Getting Started with Otterdock
Last updated: April 14, 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.
1. Download & Install
Otterdock is available as a Direct Download (.dmg) from otterdock.savetimefor.fun and will soon be available on the Mac App Store. For the Direct edition: download the .dmg, drag Otterdock to your Applications folder, and launch it. 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, even web links. A 'Design' group could hold Figma, your assets folder, a font manager, and a mood board URL all together. Reorder items by dragging them into your preferred sequence.
4. Sync to Your Dock
When you're happy with your groups, Otterdock syncs them to your macOS Dock as native folder shortcuts. The Dock briefly refreshes, and your groups appear as custom icons. Click any group icon to expand it in a popup — Grid view for visual browsing or List view for compact access. Changes you make in Otterdock auto-sync to the Dock after a short delay.
5. Unlock Hover Mode
Click mode is great, but Hover Mode is magic. Grant Accessibility permission in System Settings (Otterdock will guide you there), and now just hover your mouse over any group icon on the Dock — the popup appears instantly, no click needed. This permission is used solely to detect your mouse position on the Dock. It's completely optional, and you can switch back to click mode anytime. Not sure which mode is for you? Read Click Mode vs Hover Mode.
6. Make It Yours: Skins & Display Styles
Customize every group with different icon skins so you can tell them apart at a glance. Pro skins like Sunset Warm add a premium visual touch — more are on the way. Switch between Grid and List popup layouts per group. Adjust display density, icon sizes, and interaction sensitivity in Settings. The goal is a Dock that fits the way you work — not the other way around. Explore all skin options in Custom Dock Icon Skins on macOS.
7. Choose Your Edition
Otterdock comes in two editions. The Direct Download ($6.99) includes every feature: hover mode, global keyboard shortcuts, Sparkle auto-updates, and full system-level Dock integration. The Mac App Store edition ($2.99, coming soon) runs in Apple's sandbox for extra security, with click-to-expand mode and App Store updates. Both editions share the same core: groups, skins, local data storage, and a free tier that gives you 2 groups with up to 8 items each to try before buying. See Free vs Pro: what you get and Direct vs App Store.
8. What's Coming Next
The otter doesn't rest. Coming soon: drag any Finder folder onto Otterdock to create a live group instantly. A Live Mirror mode that keeps groups in sync with folder contents in real time. More built-in skins with even better customization tools. And right-click quick actions on Dock groups for power users. Follow our changelog or blog for the latest updates.