Documentation
Mastering DockMaster
Everything you need to unlock your full workspace potential.
Getting Started
Grant the right permissions in under 60 seconds.
DockMaster requires two macOS permissions to unlock its full feature set. Both are granted through System Settings — no third-party installer needed.
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording. Toggle on DockMaster. This enables real-time window preview thumbnails.
In the same Privacy & Security panel, open Accessibility. Toggle on DockMaster. This enables Dock hover detection and window snapping.
Relaunch DockMaster if prompted. You'll see the DockMaster icon appear in your menu bar. You're ready.
Both permissions are used **100% locally** and can be revoked at any time from System Settings. Privacy Policy
Hover & Peek
Preview every open window without a single click.
Place your cursor over any active application icon in the Dock. After a brief configurable delay, DockMaster overlays crisp, live preview cards for all open windows of that app.
Action
Result
Open preview cards
Focus that window
Snap window to screen position
Dismiss previews instantly
Settings
Adjust hover delay in DockMaster Settings → Hover & Peek. The range is 0.1s (instant) to 1.0s (deliberate). Default is 0.3s.
Global Switcher
A full-screen command center for every open window.
Press ⌥ Option + Tab anywhere to summon the Global Switcher overlay — a glassmorphism grid showing every open window across all apps and virtual desktops. Ghost windows (minimized system UI, invisible background layers) are automatically filtered out.
Action
Result
Open the Global Switcher
Navigate between window cards
Focus selected window (teleport to its Space)
Close the selected window
Minimize the selected window
Dismiss without switching
You can also type to search. Start typing any part of the window title or app name — the grid filters in real time.
Cross-Space Awakening
Raise any window, on any virtual desktop, instantly.
macOS normally refuses to raise a window on a different Space without physically switching to it first — causing a jarring full-screen animation. DockMaster's Cross-Space engine bypasses this limitation entirely.
When you select a window in the Global Switcher or click a Hover & Peek card, DockMaster detects if the window is on a different Space.
Using a combination of AXUIElement commands and CGWindowList queries, the engine sends the window an activation signal that forces macOS to teleport focus without a visible Space animation.
The window appears raised and focused on your current Space. No Space switching, no animation, no context loss.
This feature requires the Accessibility permission and works across all macOS virtual desktop configurations (Mission Control Spaces, Stage Manager, and Full-Screen mode).
Smart File Shelf
Your floating, native drag-and-drop staging area.
The Smart File Shelf is a persistent side-panel that lives at the edge of your screen. Use it to temporarily park files mid-task — perfect for moving attachments between apps, staging files for upload, or storing references while you work.
Action
Result
Store file reference
Native macOS Quick Look preview
Open with default app
Copy path / copy to clipboard / reveal in Finder
Drop into any app (Mail, Slack, WeChat, etc.)
The shelf stores file references, not copies. No extra disk space is used. When you quit DockMaster, shelf contents are cleared automatically (configurable in Settings → Shelf → Auto-clear on quit).
Clipboard History
Copy once, paste anytime.
DockMaster captures everything you copy — text, images, links, file references — and stores them in a searchable history panel accessible from the Dock. No separate app needed.
Action
Result
Open Clipboard History panel
Paste it into the frontmost app
Filter clipboard items in real time
Remove from history
Full preview with edge-aware positioning
Sensitive Content
DockMaster automatically detects passwords and one-time codes via Apple's AutoFill metadata. These items are masked in the panel and marked with a shield icon. You can still paste them — they just won't be visible to someone glancing at your screen.
Free vs Pro
The free version retains a limited number of recent items. Pro unlocks unlimited clipboard history. All processing stays local on your Mac — nothing is uploaded.
Edge Snapping
Drag-to-tile window layout.
Drag any window to the edge of your screen. DockMaster detects the position and snaps the window into a tiled layout — half screen, quarter screen, or fullscreen. Clean, native-feeling window management without memorizing shortcuts.
Action
Result
Snap to left half
Snap to right half
Snap to fullscreen
Snap to quarter
Restore original size
Edge Snapping is a Pro feature. It works alongside macOS native tiling (Sequoia) without conflict. You can disable it in Settings → Window Management → Edge Snapping.
OmniSync
Cross-device clipboard sync.
Copy on your iPhone, paste on your Mac — or vice versa. OmniSync uses iCloud to synchronize clipboard history across your Apple devices. End-to-end encrypted, no third-party servers involved.
Enable OmniSync in DockMaster Settings → OmniSync → Turn On.
Make sure both devices are signed into the same iCloud account with iCloud Drive enabled.
Copy on one device. The item appears in clipboard history on the other within seconds.
OmniSync is a Pro feature. It syncs text, links, and small images. Large files and sensitive items (passwords, OTPs) are excluded from sync by default for privacy.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Quick reference for all shortcuts.
A complete reference of keyboard shortcuts available in DockMaster. All shortcuts can be customized in Settings → Shortcuts.
Action
Result
Open Global Switcher
Open Clipboard History
Open File Shelf
Paste from clipboard history
Dismiss any DockMaster overlay
Quick Look (in Shelf)
Confirm selection (in Switcher)
Navigate items (in Switcher / Clipboard)
All shortcuts use the Option (⌥) modifier by default. You can change the modifier key to Control or Command in Settings → Shortcuts → Modifier Key.
System Requirements
Download & compatibility.
DockMaster is a native macOS application built entirely with Swift. It runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs with minimal resource usage (idle CPU under 0.1%).
Action
Result
macOS 14 Sonoma or later
macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia
Apple Silicon (native) + Intel (universal)
6.2
DockMaster-Pro.dmg
Free with limits · Pro £14.99 (one-time)
Troubleshooting
Common questions and fixes.
Hover previews are not showing up
Make sure Screen Recording permission is granted in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording. If DockMaster is toggled on but still not working, try toggling it off and on again, then relaunch the app.
Global Switcher does not appear with Option+Tab
Verify that Accessibility permission is granted. Also check if another app (e.g. AltTab) is already using the same shortcut. You can change DockMaster's shortcut in Settings → Shortcuts.
Window previews appear blank or black
Some apps (notably certain games and DRM-protected video players) block screen capture at the system level. This is a macOS restriction, not a DockMaster limitation. Most standard apps (browsers, editors, terminals) work correctly.
DockMaster uses too much CPU
Idle CPU usage should be under 0.1%. If you notice higher usage, check Settings → Performance and ensure "High-frequency preview mode" is not enabled. If the issue persists, contact us at Dockmasterpro@gmail.com.
Does DockMaster upload my screen content?
No. All window rendering, clipboard processing, and file shelf operations happen locally on your Mac. Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions are used solely for on-device functionality. Privacy Policy
How do I uninstall DockMaster?
Quit DockMaster from the menu bar icon. Then drag DockMaster.app from your Applications folder to the Trash. Optionally, revoke Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions in System Settings. No background daemons or system files are left behind.