If you like to keep your macOS Dock organized, adding spacers is a simple trick that lets you group applications into logical sections. Whether you want to separate work apps from personal apps or simply make your Dock easier to navigate, hidden spacer tiles can help.
The best part? macOS already supports this feature—you just need to enable it using Terminal.
Add a Full-Size Spacer
A full-size spacer creates a blank space between Dock icons the same width as a normal application icon.
- Open Terminal.
- Copy and paste the following command:
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{ "tile-type" = "spacer-tile"; }'; killall Dock
- Press Enter.
Your Dock will automatically restart, and a new spacer will appear. Drag it wherever you’d like within the application section of the Dock.
Add a Half-Size Spacer
If you prefer a smaller gap between icons, macOS also supports half-sized spacers.
Open Terminal and run:
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{ "tile-type" = "small-spacer-tile"; }'; killall Dock
After pressing Enter, the Dock will restart and display a smaller spacer that can also be repositioned by dragging.
Organizing Your Dock
Spacers are a great way to create visual groups, such as:
- Web browsers
- Productivity applications
- Development tools
- Graphics and multimedia software
- Communication apps
- Utilities
- Frequently used folders
Using spacers makes it much easier to locate applications at a glance, especially if your Dock contains dozens of icons.
Removing a Spacer
Removing a spacer is just as easy as removing any other Dock item:
- Click and hold the spacer.
- Drag it away from the Dock.
- Release it when the Remove indicator appears.
No Terminal commands are required to delete spacers.
Final Thoughts
Although Apple doesn’t provide a graphical option for creating Dock spacers, this built-in Terminal feature offers a quick and effective way to customize your workspace. With full-size and half-size spacers, you can keep your Dock clean, organized, and tailored to your workflow.