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Somehow the Applications icon is gone from my Dock. However I can't just drag the Applications folder (from Finder) into the Dock. How else can I restore it?

Is there a config file somewhere for the Dock that I can just edit with vi and fix this?

Thanks.

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Why can't you just drag it back ? – Cedric H. Sep 26 '11 at 17:16
Are you on Lion or Snow Leopard? – Loïc Wolff Sep 26 '11 at 17:33
Snow Leopard. One has to drag it to the bottom, then select "show as folder". – Woolly Sep 26 '11 at 19:16

5 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

Hmm, depending on how precisely you formulated the question there are several possible answers:

  1. The Applications folder is missing from the Dock

    • Navigate to Computer in Finder (Shift-Command-C)
    • Open local hard drive (usually called "Macintosh HD" or computername)
    • Drag the Applications folder to the Dock (near the end where the other folders and the trash are located)
    • Right-click the folder in the Dock and select show as folder

  2. The Applications folder/link is missing from the Favorites list in any Finder window

    • Step 1 and 2 as above
    • Drag the Applications folder to the Favorites list

  3. You are actually missing the Launchpad icon from the Dock

    • Step 1 and 2 as above
    • Open the Applications folder
    • Locate Launchpad and drag it to the Dock (near the beginning this time)
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If you do #1, it adds the apps folder to the Dock but the icon is wrong... the icon is the address book's. I then went into its options and selected "show as folder" and that fixed the icon. – Woolly Sep 26 '11 at 19:13
It defaults to Stack then which just shows a stack of icons of the folder content. Fixed above. – patrix♦ Sep 26 '11 at 19:41
up vote 2 down vote

go to finder. in the left panel, find the Applications folder. right click and select "Add to Dock", when the App folder shows in the dock - if it shows differently than before, again right click, and "Display as" select "Folder".

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up vote 1 down vote

Use Spotlight to open Applications. After applications are opened, drag and drop the application you want to dock.

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1  
He wants the application folder, not a specific application. – Cedric H. Sep 26 '11 at 17:24
Check this out forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=480561 or try it: "Go to the finder and locate your Applications folder. Get Info on it (Command-I) then proceed to selecting the little folder icon on the top left. Cut (Command-x) and your original icon should be restored." – axcdnt Sep 26 '11 at 17:28
up vote 1 down vote

You can find the Applications folder by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock.

Then typing ⌘ + ⇧ + G. In the sheet window opened type /Applications. The Finder will the Go the folder. From there, just drag it back to your Dock.

If you're talking about the App Store icon:

mac app store

Invoke Spotlight, type App Store and then ⌘ + ⏎.
A Finder window will open with the App Store app selected, and you'll just have to drag it back to the Dock.

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up vote 0 down vote

though i use mac osx 10.7.4 and this is how i did it, i went to applications through go which is at the top with the finder,the applications opened, i then dragged the small application folder which is at the top of the applications to my Dock, then i right clicked and choose the option folder.

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