DockDoor alternative for Mac
By Mohammed Chaara. Updated October 21, 2026. Facts about DockDoor come from its own website or App Store page, listed at the end.
What DockDoor is
DockDoor is a free Mac app that shows an app’s open windows when you hover over its Dock icon, as thumbnails, a compact list or large previews. Previews include windows on other desktops and displays, and minimized or hidden ones, with buttons to close, minimize, go full screen or quit. It also has a window switcher on ⌥Tab, window previews in ⌘Tab, trackpad gestures to snap windows, and extras such as Folder Pop, music controls and a Calendar preview. It is open source under the GPL-3.0 license, funded by donations, and runs on macOS 13 Ventura or later, on Apple silicon and Intel. A separate paid app, DockDoor Pro, costs $20 once for 3 Macs.
DockDoor vs MrFixable
| DockDoor | MrFixable | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, funded by donations. DockDoor Pro is a separate app at $20 once. | $19.99 once (lifetime license) for all 68 fixes, with a 14-day free trial |
| Previews when you hover over the Dock | Yes, as thumbnails, a compact list or large previews | Yes, a picture of each window, up to 10 per app |
| Minimized windows | Yes, plus hidden windows and windows on other desktops and displays | Yes, shown faded. Windows on other desktops aren’t listed. |
| Buttons on previews | Close, minimize, full screen and quit | Close (×) |
| Window switcher | Yes, ⌥Tab shows every open window, and ⌘Tab can show windows too | Yes, Window Switcher: ⌥Tab with previews of the windows on your current desktop. ⌘Tab stays as it was. |
| Extras | Snap gestures, Folder Pop, music controls, Calendar preview, AppleScript and command-line control | 67 other fixes, such as Window Snapping and Clipboard History |
| Permissions | Accessibility and Screen Recording | Accessibility. Screen Recording for pictures; without it, previews show window names. |
| macOS support | macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon and Intel | macOS 14.2 Sonoma or later, tested on macOS 26 Tahoe |
| Open source | Yes, GPL-3.0 | No |
Where each one is better
- It’s free and open source, with no trial or paywall.
- It has many more options: three preview layouts, buttons to minimize, go full screen or quit, and trackpad gestures to snap windows.
- Its previews include windows on other desktops and displays, and hidden windows.
- It runs on macOS 13 Ventura, one version earlier than MrFixable.
- It’s simple: the only setting is how long to hover before previews appear.
- Without Screen Recording permission it still works, showing each window’s name instead of a picture.
- Dock Window Previews and Window Switcher come with 66 other fixes for one price, so you don’t need a separate app for each job.
Switching from DockDoor
Quit DockDoor and remove it, so two apps don’t show previews over the Dock at once. Then turn on Dock Window Previews in MrFixable and allow Accessibility. Allow Screen Recording too if you want pictures instead of window names. For ⌥Tab, turn on Window Switcher. Previews appear after a moment; change it to no wait or half a second in the fix’s settings.
Questions
How do I see window previews when I hover over the Mac Dock?
macOS doesn’t show them: hovering over a Dock icon shows only the app’s name. Press ⌃↓ for App Exposé, or right-click the icon to list its windows by name. With DockDoor or Dock Window Previews, hovering shows a picture of each window, and a click takes you straight there.Is DockDoor free?
Yes. DockDoor is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, funded by donations, with no trial or paywall. DockDoor Pro is a separate app at $20 once for 3 Macs. MrFixable costs $19.99 once for 68 fixes, including Dock Window Previews and Window Switcher, with a 14-day free trial.Why do Dock previews need Screen Recording permission?
macOS only lets an app take pictures of other apps’ windows with Screen Recording permission. DockDoor asks for it along with Accessibility. Dock Window Previews needs Accessibility, and works without Screen Recording too, but then it shows each window’s name instead of a picture.Does Dock Window Previews show windows on other desktops?
No. It shows up to 10 windows of the app from your current desktop, minimized ones included, shown faded. DockDoor also lists windows on other desktops and displays, and hidden ones, so it’s the better pick if you work across several desktops.