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Presets & Switching#

Open Settings → Presets & Switching to choose what DockFlow does before, during, and after you switch presets.

Switching behavior#

  • Auto-save current dock before switching — Save your current Dock back to the last applied preset before switching away. Use it if you often change the Dock by hand and want the preset to keep up. Off by default.
  • Skip reapplying the current preset — Do nothing when you choose the preset that is already active. Off by default.
  • Ask before switching — Show a confirmation popup before a preset hotkey changes your Dock. Applies to hotkeys only. Off by default.

Closing apps#

Close apps that aren't in the preset quits open apps that do not belong to the preset you switch to. Off by default.

When it is on, more options appear:

Also quit apps that are only in App Folders
Apps the next preset has only inside an App Folder are quit too, so your Dock starts clean. Apps placed directly in the preset stay open. An app you opened from an App Folder is quit at your next switch, even if that preset has it in a folder too. Off by default.
Protect unsaved work

Never force-quit apps. An app with unsaved changes asks you to save, and stays open if you cancel. Off by default.

  • Off — Faster switches, but apps that don't quit within 2 seconds are force-quit and unsaved changes are lost.
  • On — Apps with unsaved work stay open.

With this on, switching from the menu bar, the main window, the Dock menu, or a hotkey first shows a preview: Will quit, Will open, and Left alone. Click Switch to go ahead or Cancel to stay. Tick Don't ask again for this preset to skip the preview for that preset. To bring skipped previews back, click Show Preview Again in Settings.

If an app refuses to quit, DockFlow tells you which apps stayed open.

Always Keep Open
Apps in this list stay open even when they are not part of the destination preset. Click Add Application to add one. Use it for apps you always need, like your chat or password manager.
Preset Exclusions
Tick presets whose apps should remain open when you switch to other presets. When you switch from an excluded preset, its apps are not closed. This is useful for a base preset with communication or other essential apps.

Browser profiles#

These settings apply to the Open with Profile action. See App Actions and Notes.

  • Launch browser profiles without extra permissions — The recommended mode. It works without App Management access. On by default.

When you turn it off, DockFlow needs App Management permission so it can fully control existing browser windows (see Permissions), and one more option appears:

  • Close browsers before switching — Close running browser windows before reopening a browser with a different profile. Off by default.

Last Context#

The Last Context section controls the popup that saves a short status note when you leave a preset. See Last Context.