Customise Your Windows Start Menu & Mac Dock

Every day, we use the same handful of applications, folders, and websites. Yet, we often waste time clicking through menus or searching for them. Your computer’s most valuable real estate, the Windows Start Menu and the Mac Dock, is designed to solve this, but most people only use it for a few default apps.

A personalised workspace is a more efficient workspace. This guide will show you how to take control and add custom shortcuts for almost anything to these key areas, saving you countless clicks every day on both Windows and Mac.

For Windows Users: Customising Your Start Menu

The Windows Start Menu is a powerful hub that you can tailor to your exact needs. By “pinning” your favourite items to it, you can make them available with a single click instead of searching for them every time.

How to Pin an Application

This is the most common customisation and is very simple to do. First, click the Start button and select “All apps” to see a full list of your installed programs. Find the application you want to add, then right-click on it and select “Pin to Start.” A new tile for that app will now appear in the main Start Menu area.

How to Pin a Folder

If you frequently access a specific folder, such as one for a work project or your “Downloads” folder, you can pin it directly to your Start Menu. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to add. Right-click on the folder and select “Pin to Start.” Just like an application, the folder will now appear as a clickable tile in your Start Menu.

How to Pin a Website

For websites you visit all the time, like a work portal or a favourite news site, you can create a shortcut that acts just like a regular app. The easiest way to do this is with the Microsoft Edge browser. Navigate to the website you want to pin, click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, go to the “Apps” menu, and select “Install this site as an app.” Once it has been installed, you can find the new “app” in your “All apps” list and pin it to your Start Menu just like any other program

For Mac Users: Customising Your Dock

The Dock on a Mac provides the same quick-access convenience as the Windows Start Menu. You can add your most-used apps, folders, and even individual files to it for immediate access from your desktop.

How to Add an Application

There are two simple ways to add an application to your Dock. The first is to open your “Applications” folder in Finder, then simply drag the app’s icon and drop it directly onto the Dock. Alternatively, if an application is already open and running, its icon will temporarily appear in the Dock. To make it stay there permanently, just right-click its icon, go to the “Options” menu, and select “Keep in Dock.”

How to Add a Folder or File

You can also add specific folders or files that you use frequently. To do this, simply drag the folder or file’s icon from any Finder window and drop it onto the right-hand side of the Dock, next to the Bin. Folders that are added this way become “Stacks,” which means clicking them will fan out their contents for easy access without opening a new window.

How to Add a Website

This is a simple but powerful trick for any website you visit daily. First, open the website in a browser like Safari. Then, click and drag the small icon (known as a favicon) from the left of the address bar. Drop this icon onto the right-hand side of the Dock. This will create a permanent shortcut that opens your favourite website with a single click.

A More Efficient Way to Work

Taking just a few minutes to set up these shortcuts can streamline your daily workflow significantly. By placing your most-used items just a click away, you spend less time searching and more time doing.If you are looking for more ways to optimise your computer’s performance or need help with more advanced customisations, the team at Computer Expert Adelaide is here to help. Contact us for expert advice and service.