As a Windows 10 user, you may sometimes envy the way in which programs can be started in macOS. Such a beautiful dock at the bottom of the screen is also an option on Windows PCs with the Winstep Nexus program. How to add a dock to Windows 10 with it.
Winstep Nexus is an app that gives the desktop of Windows 10 computers an Apple sauce. After installation, a kind of 'dock' will appear on the screen, a launch station from which you can start frequently used programs.
Go to the Winstep Nexus website and click the button Products to download the free version of Winstep Nexus. After downloading, a zip file must be extracted in order to start the Installer.
The latter is an exe file that you have to right click to run it as Administrator. That is equally essential because of the file permissions. Immediately after the installation is complete, Winstep Nexus will be launched. Not much later, the dock will be on your Desktop.
Initially, Winstep Nexus is placed at the top of the screen, but we will adjust that in a moment. Various standard icons have already been used and if you move the mouse pointer over Winstep Nexus, the operation of this tool is immediately clear to you. Anyway, let's take a look at some advanced settings.
Dive deeper into Windows 10 and take control of the operating system with our Tech Academy. Check the Windows 10 Management online course or go for the Windows 10 Management bundle including technique and practice book.
Dock Settings
The properties of Winstep Nexus can be reached by clicking one of the icons shown with the right mouse button. But if you specifically choose the Nexus icon, you'll see the most comprehensive context menu. Then, in that context menu, include the following options:
rename: Option to customize the displayed name of the respective icon.
Remove from Dock: Inserted icons can also be discarded afterwards. So are some standard icons.
Insert new Dock Item: By far the most important option, because applications such as Excel, Outlook and Word can also be added to Winstep Nexus in this way.
Preferences: Here you have the possibility to manipulate a lot of properties of Winstep Nexus. From the presence of the System Tray in the dock to the keyboard shortcuts you want to use. The possibilities are endless.
Position on the Screen: This will move the dock. But that's not all, because the alignment can also be manipulated.
Display and Sounds: The dock of Winstep Nexus can be seen and heard in various ways. You can make it as lavish or frugal as you want.
Effects: once the look & feel of Winstep Nexus has been set, you can select some matching (audio)visual effects. Just to make it even more beautiful.
Adding programs to the dock
The standard dock of Winstep Nexus is not very useful. It only gets interesting when you can record your favorite shows in the dock. Chrome, Outlook, Word, just to name a few favorites… The good news: you can, and it's very simple.
Press Windows Key+S to invoke Windows 10's search function. For example, use Google Chrome as a keyword. Microsoft Word is also allowed. Right-click the found app and choose the context menu option Open file location. Most of the work is now done, because the open file location is where your Start menu is located.
Click the program icon with the left mouse button and drag the app to the dock of Winstep Nexus. The dock immediately recognizes the icon as something that can potentially be launched. You drop the icon by releasing the left mouse button and you're done. The app is now in the Winstep Nexus dock. Personalize it!
