DockView
Hover. Preview. Click. Done.
How DockView works
- Hover any app icon in your Dock — even apps you forgot were open.
- See every open window — live thumbnails with titles, instantly.
- Click the one you want — it jumps to the front, in the right Space.
No Cmd+Tab guessing. No Mission Control detour. The window you need is right where your cursor already is — over the icon you were going to click anyway. Works with Stage Manager, multiple displays, and full-screen Spaces.
Why DockView
- See before you switch. Stop opening the wrong window — preview every one before clicking.
- Native-feeling. Sits naturally above your Dock, like Apple should have built it.
- Hardware-accelerated. Built on Apple’s ScreenCaptureKit — instant thumbnails, zero stutter.
- Lightweight. Under 10 MB, no Electron, no background polling.
- Quiet. No ads, no nags, no telemetry.
What’s new in DockView 2
- Rewritten preview engine — multiple times faster than v1
- Full ScreenCaptureKit support with automatic fallback to legacy APIs on first launch
- Sharper window thumbnails with live updates
- Lower memory footprint
- Native Apple Silicon performance
- Updated UI for macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe
New in Beta
A Dock preview no one else has
Every window previewer stops at app icons. DockView goes further — hover any window minimized in your Dock and its preview pops up instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Will DockView slow down my Mac?
No. DockView uses the same ScreenCaptureKit framework that Mission Control and AirPlay use, plus Apple’s window-management APIs. Previews are captured only when you hover the Dock — there is no background polling, no daemons running when you’re not using it.
Does DockView replace the macOS Dock?
No — DockView works alongside your existing Dock. It adds a preview popover when you hover any app icon. Your Dock keeps working exactly as before.
What permissions does DockView need, and why?
Two permissions: Accessibility to detect which windows each app has open, and Screen Recording to capture thumbnails. macOS requires both for any app that shows live previews of windows belonging to other apps. DockView captures nothing without your hover and stores nothing on disk.
Is DockView a subscription?
No. One-time purchase, lifetime use. Free updates for the entire v2 line.
Can I try it before buying?
Yes — the download above is the full app with a free trial. Use every feature, then decide.
How is DockView different from Mission Control?
Mission Control shows every window across every app at once — useful but overwhelming. DockView shows only the windows of one app, exactly when you’re already pointing at it. Faster, more focused, less context switching.
How do I get help or report a bug?
Use the Contact Us form on this site, or email us directly. We reply to every message — usually the same day.
Does DockView work with auto-hide Dock?
Yes. Preview appears in the correct position above the icon — whether your Dock is always visible or set to auto-hide.
Try DockView
Free for 14 days.
No account, no credit card. $14.99 if you keep it.
System requirements
macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Intel or Apple Silicon Mac.
Requires Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions.