Main apps are one key away
Assign your everyday apps to letter keys in primary dock. Hold Right Command ⌘, press the letter, and jump straight to the app you want.
How it works
Less-frequent apps stay within reach
The secondary dock keeps every other running app nearby without crowding your main layout.
- Press comma to access it
- Use letters, arrow keys, Tab, or the mouse to navigate
- Show multiple rows or only running apps
Primary dock
Secondary dock
Dimmed icons are non-running apps.
Option to show only running apps to have a secondary dock less crowded
Spatial dock is an app switcher like macOS Cmd+Tab:
all running apps are always available.
Primary dock (top): main apps mapped to direct letter keys.
Secondary dock (bottom): all running apps stay available.
Dimmed icons are non-running apps. You can choose to only show running apps to have a secondary dock less crowded.
Why switching is faster
The speed comes from predictability. Spatial Dock gives you the same layout on screen and on keyboard, so frequent switching starts to feel more like using shortcuts than navigating a menu.
Stable positions build spatial memory
Each app keeps the same position across sessions, which means you stop re-locating it every time you switch.
The on-screen layout matches your keyboard
The apps grid mirrors your keyboard layout, making shortcuts easier to learn and remember.
Direct access replaces cycling
Your main apps have dedicated keys, and the rest remain grouped nearby instead of being reordered by recent use.
Compared with macOS Cmd+Tab
Cmd+Tab and Mission Control are useful for browsing. Spatial Dock is for the moment when you already know the app you want and want to reach it with less visual scanning.
| macOS Cmd+Tab | Spatial Dock | |
|---|---|---|
| App positions | Reordered by recent use every time | Fixed — same spot every session |
| Reaching a specific app | Cycle until you find it | Press one key, land directly |
| Requires visual scanning | Yes — position changes each time | No — muscle memory takes over |
| Keyboard layout match | No spatial relationship to keys | On-screen grid mirrors your keyboard |
| Less-used apps | Mixed into the same cycling list | Kept in a separate secondary dock |
| Interrupts your flow | Yes — forces you to look and re-aim | No — same keys, every time |
Fast, private, native
An app switcher should not be on your way, Spatial Dock is optimized to react quickly and to consume low computing resources.
Fast and lightweight
- Fast activation
- Low resource usage
- Built as a macOS native app
Private by design
- No data collection
- No network access
- No special permissions required
- Runs inside the macOS sandbox
What users say
People who switch between apps all day tend to feel the difference quickly.
I love how the app makes every switch feel instant because the fixed spots and direct keys let muscle memory take over without any thought.
Spatial Dock is much faster than any other task switcher I've tried, which is a huge plus since pressing the key combinations is quick.
— Reddit user, r/macapps
Committed to your app after only half a day, and nine months after using an alternative.
— Reddit user, r/macapps
Works better for me than any of the similar apps I have tried.
— Reddit user, r/macapps
One-time purchase
Buy once, keep the updates
Spatial Dock is built for people who move between tools constantly and want app switching to feel direct, predictable, and easy to learn.
One purchase. All future updates included.
Key features
Spatial Dock stays simple at its core, but it adapts to different keyboards, workflows, and screen setups without losing the spatial consistency that makes it fast.
Flexible switching controls
- Direct letter shortcuts
- Arrow keys, Tab, and mouse navigation
- Configurable activation methods and trigger keys
- Optional bring-all-windows-forward, hide-others, and toggle-focus behavior
Built around your keyboard
- Supports custom keyboard layouts such as Colemak, Dvorak, split keyboards, Cyrillic and more
- Works across multiple macOS input sources
- Lets you customize displayed key labels so the on-screen layout matches your language
Works with the rest of your workflow
- Add files, folders, websites, and custom URL schemes
- Group apps by category in the secondary dock
- Customize app icons when you want the layout to feel more personal
Fits your screen and visual preferences
- Choose the dock window position and size
- Control which screen it appears on in multi-display setups
- Use light, dark, or system appearance
- Show or hide labels and adjust the selection highlight color
Edge layout keeps the switcher out of the way
Edge layout places apps along the screen edges so your windows and desktop remain visible while you switch.
FAQ
Does Spatial Dock replace Cmd+Tab?
Yes, it can. Spatial Dock gives you access to every running app, but it works from stable positions instead of a changing recent-app list.
By default, Spatial Dock uses Right Command ⌘ as its activation key, so the standard Cmd+Tab shortcut can remain available if you still want it.
Can I use a different keyboard layout or input source?
Yes. Spatial Dock supports custom keyboard layouts and multiple input sources, including Colemak, Dvorak, split keyboards, Korean, Cyrillic, and more.
What happens to apps without a direct shortcut?
They stay available in the secondary dock, so you can still reach them with indirect shortcuts, arrow keys, Tab navigation, or the mouse.
Can Spatial Dock launch websites, files, or browser apps?
Yes. You can add websites, files, folders, and custom URL schemes as shortcuts.
If you create a standalone web app in Safari using File > Add to Dock, it can appear in Spatial Dock like a regular application.
Can I use Caps Lock as the activation key?
Yes, but macOS needs a third-party remapping tool to turn Caps Lock into a modifier key that Spatial Dock can use.
- Hyperkey for a simple Caps Lock remap
- Karabiner-Elements for more advanced keyboard customization
Why don't I see an app in Spatial Dock?
Spatial Dock only shows apps that have been launched at least once while Spatial Dock is running, which helps avoid clutter from apps you never use.
- Launch or relaunch the app so Spatial Dock can detect it
- Check the ignored apps list in settings
- If you previously removed the app from the dock, launch it again
What if the secondary dock gets crowded?
You have a few ways to keep it manageable.
- Move your most-used apps to the primary dock
- Scroll through the secondary dock
- Use the shortcut to show only running apps. By default it's ".".
- Increase the number of rows shown in the secondary dock in Settings > Display
- Group related apps into categories
What if my activation key conflicts with a macOS shortcut?
If macOS or another app is already using the same shortcut, Spatial Dock may not receive it reliably.
- Choose a different modifier or trigger key in Spatial Dock settings
- Avoid letter shortcuts that overlap with system shortcuts you use often
- Check System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts to spot conflicts
Why does an uninstalled app still appear?
Spatial Dock preserves app positions so your layout stays stable. If you remove an app from macOS, that saved position can remain in the dock configuration.
To remove it permanently, drag the app icon to the remove box in Spatial Dock settings.