Where Is the macOS Dock Config Stored?
macOS com.apple.dock.plist path, how to reset a broken Dock with defaults delete, and where dock tiles differ from settings.
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The macOS Dock reads its layout from com.apple.dock.plist inside ~/Library/Preferences. Pinned apps, folders, minimization effects and magnification live there as plist keys. The Dock caches aggressively, so hand edits need a restart to appear.
Reset with defaults delete followed by killall Dock in Terminal, then re-pin from scratch. Back up the plist first if the layout took years to perfect. Modern macOS may also mirror settings in a data vault, so full restores sometimes need a logout too. Launchpad layout reads a separate database beside this plist.
Where macOS stores this, by platform
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
Copy with the Dock running is fine for backups. After edits run killall Dock in Terminal. Use Go > Go to Folder to reach the hidden Library.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset a broken macOS Dock?
Back up the plist, run defaults delete com.apple.dock and killall Dock in Terminal, then re-pin apps. The Dock rebuilds defaults and your spare copy restores the old layout.
Why do Dock edits not appear?
The Dock process caches the plist. Run killall Dock after every change. Logging out and back in clears deeper caches when one restart is not enough.
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