The dock bar at the bottom of the iPad screen provides quick access to your most commonly used apps. However, you may want to hide the dock bar at times to maximize your screen space, especially when using certain apps or playing games. Here are some ways to hide and minimize the iPad dock bar:
Table of Contents
Access iPad Settings to Hide the Dock
- Open the Settings app on your iPad
- Go to Accessibility > Guided Access
- Toggle Guided Access to the ON position
- Triple-click the side button to activate Guided Access when you want to lock the iPad screen, including hiding the dock
When enabled, Guided Access locks the iPad into a single app and allows you to disable certain screen elements like the dock. This is useful for letting kids use your iPad without exiting the app or accessing other features.
Note: You will need to triple-click again and enter your passcode to exit Guided Access.
Use Full-Screen Apps and Games
- The dock bar automatically hides when using full-screen apps and games
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to temporarily view the dock
- The dock disappears again after a few seconds in full-screen mode
So launching apps and games that utilize the full iPad screen is an easy way to hide the dock bar.
Customize Stage Manager Settings (iPadOS 16)
For iPad models compatible with Stage Manager:
- Go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking
- Select Stage Manager
- Toggle the Dock switch off to hide the dock in Stage Manager view
Stage Manager is an iPadOS 16 feature that enables advanced multitasking capabilities. Turning off the Dock switch in the Stage Manager settings is the simplest way to keep the dock hidden in this view.
Use a Third-Party iPad Dock Hider App
If the above options don’t meet your needs, you can try a third-party app designed specifically for hiding the iPad dock, like:
- Vanilla – offers both auto-hide and manual hide options for dock
- iPad Bar Hider – hides dock along with top status bar
- HideIt Pro – hides various interface elements, dock included
While limited hide capabilities are built into iPadOS, these apps provide more dock customization features to minimize distractions.
General Tips for Minimizing the Dock
Aside from completely hiding the dock bar, you can also minimize its footprint on your iPad screen:
- Reduce dock size – can’t make it smaller but keeping less apps there reduces its width
- Position dock to side in Stage Manager – choose left or right side placement
- Remove suggested/recent apps from the dock in Settings > Home Screen & Dock to eliminate the app recommendation part that takes up space
- Use the iPad Pro’s larger screen real estate – the bigger 12.9″ display makes dock less obtrusive
- Try using Split View mode – dock is only shown in the active app portion when splitting the screen
While you can’t adjust the dock height itself, these tips help reduce its on-screen footprint so you can better focus on your apps and games.
Why You May Want to Hide the iPad Dock
There are a few reasons why you may want to hide the dock bar at the bottom of the iPad screen:
- Maximize screen space – Eliminating the dock gives you more vertical room to view content and use apps, especially on smaller iPad models
- Avoid accidental taps – The dock holds app icons that are easy to accidentally tap when holding the iPad along the bottom edge
- Minimize distractions – For full-screen uses like games and video watching, hiding UI elements like the dock can reduce on-screen distractions
- Cater to younger users – Removing unnecessary screen components creates a more focused experience for kids using your iPad
Being able to quickly hide and show the iPad dock bar caters to different usage needs and helps you better personalize your iPad experience.
So in summary, the built-in Guided Access feature, using full-screen apps, customizing Stage Manager settings, and third-party dock hider apps allow you to hide the iPad dock bar when desired. You can also minimize its presence by reducing dock contents, positioning off to the side, and using screen splitting modes.
