Tag Archives: Dock

fixed : frozen Dock in macOS ( Dock not responding )

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Question :

For some reason, when I started/opened my Mac today and tried to open an app by clicking on it’s icon in the Dock… nothing happened. The Dock didn’t respond… I couldn’t get any app, folder or file to open by clicking on it’s icon in the Dock…

I found a workaround by opening the search window (by clicking on the magnifier icon top right in the macOS menu bar), then typing the application’s name and starting it from there.

But, I want this fixed… what can I do to get the Dock working properly ?

Answer :

There isn’t a clear reason why the macOS Dock freezes up from time to time… so there is no solution that will work in all cases, but to get the macOS Dock working properly again try these (in this order) :

1 – try upgrading to the most up-to-date version of macOS :

  • in the macOS Menu Bar, click on the Apple-icon top left
  • in the pulldown menu that opens, click on “System Preferences” (or “System Settings”)
  • in the System Preferences window (System Settings window) that opens, click on “Software Update” ( the gear / sprocket icon )
  • in the Software Update window that opens, see if there are any new updates to macOS available
  • if there are any, update a.s.a.p. by following the on-screen instructions
  • if there are none, try the next option

2- try restarting your macOS :

  • in the macOS Menu Bar, click on the Apple-icon top left
  • in the pulldown menu that opens, click on “Restart” and follow the on-screen instructions
  • after your Mac has restarted, check if your macOS Dock works now
  • it the Dock now works properly ; great ! well done ! enjoy !
  • if the Dock still doesn’t respond, you can try restarting your Mac by using the “Shut down” option …or try the next option

3- try resetting the Dock using the Terminal.app :

  • in the macOS Menu Bar, click on the magnifier-icon top right
  • in the search field that opens, type “terminal”
  • click on the Terminal.app in the list that appears
  • in the Terminal window that opens, don’t be distracted by the info displayed, just type the following :
  • killall Dock
  • then press Return
  • most of the time it only takes a flash of a second to rested the Dock, sometimes it takes a few moments
  • now quit the Termini.app
  • then click on any app icon in the Dock to see if it starts up and the Dock behaves as expected
  • if it does ; great ! well done ! enjoy !
  • chances this doesn’t work are very, very low… so if this didn’t work, redo the reset of the Dock using the Terminal.app again before trying your last options : keep using a work-around (as mentioned above) until Apple releases a macOS upgrade …or reinstalling macOS on your Mac.

that’s it !

enjoy 😉

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fixed : “Scanner reported an error” when starting scanner

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Question :

My Canon CanoScan 5600F is scanning great, even after all those years. The only problem I’m encountering with my new Mac is that I get a “Scanner reported an error” message when I try to start it from the shortlink (alias) I have in my Dock.

The exact error message is : “Scanner reported an error Cannot communicate with scanner for these reasons: – Scanner is turned off. – USB cable is disconnected. Please check and try again.” But the USB cable is connected properly and the scanner is turned on, so that can’t be the problem.

What can I do to fix this ?

Answer :

This problem was introduced some years ago, possibly somewhere within the shift from OSX to macOS. It seems to have to to with the start-up sequence of macOS’s build-in scanning software or the scanner going into some sleep mode. The solution is simple, even though it is more of a workaround than an actual fix. So if you run into this problem, do this :

  • turn the scanner off using the ON/OFF-switch on the outside of the scanner (the physical hardware button)
  • then, click the blue OK-button in the “Scanner reported an error” window
  • then, close the “Scanner” window by clicking the red dot button top-left
  • then, open the Scanner software again…
  • now, turn the scanner back on using the ON/OFF-switch on the outside of the scanner (the physical hardware button)
  • now the scanner should load the scan preview automatically (as if you had clicked the Overview-button)
  • just make sure the scan area hasn’t been reset, so…
    • …either uncheck “Use Custom Size” and make sure “size” is “A4” (or anything suitable)
    • …or manually line out the scan area in the preview

That’s it !

enjoy 😉

fixed : remove icon from behind the Dock

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Question :

I somehow managed to move an icon to the outer corner of the Desktop in such a way that there’s no way to select it and move it to another location (or trash it). The document icon even got placed behind the Dock, so whenever I try to select the icon, the Dock is in front of it, and I am selecting or activating something in the Dock…

How can I fix this ?

 

Answer :

If there’s a document icon (or app icon) on your Desktop that you can’t select to use or move the document (or app), try this :

– open the Finder

– in the Finder window that opens, select your Desktop, then select the file (or app)

– now move it to another location on your Mac ; to another folder or to a new folder

– then, when you go back to your Desktop, the file will be in folder you’ve just put it in

…and if you wish, you can even drag & drop it back onto any location on the Desktop.

That’s it !

Enjoy !

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