A workspace is a saved subset of your bar configuration. Pinned apps, accent color, folder shortcuts, the focus-mode allowlist, and an optional default folder URL — all snapshot per workspace. Activate one and the bar collapses to that view; deactivate to return to your global pinned apps.
When to use a workspace
- Role separation. "Work" pins your IDE + browser + Slack; "Personal" pins iA Writer + Music + a journal. The bar reflects whatever you're doing.
- Project context. A "Client X" workspace pins their dashboard, design files, and a chat thread; switching back to "Default" hides them.
- Physical location. Pair with Shortcuts.app: when you join the office Wi-Fi, run
apexdock workspace switch Office.
Creating a workspace
Right-click empty bar space → Workspaces… → + New Workspace.
Each workspace stores:
- Name (free-form text)
- Accent color (used for the workspace tile + active indicator)
- Default folder (optional URL — becomes a folder shortcut when active)
- Pinned apps (separate list per workspace)
- Focus allowlist (separate list per workspace; see Focus)
Switching workspaces
| How | Example |
|---|---|
| GUI | Click the workspaces tile on the system tray, pick one |
| Hotkey | None by default — bind via the Control API and Karabiner / Keyboard Maestro |
| Command palette | ⌘K → "switch to Work" |
| CLI | apexdock workspace switch Work (or --id <uuid>) |
| AppleScript | tell application "ApexDock" to switch workspace "Work" |
| URL scheme | open 'apexdock://workspace/switch?name=Work' |
| Shortcuts.app | Use Open URL with the same scheme |
Name match is case-insensitive: exact > prefix > contains. Tied scores fall back to the first registered workspace.
Reading the active workspace
bash
apexdock workspace current --text # → "id<TAB>name" or empty
apexdock workspace list --text # → table of all workspaces
applescript
tell application "ApexDock" to return current workspace name
Removing a workspace
In the Workspaces panel, right-click the row → Delete. Apps and folder shortcuts that lived in that workspace are not deleted — they return to the global lists.
Sharing workspaces
Workspaces aren't designed to sync across machines yet. There's no JSON export today. Roadmap.
Notes
- Switching a workspace updates every dependent piece of the bar (focus allowlist, pinned apps row, folder shortcuts) on the same frame, so the bar never shows a half-applied workspace.
- Deactivating a workspace doesn't track a separate "previous" state. Your global pins are simply what shows when no workspace is active.