Getting Started with Otterdock
Last updated: September 17, 2026
From download to a beautifully organized Dock in under two minutes. This guide covers everything — installation, your first group, icon skins, hover mode, and choosing the right edition.
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1. Download & Install
Otterdock is available as a Direct Download (.dmg) from otterdock.savetimefor.fun and on the Mac App Store. For the Direct edition: download the .dmg, drag Otterdock to your Applications folder, and launch it. For the Mac App Store edition, install directly from the App Store. The otter icon appears in your menu bar — that's your command center. On first launch, a quick onboarding walk-through helps you get oriented.
2. Create Your First Group
Click the menu bar otter and hit 'New Group'. Name it something meaningful — 'Dev Tools', 'Communication', 'Design', whatever fits your workflow. Pick an icon skin to give it personality: Shelf looks like a wooden bookshelf, Gradient adds a smooth color blend, and Otter is our playful brand style. Pro users unlock premium skins like Sunset Warm. You can also import your own custom image as a skin.
3. Add Apps, Files, Folders & Links
This is where Otterdock shines — you're not limited to just apps. Click the '+' button to browse installed apps, or drag and drop anything into the group: apps, documents, project folders, and web links. In Direct Pro, you can assign a different opener to an individual file — for example, open a Markdown file in Zed and a PSD in Photoshop — while images, PDFs, and videos can show real previews. Reorder items by dragging them into your preferred sequence.
4. Sync to Your Dock
When you're happy with your groups, sync them to your macOS Dock. In the Direct edition, Otterdock can auto-sync group shortcuts directly to your Dock. In the Mac App Store edition, drag the group folder directly from Otterdock into your Dock to create a native stack shortcut. Click any group icon on your Dock to expand it. Changes you make in Otterdock update your group content smoothly.
5. Unlock Hover Mode
Native macOS Dock folders require no additional Accessibility permissions. The Direct Full edition requests Accessibility only to support enhanced Dock click interception and hover opening.
6. Make It Yours: Skins & Display Styles
Both editions support renaming and reordering groups as well as applying icon skins, with additional skins available in Pro. In the Full edition, Otterdock provides automatic Dock integration and customizable popup grid or list views. The Mac App Store edition uses native macOS Dock folder stacks, which requires dragging the group folder into the Dock manually.
7. Choose Your Edition
Otterdock offers two editions. The direct download edition is free to download with an optional Pro one-time license ($6.99, pricing subject to checkout), including hover expansion, global shortcuts configured per group, Sparkle auto-updates, Dock automation, and Pro-exclusive custom open-with options per file. The Mac App Store edition is free to download with an optional Pro one-time in-app purchase ($6.99, store pricing applies), running inside the Apple sandbox with manual folder dragging for native Dock stacks and widgets. Both include a free tier (2 groups, 8 items per group, mixed content, widgets, and local storage). Licenses and purchases are completely independent and cannot be transferred or restored across editions. See Free vs Pro Comparison and Direct Download vs App Store.
8. Add Widgets
Open the macOS widget gallery, search for Otterdock, and place a small, medium, or large widget on your desktop or Notification Center. Right-click the widget and select 'Edit' to choose which group to display. Clicking an item inside the widget opens that individual application, file, folder, or web link. Batch opening of entire groups is not supported.
1.1 Series Features
This documentation covers Direct Full version 1.1.3 and Mac App Store version 1.1.0. Otterdock organizes mixed groups of applications, files, folders, and web links alongside macOS 14+ desktop widgets. Both editions include core free access for 2 groups of up to 8 items each. Widgets launch one item at a time and display 4, 8, or 12 items by size; upgrading to Pro removes group and item limits but does not alter fixed widget display caps. The Direct Full edition adds custom popups and hover opening, with custom openers available in Full Pro.