Live Dock previews
Hover an app in the Dock to see live window thumbnails before switching. The previews use ScreenCaptureKit and include minimized and off-screen windows, not just visible ones.
Overview
docktor is a macOS utility that turns the Dock into a control surface for app switching and at-a-glance information. It adds live window previews, a thumbnail-based Cmd+Tab switcher, and glass-style widgets for music, calendar, weather, and system stats.
The product is described as a free public pre-release for macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) or later, delivered as a universal build with no account required. The homepage also emphasizes a local-first design and scoped permissions so each feature only asks for the access it needs.
Features
Thumbnail-based window switching
Replace the standard Cmd+Tab picker with window thumbnails so you can identify the right app window before activating it.
Music widget with lyrics
Show current playback next to the Dock and use the drawer for transport controls, queue and playlists. The music widget works with Spotify and Apple Music, and can display synced lyrics when available.
Calendar widget
Display the next Apple Calendar event with a countdown in the Dock area, then show the rest of the day in the drawer. The widget reads calendar data through EventKit and can open the meeting link when the countdown ends.
Weather widget with forecast
Surface current weather in the bar and a 12-hour forecast in the drawer using Open-Meteo data, including temperature, condition, precipitation chance, humidity, wind, UV index, and sunrise/sunset details.
System stats widget
Monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage beside the Dock, with drawer pages for deeper charts, top processes, and sparklines based on local system counters.
Use Cases
Find the exact window faster
Use the Dock hover previews when you keep many windows open and want to identify the right one before switching, especially if the frontmost app icon alone is not enough.
Control music from the Dock
Use the music widget when you want playback controls close at hand while working, without opening a separate media app or switching context.
Check schedule and conditions at a glance
Use the calendar and weather widgets when you want a quick glance at the next meeting and current conditions before starting the day or stepping into a call.
Monitor Mac resources locally
Use the system stats widget when you want to watch CPU, memory, or disk pressure without opening Activity Monitor or another monitoring tool.
Keep everyday tools in one place
Use the Dock-centered widgets when you prefer a lighter-weight workflow that keeps common controls and status information in one place instead of spreading them across multiple windows.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combines window previews and widgets in the Dock area, reducing the need to open separate macOS panels.
- Uses live thumbnails for both Dock hover previews and Cmd+Tab switching, which helps identify the exact window before activating it.
- Supports local-first behavior for core features and states that no account is required.
- Covers multiple everyday tasks in one place, including music control, calendar visibility, weather, and system monitoring.
- Draws on native macOS services such as EventKit and ScreenCaptureKit, which fit the platform's workflows well.
Cons
- The product is a pre-release, so users should expect it to be unfinished compared with a stable release.
- It requires macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) or later, which limits compatibility with older Macs.
- Several features depend on Apple system permissions or third-party services, such as screen recording, calendar access, location, and Apple Music automation.
FAQ
What platforms does docktor support?
docktor is designed to run on macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) or later. The homepage presents it as a universal build and a public pre-release.
Is docktor free to use?
The source describes docktor as free and a public pre-release, with no account required for core features.
What services does docktor connect to?
docktor uses ScreenCaptureKit for live window thumbnails, EventKit for Apple Calendar events, Open-Meteo for weather, and Apple Events for Apple Music playback. Spotify support is mentioned through the Web API.
Does docktor require an account or cloud login?
The homepage says docktor is local-first and that optional prompts stay scoped to the feature you turn on. It also says there is no Google OAuth and no account required.
What does docktor do differently from the default Dock?
docktor adds Dock previews, a Cmd+Tab switcher with live window thumbnails, and floating widgets for music, calendar, weather, and system stats. It is meant to make the Dock a control surface rather than replace macOS.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Productivity
- Platform
- macOS 26.0 (Tahoe) or later
- Build type
- Universal build
- Access
- Free public pre-release
- Account
- No account required
- Website
- docktorapp.com
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