Dell Dock Overview and Usage

Love it or hate it, the Dell Dock is something that is going to be on any new computer you get from Dell.

Most complaints about this little tool stem from it getting in the way when you are trying to do something on the edge of the screen where the Dell Dock is located.

However, once you accommodate the presence of the Dell Dock into your computing environment, you can begin to see the usefulness that it potentially offers to you.

Since most people use their computer Desktop as a sort of “home base,” they might find that things on the desktop can get cluttered, which makes it difficult to find the things that you use frequently.

What the Dell Dock does is put the links to those items in a dock that is separated from the rest of the Desktop, making them easier to find.

Getting the Dell Dock

If you are reading this, then it’s likely that this program is already on your computer. However, if you are just thinking about getting it, you can download the dock from this link, then just follow the installation instructions to get it on your computer. If you need further help with the installation, or if you have removed the program and want to re-install it, follow the instructions in this article.

The download page recommends that you use Internet Explorer or Firefox to download the file, but I was able to download it just fine with Google Chrome. The size of the download file is about 13 MB, so keep that in mind if you do not have a high speed Internet connection. The whole installation is pretty quick so, after the download, you will only have to wait a couple of minutes before you can get to customizing the dock.

Customizing Your Installation

Go and find your Dell Dock. It should be pretty easy to see, as it is the large set of shortcut icons on the top of your Desktop. Don’t worry if you don’t like having it at that location. You can move it to almost any other location on the screen.

Dell Dock add a shortcut

Working with the Dell Dock After Installation

After the installation has completed, you will notice a new widget on your computer Desktop. It should look similar to the image above, with each icon representing a different category of actions. Essentially the Dell Dock offers another way to quickly access the commonly used folders and programs on your computer.

To add an icon to the dock, simply right-click in an open space on the dock, click “Add” then click “Shortcut.” You can then drag a shortcut icon from your Desktop or Start menu to the dock. Once the icon is hovering over the dock, you can also customize where on the dock you want it positioned.

If you want to delete an existing shortcut icon or category, you only have to right-click the icon, then click “Delete Category” or “Delete Shortcut.” In the image below, for example, I have chosen to delete the “Help and Support” category.

Delete a category or shortcut from the Dell Dock

Change the Dell Dock Location

The final thing you will probably want to do is select where on the screen you want to locate the dock. The default option is the top of the screen, which I personally prefer. But, depending upon how you like to organize your Desktop, you might like another side better. To move the dock, right-click anywhere on the dock, then click “Change dock location.” This will show a menu like the one below

Change the Dell Dock screen position

Click the “Change location and display behavior option at the left side of the menu, then click the screen position on the right side of the menu where you want to display the Dell Dock. For example, clicking where my mouse is hovering in the image would move the dock to the right side of the screen.

Once you have learned the basics of the Dell Dock and how to modify it, you can experiment with the other options on the right-click shortcut menu to further customize its’ location, appearance and contents.

Join Our Free Newsletter

Featured guides and deals

You may opt out at any time.
Read our Privacy Policy