Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To make Dock icons smaller, open Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock and drag the Size slider left. To remove an app icon without uninstalling the app, drag the icon out of the Dock until Remove appears. These steps apply to macOS on a MacBook Air; labels can vary slightly by macOS version or language.
Make Dock icons smaller in System Settings
-
Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
-
Select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar. Scroll down the sidebar if you do not see it.
-
In the Dock settings, drag the Size slider to the left. Stop when the Dock reaches the size you want. Apple documents this slider as the control for changing Dock size: Change Desktop & Dock settings on Mac.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Stop icons from enlarging when you point at them
If the Dock looks compact until you move the pointer over it, adjust Magnification separately. In System Settings > Desktop & Dock, turn Magnification off or lower its slider. Size changes the Dock’s default size; Magnification changes how icons look as the pointer passes over them. Apple lists both controls in its Desktop & Dock settings guide.
#1 Best Overall
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Other ways to make the Dock take up less space
-
Move it to an edge: In System Settings > Desktop & Dock, change the Dock’s position to the left or right side of the screen.
-
Hide it when you are not using it: Turn on automatic hiding in the same settings panel. The Dock then stays offscreen until you move the pointer to its edge. These options change placement or visibility rather than icon size; Apple describes them in its settings guide.
Rank #2
Sale
Apple 2026 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M5 chip: Built for AI, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID, Wi-Fi 7; Silver- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
-
Resize it directly: Move the pointer over the separator line in the Dock. When the pointer changes to a double arrow, drag the separator to resize. See Apple’s desktop, menu bar and Dock guide.
DriversOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownPerformanceWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadDriversCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Remove an app from the Dock without uninstalling it
-
Drag the app icon out of the Dock.
-
Release it when Remove appears.
This removes only the Dock shortcut; the app stays on your Mac. To put it back, open the app, Control-click its Dock icon, then choose Options > Keep in Dock. Apple’s Dock guide explains both actions.
Rank #3
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Clear a Dock icon with a question mark
A question mark can appear when an app that was in the Dock has been deleted. Drag that stale icon out of the Dock and release when Remove appears. This clears the Dock shortcut; it does not reinstall the app. See Apple’s guide to a question mark in the Dock.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Uninstall an app from the Mac instead
Uninstalling deletes the app itself, which is different from removing its Dock shortcut. For a third-party app, first check whether it includes its own uninstaller or removal feature. Apple recommends using that tool when available because it may also remove related items stored elsewhere, such as login items or extensions.
Rank #4
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
-
Quit the app.
-
In Finder, locate the app—often in the Applications folder—and check for an app-specific uninstaller or removal feature.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
If there is no uninstaller, move the app to the Trash. Empty the Trash to delete it permanently.
Best Value
Sale
Apple 2026 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M5 chip: Built for AI, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID, Wi-Fi 7; Midnight- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 15.3-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Apple notes that some apps included with macOS and items in the System folder cannot be deleted through Finder. Deleting an app also does not delete documents you created with it or cancel a subscription. For Apple’s instructions, see Delete or uninstall apps on Mac.
Quick Recap
Choose the right kind of removal
| Action | What changes | Storage and recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Remove the Dock shortcut | The icon disappears from the Dock; the app stays installed. | Does not remove the app’s storage. You can add it back by opening the app and choosing Options > Keep in Dock. |
| Uninstall the app | The app is removed from the Mac when deletion is complete. | Moving it to the Trash is reversible until the Trash is emptied. Permanent deletion does not necessarily remove the app’s documents or cancel a subscription. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
