code icon hides on another. The single-dock limitation forces you to choose between chaos and constant cursor chasing.
When you want your Mac Dock customize setup to reach the next level for serious productivity, a single Dock across three monitors creates more problems than it solves. It makes everything confusing. Your eyes scan multiple screens. Your brain tries to remember where the tools are, but they keep moving. You lose focus. If you juggle client work, design sprints, or admin tasks across displays, macOS’s one-dock limitation quietly wastes your time and energy. That waste adds up fast in a busy day.
This guide shows a better approach to the mac dock customize for multi-monitor users. You’ll learn to create dedicated docks for each monitor and each workflow. You’ll organize by screen purpose and stop the endless hunt, adding some applications to multiple docks so they’re accessible everywhere, and fast. The result is a workspace where every monitor has exactly the tools it needs. Throughout the guide, we’ll share practical setups, and realistic examples you can implement today.
Think of this as your complete Mac dock customize roadmap for multiple monitors.
Photo by Sai M
Why Multiple Monitors Need Multiple Docks
Three monitors mean three contexts. One screen handles communication. Another runs your IDE. The third manages design assets or documentation. But macOS gives you one Dock that hops around unpredictably.
Why that matters when you customize Mac dock layouts for multiple displays:
Spatial confusion: You can’t build muscle memory when the Dock moves Screen hopping: Chasing the Dock breaks your flow between displays Mixed contexts: Communication apps and dev tools share the same crowded strip Wasted screen space: The single Dock grows huge trying to fit everything
When you have multiple docks – one per screen or context, you feel calmer. Each serves a purpose. You move faster because your tools stay where you expect them.
The Multi-Dock Solution: ExtraDock
ExtraDock solves the single-dock problem simply: it lets you truly customize your Mac dock experience by creating multiple independent docks positioned exactly where you need them.
Instead of one overcrowded Dock jumping between screens, you get:
A chat dock on your left monitor with Slack, Teams, and email A development dock on your center display with Terminal, VS Code, and Docker A utilities dock on your right screen with design tools, notes, and browsers
Each dock is lightweight, customizable, and stays exactly where you place it, you can even add Files and Folders to it. No complex configurations. No resource drain. Just multiple docks that make multi-monitor workflows finally make sense.
The 15-Minute Setup: Your First Extra Dock
Before diving into advanced mac dock customize strategies, create your first extra dock:
Steps
Install ExtraDock and launch the app Add your first apps: Drag in 3-5 apps or folders/files you use on that screen daily Position it: Place it on your secondary monitor—top, you could go for floating Dock and position it wherever you want, or simply glue it to the top, bottom, right or left part of the screen. Customize: Choose your dock size, color, opacity, orientation and more to make it yours.
What to Expect
This first dock is your proof of concept. Within minutes, you’ll feel the difference of having tools anchored to the right screen. The apps stay where you put them, and you stop hunting across displays.
Design Like a Dashboard: Organize by Screen Purpose
The smartest way to customize Mac dock layouts for multiple monitors is to match your physical layout to your mental model of work.
Three-Monitor Blueprint
Left Monitor (Communication Dock) Email client Slack, Teams, Discord Calendar Notification center apps
Center Monitor (Primary Work Dock) Code editor or main creative tool Browser for documentation Terminal or command-line tools Project-specific utilities
Right Monitor (Support Dock) Design tools or asset managers Notes and research apps File manager Reference browsers or PDFs
Keep each dock focused. Five to eight icons per dock is the sweet spot. You want instant recognition, not a second search task.
Pro tip: If a screen handles multiple contexts (like right monitor switches between design and admin), create two docks there—one for each mode. This advanced mac dock customize technique keeps your workspace flexible.
Horizontal vs Vertical: Choose by Screen Real Estate
ExtraDock supports both orientations. Pick based on your monitor layout and workspace needs:
Horizontal Docks Work Best
On portrait-oriented displays At top or bottom edges When you need quick top-to-bottom scanning For 6+ apps that fit comfortably in a line
Vertical Docks Work Best
On ultrawide monitors (21:9 Monitors) – From a spacing perspective, if you place the dock horizontally on the 21 and not the 9 part, most of the time your Dock has nowhere near as many apps to cover the entire space, placing it on the 9 takes way less space At left or right edges For users who like having 20+ apps on their Dock
Many users mix both: horizontal on the main display, vertical on side monitors. Experiment to find what feels natural for your mac dock customize setup.
Pin Folders for Instant File Access
When you customize your Mac dock with ExtraDock, each dock can hold folders and files, not just apps. This turns your docks into project launchers.
High-Impact Folders to Add
Active Project folder on your primary work dock Screenshots folder on your communication dock (for quick sharing) Downloads on your admin/browser dock Design Assets on your creative dock
Folders cut down on Finder trips and keep files near the context where you use them. Files for chat go on the chat screen. Code repos stay near the code screen.
Modal Docks: Different Layouts for Different Work Modes
The most powerful mac dock customize strategy isn’t just one dock per monitor – it’s multiple dock sets for different workflows.
Believe it or not, I have a total of 8 Extra Docks across three screens.
Morning Stand-Up Mode
Left: Calendar, Slack, Zoom Center: Browser with project boards Right: Notes app, previous sprint docs
Deep Coding Mode
Left: Docker Desktop & AI of choice (depends on project) Center: IDE of choice Right: Documentation, Stack Overflow (Yes, it still exists and has some useful information), notes
Design Review Mode
Left: Figma, Asset library Center: Browser with staging environment Right: Communications (Slack, Discord), notes for revisions
Pro tip: You can pair ExtraDock with DockFlow to supercharge your setup. With DockFlow, you can save Dock presets and switch between them (only affects the default macOS Dock).
Visual Calm: Keep Docks Minimal
Multiple docks give you more flexibility, not permission to clutter every edge.
A Minimalist’s Ruleset for Multi-Dock Setups
Keep docks small: Compact sizes look cleaner Limit icons: 5-8 per dock is plenty Use consistent styling: Same size and orientation patterns across screens (There’s an option to copy settings from extra dock and paste it onto another). Hide when inactive: Auto-hide extra docks you don’t need constantly, you can also hide docks on Full screen if you need that ultra focus in order to stay productive. Utilize duplicate icons: Add your most used apps to multiple Extra Docks! If you’re looking at your right monitor, and there’s an app you need from the Extra Dock on the left monitor, it slows you down.
Your monitors should feel organized. The amount of Extra Docks you use is personal to you, some people prefer one more dock. Me personally? I have 8 Extra Docks across 3 monitors… Yeah.
Position Strategy: Edge Real Estate Management
With multiple docks, screen edge placement becomes strategic. Here’s how to customize Mac dock positioning across displays:
Best Practices
Reserve bottom of main monitor for the macOS system Dock (or hide it entirely) . Place vertical docks on outer edges (far left and far right of setup) Center screen stays cleanest: Fewer docks here means more workspace.
Think of your screen edges like dashboard zones. The most-used dock gets the prime position. Secondary docks sit where they’re convenient but not in your way.
Multi-Monitor Dock Layouts for Common Setups
Two-Monitor Setup (Laptop + External)
Laptop screen: Communication dock (vertical, right edge) Slack, Mail, Calendar
External monitor: Development dock (bottom edge or vertical) All major work tools like IDE, or browsers
Three-Monitor Setup (Standard)
Left: Vertical dock, communication tools
Center: Minimal dock, core work apps only
Right: Vertical dock, reference and support tools
Ultrawide + Laptop Setup
Ultrawide: Two vertical docks (right and left) Right: Always-visible utilities Left: Primary workflow apps
Laptop: Single small dock for personal/non-work apps
Collaboration: Clean Docks for Screen Shares
When sharing your screen, your customized Mac dock layout shows your level of organization.
Screen Share Best Practices
Create a “Presentation” dock set with only work-relevant tools. Hide personal apps (messaging, entertainment) during calls. Keep docks small so they don’t take over screen recordings. Use consistent, clean layouts your team can easily follow
If you frequently demo or teach, save a minimal “Public” dock layout that shows only what matters.
Troubleshooting Multi-Dock Setups
Even with the best mac dock customize setup, problems can pop up. Here’s how to fix them.
Dock Overlap Issues
Problem: Two docks fight for the same space.
Fix: Change to “Floating” mode, and place it yourself.
Docks on Wrong Monitors
Problem: A dock appears on the wrong screen after unplugging monitors.
Fix: Simply drag the dock to the target screen and ExtraDock will remember.
Performance Concerns
Problem: Multiple docks seem to slow things down.
Fix: Reduce icon count per dock (Try to keep it less than 10). ExtraDock is lightweight, but fewer icons always help.
Mac Dock Customize Quick Setup Checklist
Use this when setting up a new multi-monitor workspace:
☐ Identify your monitor purposes (comm, work, support)
☐ Create one dock at first
☐ Add 5-8 most-used apps per dock
☐ Position docks at screen edges matching your workflow
☐ Add project folders to relevant docks
☐ Test the layout for a full work session
Five focused minutes. Immediate clarity across all screens. Gains.
Notable Mentions
DockFlow and ExtraDock work together for a reason, power users who want a very powerful setup should look at creating Extra Docks with their common apps across work domains, and then utilize DockFlow’s powerful preset switching and app launching per project or client.
This setup shines bright especially for freelancers and people working on multiple projects. This could be overkill for most users, who simply want to add more docks for organization.
Some apps have no place on your Dock if they’re rarely used. Use launchers like Spotlight or alternatives like Raycast to launch them instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create multiple docks on Mac?
macOS doesn’t natively support multiple docks, but ExtraDock allows you to create as many docks as you need. Simply install ExtraDock, click to create a new dock, choose your preferred orientation (horizontal or vertical), and position it on any monitor or screen edge. Each dock can hold apps, folders, and files independently.
Can you have multiple docks on different monitors Mac?
Yes, with ExtraDock you can create separate docks for each monitor. This is ideal for multi-monitor setups where you want dedicated tool panels per screen – for example, a communication dock on your left monitor, a development dock on your center display, and a utilities dock on your right screen.
How many docks can I create?
As many as you want, there’s no limit on Extra Docks. The only concern should be not defeating the purpose of having an organized workspace instead of a messy one.
Do multiple docks slow down my Mac?
No. ExtraDock is designed to be lightweight and resource-efficient.
Can I hide the default Mac Dock if I use ExtraDock?
Yes. Many ExtraDock users choose to auto-hide or minimize the system Dock since ExtraDock provides all the functionality they need.
What’s the difference between horizontal and vertical docks?
Personal preference – nothing more. Standard monitors are 16 by 9 ratio, from a space saving perspective, it is always preferable to place your dock on the smaller number (ratio) because it takes less space from the row of column it’s on.
Will my docks stay in place when I unplug monitors?
Yes. ExtraDock saves your dock configurations. When you reconnect monitors, your docks return to their saved positions.
Can I add folders to ExtraDock?
Yes! ExtraDock supports both apps and folders. You can add frequently-used folders like your active project directory, screenshots folder, or downloads folder directly to any dock for instant access without opening Finder.
How is ExtraDock different from macOS Spaces?
Spaces are virtual desktops that let you organize apps across different workspaces. ExtraDock creates multiple dock panels across your monitors. They serve different purposes and work great together – Spaces for workspace organization, ExtraDock for tool access across screens.
Does ExtraDock work on a single monitor?
Yes! While ExtraDock excels in multi-monitor setups, it’s equally useful on single displays. You can create multiple docks for different workflows – a writing dock, a coding dock, an admin dock – and switch between them based on your current task. This could be enhanced with DockFlow, as it switches presets between the actual macOS dock.
What happens to my docks during screen sharing?
Your docks remain exactly where you positioned them during screen shares. For presentations, create a minimal “presentation mode” dock set that only shows professional, work-relevant tools. This keeps your screen clean and focused during calls.
Can I customize the size and appearance of my docks?
Yes. ExtraDock lets you customize the size, color, blur, opacity and more, per dock. You can copy and paste Extra Dock settings from one Extra Dock to another.
Is ExtraDock compatible with the latest macOS?
ExtraDock is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest macOS versions. Check the ExtraDock website for current system requirements and supported macOS versions.
Do I still need the macOS Dock if I use ExtraDock?
Up to you. From the feedback we’re getting, most users still utilize the default macOS Dock, especially if they’re DockFlow users.
Is ExtraDock a paid app?
Yes. ExtraDock offers flexible pricing lifetime or yearly subscription.
Wrap-Up: Multiple Docks for Multi-Monitor Mastery
If you run multiple monitors, the single-dock limitation has been holding you back. Every screen hop, every icon hunt, every context switch costs you momentum.
When you customize your Mac dock with multiple docks, you solve this completely. Create dedicated tool panels for each screen. Match physical layout to mental model.
Start simple: one dock per monitor. Keep each focused. Position them where your mouse naturally go. Save the layout. Then create alternate configurations for different work modes.
Do this and your multi-monitor setup finally makes sense. Each screen becomes self-contained. Tool locations stay stable. Your workspace adapts to context instead of fighting against it.
Ready to take control of your multi-monitor workspace? Try ExtraDock and experience what multiple docks can do for your productivity.
