> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://withbeckon.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Replace the Dock

> Pinned apps, folders, the Trash, the Dock's menu and file drops. Then hide the Dock.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Everything on this page is in Beckon Pro, and in your 14-day trial. Without Pro the ring
> shows your open apps.

## Which apps the ring shows

Choose in **Settings → Apps → Show**:

| Option | What's on the ring |
| - | - |
| **Dock apps and open apps** (default) | Everything pinned in your Dock, open or not, then any other open apps. Pinned apps keep their places whether they're running or not, so the ring doesn't reshuffle as apps open and quit. |
| **Beckon's pinned apps and open apps** | Beckon's own list of apps and folders, then any other open apps. For when you've hidden the Dock and want to arrange the ring yourself. |
| **Open apps only** | Running apps only. This is what Beckon Free shows. |

![Settings, Apps tab](https://mintcdn.com/beckon/ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6/images/settings-apps.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6\&q=85\&s=dfa534797d185ae5a3564f4bc3111079)

### Beckon's own pinned list

Pick **Beckon's pinned apps and open apps** and a **Pinned** list appears in Settings → Apps:

* **Add…** to add an app or a folder.
* **Import from Dock** to start from your Dock's apps. (Choosing this option with an empty list
  starts from the Dock too.)
* Drag to reorder; the first item sits at 12 o'clock and the rest go clockwise.

You can also right-click an app on the ring and choose **Options → Keep on Ring** or **Remove from
Ring**.

## Folders and the Trash

With **Settings → Apps → Folders and Trash** on (the default), your Dock's folders (or the ones
you pinned) and the Trash come after the apps, as in the Dock. They always stay on the ring, even
when there are too many apps to fit.

* **Point at a folder** and its 11 newest files fan out beyond the ring, with **Open in Finder**.
  Pick a file to open it. The first time, macOS may ask whether Beckon can read that folder.
* **Pick the Trash** to open it in Finder.

![The Downloads folder's newest files fanned out beyond the ring](https://mintcdn.com/beckon/ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6/images/folder-light.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=ZZ3Mx-oqja_BgUg6\&q=85\&s=8df2bdd4149a294159a2734a21df797f)

## The Dock's right-click menu

Right-click an app on the ring for the menu the Dock gives you, in the Dock's order:

* **The app's windows**: ✓ marks the main one, ◆ a minimized one. Pick one to bring it up.
* **The app's own commands**, such as New Window, New Private Window or New Tab.
* **Options**: Keep on Ring or Remove from Ring (with your own pinned list), and Show in Finder.
* **Show All Windows**: all the app's windows, spread out (App Exposé).
* **Hide** and **Quit**. Hold **⌥** and Quit becomes **Force Quit**.

An app that isn't running gets Open and Options. A folder gets Open and Show in Finder; the
Trash, Open. Right-clicking anywhere else closes the ring.

While the menu is open, the app's windows on the ring step aside, as they do on the Dock.

## Drop files on apps, folders and the Trash

**1. Start dragging a file**

From Finder, the desktop, or any app that lets you drag files.

**2. Press the shortcut**

The ring opens around the pointer and stays open while you drag, even if you let go of the
shortcut.

**3. Drop it**

* **On an app** (or one of its windows): the file opens with that app.
* **On a folder:** the file moves in. From another disk it's copied, and if a file with that
  name is already there, the new one is renamed rather than replacing it.
* **On the Trash:** the file moves to the Trash.

## Hide the macOS Dock

Turn on **Settings → Apps → Hide the macOS Dock** and the Dock stays out of sight, so the ring
can take its place.

* macOS doesn't let apps turn the Dock off, so Beckon sets it to hide automatically with a very
  long delay: it never slides up by itself. Mission Control, Launchpad and ⌘Tab keep working.
* The Dock briefly redraws when you turn this on or off.
* Your own Dock settings are saved first and put back exactly when you turn the switch off or
  quit Beckon. The switch stays on, so the Dock hides again the next time Beckon opens.
* If your Pro trial ends, the Dock comes back at once. Unlock Pro and it hides again.

> **Getting the Dock back by hand**
>
> If you deleted Beckon while the Dock was hidden, open Terminal and run:
>
> ```sh theme={null}
> defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool false; defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-delay; killall Dock
> ```
>
> If you used to have the Dock hide automatically, use `-bool true` instead.

## What the Dock does that Beckon can't

A few things only the Dock can do, because macOS keeps them private:

* **Recent documents** in an app's menu (reading them needs Full Disk Access).
* **Red notification badges** on app icons.
* **Emptying the Trash** from the ring (open it in Finder instead).
* **Options → Open at Login** for other apps.
* **Windows on other Spaces**, and full-screen windows, in the window list.


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