Add a Spacer to Your macOS Dock
If your Dock feels cluttered, there's a quick terminal trick to add invisible spacer tiles that act as visual separators between app groups.
The Command
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{"tile-type"="spacer-tile";}' && killall Dock
Run it once for each spacer you want. The Dock restarts automatically and you'll see a blank gap appear.
How It Works
macOS stores your Dock layout in a plist file. The command injects a special spacer-tile entry into the app array. It's not a real app — just an empty slot the system renders as blank space.
Removing a Spacer
Drag the spacer off the Dock like you would any app icon. It disappears in a poof.
Tips
- Run the command multiple times to add several spacers
- Rearrange spacers by dragging them to different positions
- Works on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and newer