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Diagnostics & Troubleshooting#

Start with Settings → General → Diagnostics when CoolDock behaves unexpectedly.

Export diagnostics#

Choose Export Diagnostics there or from the menu bar icon's Help menu, then save the generated file. The export includes:

  • Dock, profile, screen, and widget settings
  • current permission states
  • recent diagnostic history and app logs, up to about 30 minutes
  • the software update log and CoolDock's own crash reports from the last 3 days

API keys, tokens, account details, and personal integration data are excluded. CoolDock never sends the export automatically; attach it only when you decide to contact support.

CoolDock is hidden#

  • Press ⌃⌥⌘D unless you changed the shortcut.
  • Move the pointer to the configured top or bottom edge for a Reveal layout.
  • Open the CoolDock menu bar icon and open Settings.
  • In Settings → Screens, check whether Attached Displays is waiting for a disconnected monitor.
  • In Settings → Layout, check Hide During Fullscreen and Hide on Window Hover.
  • Choose Layout → Reset Layout from the menu bar icon to bring a visible floating Dock to the display under the pointer.

If the menu bar icon itself is missing, right-click the Dock and choose Settings, then turn Show menu bar icon back on under Settings → General.

A widget is missing#

Right-click CoolDock and check Hidden Widgets. A widget with a Visibility condition can disappear until its condition becomes active. Choose Always Show there to return it to Always visible.

If the widget was removed, open Widgets and add it again. Profiles have separate layouts, so also confirm that the intended profile is active. Running apps disappear entirely when Settings → Dock → Running apps is set to Don't show.

Window previews are blank#

Open Settings → Privacy and enable both Accessibility and Screen Recording. Without Screen Recording, running-app icons still appear but their preview thumbnails remain blank.

Weather has no location#

Enable Location under Settings → Privacy, or right-click the weather widget and choose Customize Location → Custom Place to select a city manually.

Mail or Notes is unavailable#

Open the Mail or Notes app, then use its Connect control under Settings → Privacy. If macOS previously denied the request, enable CoolDock under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation.

Credentials are unavailable#

If the login keychain is locked, connected widgets and the license key cannot be read. Open Settings → Privacy → Credential Storage and choose Unlock Keychain, or switch to Encrypted file on this Mac.

An AI assistant cannot connect or change anything#

Open Settings → AI Assistant and confirm Enable AI connection is on, then choose Check Connection. Changes fail while Allow changes is off. If you moved CoolDock to another folder, install the connection again from the same pane. Undo Last Dock Configuration Change reverts the most recent change an assistant made.

Contact support#

Email support@appitstudio.com, or use Contact under Settings → About, with:

  • a short description of what happened
  • the steps that reproduce it
  • your macOS and CoolDock versions
  • the diagnostic export, when relevant

Send Feature Request in the same pane opens the public roadmap. Never send a license key, password, or provider token in the message.