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wfriedwald

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
523
48
sometimes when I have three monitors turned out, the dock will mysteriously jump over to the wrong one?

Why is it the wrong one? Because sometimes I'm in the middle of a screen share in a ZOOM meeting and I don't want the dock to clutter up the screen that is being shared.

What to do? I can quickly fix it in the system pref's but it is super annoying. Why does the dock just decide to jump over to another monitor and how do I stop it?

as always, grateful for any suggestions.

Apple Forever!

w
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,582
Delaware
Maybe the Zoom session screen share modifies the screen temporarily, so your system thinks the shared screen is your main screen, and the dock slides in at that time.

No need to go to System Prefs just to hide the dock.
Option-Command-D toggles your dock instantly.

Also,You might try moving the dock to one side or the other. I have always had a vertical dock, but I know that some don't care for that. Might be worth a try to see if the dock settles down then, if you need to keep your dock visible.
 

wfriedwald

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
523
48
oh. I didn't mean to imply that it ONLY happens during a zoom session. it happens all the time. (or does it?? come to think of it, I should try to observe whether it does or it doesn't.)

also, when I am using the CTRL-TAB function to switch APPs, the choice of APPs is sometimes on the screen that is being shared.

And, actually that is more annoying than the dock showing up - if I am switching APPs during a screen share, I don't want the APP-switching options to become visible to everyone viewing.

thanks for the feedback, as always.

w
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,582
Delaware
Again, the App switching during a screen share... If the shared screen (viewable to others on the session) is your main screen, then I think that is the normal screen for the app chooser pop-up. And, would be another example that your shared screen is seen (by your system) as the main screen, and those elements that should appear on your main system screen (in effect, the "home" screen"), then your shared screen apparently becomes the main screen, at least during the shared session.
Bottom line, if you do actions that would normally show up on the main screen, then I think you get to expect those actions to appear on the shared screen.
I don't know this for sure - but, you simply may be seeing a limitation of Zoom sessions (which might or might not be different on another type of videoconference. Have you tried any others, such as Cisco Webex?
 

wfriedwald

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
523
48
long awaited update: the bouncing dock happens all the time, not just during zoom screen shares.

Is there any kind of a terminal command that I write into the OS that it will STOP the dock from moving from one monitor to another? so it will just stay put on the same monitor?

thanks!

w
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,582
Delaware
Is your monitor setup stable in use -- no changes/additions while using your Mac?
Do you set your dock on the side (vertical), or the default bottom position?
I have seen some report that the dock changes to a different screen, when waking up with the mouse cursor left on that screen. (maybe that is not your issue?)
 

wfriedwald

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
523
48
hey, yes, I am talking about while the monitor setup is stable.

I would expect the dock to possibly shift if the monitor setup changes, ie, a monitor is added or removed.

But yes, these "jumps" are taking place while the monitor setup is stable. During zoom screen shares but also on other occasions. I was hoping there would be a way to prevent the monitor from automatically shifting by means of some terminal code.

Thanks for any input.

w
 

wfriedwald

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 1, 2017
523
48
my dock is still bouncing from monitor to monitor, mostly during ZOOM screen shares. Is there any possibility of a terminal command that can turn off the bouncing dock?? So it will ONLY change monitors when I tell it to?
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,582
Delaware
Not a solution - but Option-Command-D will hide/show your dock, and it will be visible when you need it (just not necessarily in the same screen that you hid it)
 

svenmany

macrumors demi-god
Jun 19, 2011
2,275
1,525
My dock and popup for Command-Tab often move between monitors. In my particular case I have dock hiding turned on. The last screen I used to expose the dock gets the popup for command-tab. If I turn off dock hiding and I position my mouse at the very bottom of the screen without the dock, the dock moves to that screen. I've always found this a strange behavior. Could that be the cause of the bouncing that you're seeing?
 
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