How to Remove the Dell Dock in Windows 11 or 10 (and What to Use Instead)

To remove the Dell Dock, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, select the More (three dots) button next to Dell Dock, and choose Uninstall. In Windows 10, or if the app doesn’t show up in Settings, use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features instead.

The Dell Dock is an old app launcher that Dell preinstalled on many consumer laptops and desktops from about 2008 to the early 2010s, back in the Windows Vista and Windows 7 era. Dell no longer develops or supports it, so the steps below focus on getting it off a computer that now runs Windows 10 or Windows 11. The uninstall paths match Microsoft’s guide to removing apps in Windows as of October 2026.

What the Dell Dock Was

The Dell Dock is a row of large shortcut icons that sits at the top of the screen, a bit like the Dock on a Mac. It groups shortcuts into categories by task, and you can move it to any edge of the screen, add or delete shortcuts, and change its colors.

Dell didn’t write it from scratch. Stardock built it for Dell using its ObjectDock software, and Stardock’s old Dell Dock product page shows it running on Windows Vista.

Is the Dell Dock still supported? No. Dell doesn’t offer it for current computers, and when a Windows 10 user asked about it on Stardock’s forums in 2015, the reply was that Stardock doesn’t support the Dell Dock and to contact Dell. Many people kept it when they upgraded an old Dell from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or 11. On those computers it often still opens, but users report crashes, error messages after Windows updates, and a dock that shrinks to tiny icons that can’t be resized. If yours is acting up, removing it is the reliable fix.

Looking for a Dell docking station instead? Dell also sells hardware docks, such as the Dell Dock WD19 and WD22TB4, that connect a laptop to monitors and USB devices. Those are a different product. Dell lists its docking stations and their drivers on its support site.

Uninstall the Dell Dock in Windows 11

1. Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click Settings (the gear icon). The Settings window opens.
2. Click Apps in the left column, then click Installed apps. A list of every installed app appears.
3. Type Dell Dock in the Search apps box at the top of the list. The Dell Dock entry should be the only result.
4. Click the More button (three dots) at the right side of the Dell Dock entry, then click Uninstall.

5. Click Uninstall again in the small confirmation box. The Dell Dock uninstaller opens.
6. Follow the uninstaller’s prompts and click Yes or OK if it asks you to confirm. When it finishes, Dell Dock disappears from the list.
7. Restart the computer. This clears out any part of the dock that was still running in the background.

After the restart, the dock should no longer appear when you sign in. Your desktop shortcuts and files aren’t affected, because the dock only holds links to them.

You can also start the uninstall from the Start menu. Click Start > All apps, right-click Dell Dock (it may be inside a Dell folder), and choose Uninstall. That opens the Control Panel method below.

For more detail on these screens, see our guide to uninstalling a program on Windows 11.

Uninstall the Dell Dock in Windows 10 or From Control Panel

Control Panel works in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it’s the place to go if Settings won’t remove the app.

1. Click the search box or search icon on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and open it.
2. Under Programs, click Uninstall a program. If Control Panel is set to show icons instead of categories, click Programs and Features.
3. Scroll down the list and click Dell Dock once to select it.
4. Click Uninstall in the bar above the list, or right-click Dell Dock and choose Uninstall/Change.

5. Click Yes to confirm, then wait for the uninstaller to finish.
6. Restart the computer.

In Windows 10, the Settings route is Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Click Dell Dock in the list, then click Uninstall twice.

Turn Off the Dock First (Older Dell Dock Versions)

This step is optional, and it only applies to the original Dell Dock on Windows 7-era Dell computers. Some of those versions moved desktop shortcuts into the dock. Turning the dock off before you uninstall it puts those icons back on your desktop.

1. Right-click an empty part of the dock and click Advanced Settings.
2. Click Turn off dock and switch back to desktop icons.
3. Click Yes. The dock closes and your desktop icons return.

Then uninstall the dock with either method above. If you don’t see this option, your version doesn’t have it, and you can uninstall right away.

What to Use Instead of the Dell Dock

Windows 10 and 11 already do most of what the Dell Dock did.

• Pin apps to the taskbar. Search for an app, right-click it, and choose Pin to taskbar. Our guide to pinning apps to the taskbar in Windows 11 covers folders and websites too.
• Pin apps to Start. Right-click an app in the Start menu and choose Pin to Start to keep it in the Pinned section.
• Put the icons on the left. Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, expand Taskbar behaviors, and set Taskbar alignment to Left for a more traditional layout.
• Hide the taskbar when you’re not using it. In the same Taskbar behaviors section, check Automatically hide the taskbar for a cleaner screen.

One difference to know: the Windows 11 taskbar always stays at the bottom of the screen. If you liked having your shortcuts across the top or down one side, a third-party dock is the closer match. Stardock still sells ObjectDock, the app the Dell Dock was based on. Its product page lists Windows 10 and 11 support and a free 30-day trial.

If the Dell Dock Won’t Uninstall

• Dell Dock isn’t in the list. It may already be gone, or it may be listed under a slightly different name. Look for entries that start with Dell or Stardock.
• The dock comes back after a restart. Check startup apps. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off any Dell Dock entry, then try the uninstall again. Our guide to changing startup programs in Windows 11 walks through it.
• The uninstaller shows an error or does nothing. Restart the computer and try Control Panel instead of Settings. If it still fails, Microsoft’s page on removing apps points to its Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter, which can clear a broken uninstall entry.
• The dock is open while you uninstall. Right-click the dock and close or exit it first, or restart and uninstall before you open anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to uninstall the Dell Dock?

Yes. The Dell Dock is a shortcut launcher. Removing it doesn’t delete your programs, documents, or photos, and it doesn’t affect Dell drivers or Windows itself.

Can I still download the Dell Dock?

Dell doesn’t offer it for current computers, and Stardock’s old page for it no longer has a download. Copies on third-party download sites are old and unsupported, so they’re not worth the risk. If you want a dock on Windows 11, ObjectDock is the maintained option.

Does the Dell Dock work on Windows 11?

It sometimes still runs on older Dell computers that were upgraded, but it isn’t supported and was never updated for Windows 11. Shrunken icons, crashes, and errors after Windows updates are common.

Is the Dell Dock the same as a Dell docking station?

No. The Dell Dock is software on the screen. A Dell docking station, such as the WD19 or WD22TB4, is a hardware box that connects a laptop to monitors and accessories. Uninstalling the Dell Dock app doesn’t affect a docking station.

Will removing the Dell Dock speed up my computer?

It frees a small amount of memory and removes one app that loads every time you sign in. On an older computer, that can help a little.