From the developer
Why I built OmniDock
I built OmniDock because I wanted to use it myself.
I wanted to hover over an app in the Dock, see its windows, and choose the right one. I wanted another click on the frontmost app's icon to put it out of the way. And when I needed to arrange windows, I wanted layouts and shortcuts close at hand.
None of those is a big task. They're just the small actions that keep coming up while you're doing something else. I wanted a few of them together, with settings I could return to in one place.
It started with actions, not a feature count
A feature name doesn't always tell you how something will feel to use.
For window switching, I wanted to see a preview before choosing a window. For putting an app aside, I wanted a repeated Dock click to hide it. Those specific interactions mattered more to me than having a long list of window-management features.
OmniDock also includes app hotkeys and window layouts. Keeping the Dock useful doesn't mean every action has to happen with the mouse.
One place for a few useful things
There's nothing wrong with finding a separate tool for each job. I wanted another option: several everyday controls in one app, with one place to configure them.
That's why OmniDock brings together Dock previews, window switching, app shortcuts, window layouts, optional local clipboard history, Finder actions, and menu bar organization.
You don't have to use all of it. Start with the part that interests you. Clipboard history is off by default; if you don't want it, leave it off.
And if you already like a dedicated tool, keep it. I don't think an integrated app has to replace everything else to be useful.
Familiar habits, with Mac behavior explained
Some of these interactions may feel familiar if you've moved from Windows. Hovering to see windows, or clicking an app icon again to put it away, can make the change of habits a little easier.
That doesn't make OmniDock a copy of the Windows taskbar. On a Mac, hiding an app puts its windows out of sight; minimizing a single window is a different action. It's important to explain that difference instead of promising that the two systems behave identically.
Try the built-in controls first
macOS already has ways to switch windows, hide apps, and arrange your work. If those suit you, you don't need to replace them.
My suggestion is to pick one action you wish felt different and start there. Compare the built-in approach, the tools you already use, and OmniDock. Keeping a setup that works for you matters more than reducing the number of apps at any cost.
Permissions are part of that choice. Check what a feature needs before enabling it. Optional clipboard history is stored locally, but local storage doesn't mean every sensitive item can be detected and excluded.
Compare integrated and separate tools · Read about privacy and permissions
Start with one small change
If this sounds like something you've wanted too, watch a feature demo and try the part that interests you.
OmniDock is currently free to download, with source code on GitHub. The three-action getting-started guide is a practical place to begin.
That's the idea behind OmniDock: put a few small conveniences I wanted into one app, and make it available to people who might find them useful too.
For a quick tour of the tools together, watch the full feature overview.