Move/rearrange icons in dock?

scotartt · Aug 28, 2009

It seems with all the new dock functionality ... something got left out. I can no longer move a dock icon by click-hold-dragging as you could in 10.5?! It just gives the new pop up menu or if the app's running, the Expose functionality. Anyone know how to do this in Snow Leopard?! There's nothing in the preferences for this.

Kash · Aug 28, 2009

Works for me. Don't hold it down for too long, just hold it and start dragging.

scotartt · Aug 28, 2009

Ah ha! thank you ... Swipe-n-Drag works. Thanks.

Cosmicblip · Aug 30, 2009

Kash said:
Works for me. Don't hold it down for too long, just hold it and start dragging.

Hm, it doesn't matter quick I am when clicking and dragging as I still can't move any dock icons. :-(

scotartt · Aug 30, 2009

I found it's best to click and drag in the one motion.

Cosmicblip · Aug 30, 2009

Still doesn't work. Even if I click while moving the whole dock just stops responding until I unclick.

Cosmicblip · Aug 30, 2009

I also can't drag applications to the dock. I have to start them then do the Keep in Dock thing. Is there a preference file somewhere whose deletion will fix this problem?

Cosmicblip · Aug 30, 2009

M'kay, I deleted the dock preferences and db and it seems to work now.

Aleks · Oct 17, 2009

Problem with moving Dock icons

Just grab the icon and move it against the bottom edge of the Dock, a space should open for you.

Theloner · Apr 16, 2010

Cosmicblip said:
M'kay, I deleted the dock preferences and db and it seems to work now.

OK, how do I delete the Dock Preferences and what is a db?

6string · Apr 16, 2010

Theloner said:
OK, how do I delete the Dock Preferences and what is a db?

Welcome to Mac Forums

com.apple.dock.plist you will find it in user/library/preferences.

com.apple.dock.db you will find there too, and it is pretty much a history of items that have opened in your dock.

Drag both of these to the desktop, and reboot.

You'll have to reorganise your dock again, as it will be set up to the default style that it was when you first installed the OS.

Once you know that everything is working fine, you can go ahead and delete those 2 files.

Theloner · Apr 17, 2010

6string said:
Welcome to Mac Forums

com.apple.dock.plist you will find it in user/library/preferences.

com.apple.dock.db you will find there too, and it is pretty much a history of items that have opened in your dock.

Drag both of these to the desktop, and reboot.

You'll have to reorganise your dock again, as it will be set up to the default style that it was when you first installed the OS.

Once you know that everything is working fine, you can go ahead and delete those 2 files.

Thank you 6string for the Welcome and for the solution to my problem. That worked perfectly.

fdcampbell16 · Apr 18, 2010

Maybe you are holding down on it too long. You just try to drag it right when you click on it and it will move over to where you need it to. If you click on it for too long and try to drag it, it won't let you. It will pull up the menu instead.

toMACsh · Apr 18, 2010

fdcampbell16 said:
If you click on it for too long and try to drag it, it won't let you. It will pull up the menu instead.

Yep. Same behavior here, using 10.5.8

blinkinblulight · Feb 7, 2011

move dock icon

Kash said:
Works for me. Don't hold it down for too long, just hold it and start dragging.

That worked. I was clicking and holding then trying to move it.