Turn Dock magnification off, or set how much it zooms

Why it happens

Magnification makes Dock icons grow as your pointer moves over them, which can help with a small Dock. It's a personal choice, and some people find the moving icons distracting. It's one switch with a size slider.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, and click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.

2. In the Dock section, turn Magnification off to stop the zoom. To keep it, leave it on and drag the slider next to it to choose how big icons grow.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Magnification

3. There's a quicker way too. Control-click the thin divider line in the Dock and choose Turn Magnification Off, or Turn Magnification On.

Still not fixed?

1. If the icons are big all the time, not just when you hover, that's the Dock's size. Drag the Size slider in the same section to the left.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Size

2. If text or part of the screen gets bigger wherever your pointer goes, not just in the Dock, that's the Zoom feature. Check Accessibility > Zoom.

   Accessibility›Zoom

3. If the switch is greyed out or won't stay, your Mac may be managed by a school or company. Ask whoever set it up.

4. If the setting keeps turning itself back on after a restart, contact Apple Support.