Introducing the macOS Dock

Part 2 of our guide to switching from Windows or iOS to Mac.

Transitioning to macOS from Windows or iOS presents unique conceptual shifts, particularly when navigating with the VoiceOver screen reader. In part 2 of this tutorial series we’ll discuss The Dock and connect it to it’s Windows and iOS counterparts, helping you build muscle memory and navigate your Mac efficiently entirely by keyboard.

Below, you will find our video tutorial followed by a comprehensive quick-reference cheat sheet.

Video Tutorial: Switching From Windows Or iOS To Mac OS (Part 2: Introducing the Dock)

The Dock

The macOS Dock is a highly visible utility strip located at the bottom (or side) of your screen that offers quick access to your favorite and currently open applications.

Platform

Counterpart Name

Windows Counterpart

Windows Taskbar

iOS Counterpart

iOS / iPadOS Dock

The Conceptual Difference

Unlike the Windows taskbar, the macOS Dock is uniquely divided into three distinct sections separated by visual (and screen-reader accessible) dividers:

• Permanently Pinned Applications: The first section contains application shortcuts that are pinned to the dock by default in macOS, or that you have explicitly pinned to the Dock (e.g., Finder, Safari, Mail).

• Active & Recent Applications: The middle section dynamically displays applications that are currently running but not permanently pinned to the Dock, as well as recently used apps.

• Pinned Folders, Files, and the Trash: The final section (to the right of the divider) holds minimized windows, pinned directories (like your Downloads folder), and the Trash.

VoiceOver Shortcut And Key Commands

Press VO + D to instantly jump VoiceOver focus to the Dock from any open application.

Use the Left and Right Arrow keys to navigate through these three sections. When focused on a Dock item, VoiceOver will announce the app name and its status (like “running”). You can press VO + Space or Return to open any of the apps on the Dock.

Looking Ahead: There will be a much more in-depth look at customizing and managing your Dock layout in a future post! Hopefully, this overview helps you master the structural differences between the Mac Dock and the taskbar. If you haven’t yet, learn about Finder and Desktop Basics in Part 1. Next up in this series, we will take a look at the Menu Bar and Status Menus. Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter or YouTube channel so you don’t miss Part 3!