Early Beta
deskbird Dock is a lightweight desktop app that automatically sets your status to "In Office" and checks you into your desk and parking bookings as soon as you connect to your office network. No more manual check-ins — just open your laptop and start working.
- What is deskbird Dock?
- Prerequisites
- Install on macOS
- Install on Windows
- How it works
- Setting up office detection (Admins)
- Troubleshooting
- Feedback & support
- FAQs
1. What is deskbird Dock?
deskbird Dock is a lightweight desktop app for macOS and Windows that runs silently in the background. Once you connect to a recognized office network, Dock automatically:
- Checks you into your existing desk and parking bookings
- Updates your status to "In Office" in the Schedule tab
The app only requires manual action during initial sign-in. After that, it works in the background with no further input needed.
2. Prerequisites
Before installing deskbird Dock, make sure the following are in place:
- Account: a deskbird account using your company email (SSO via Google or Microsoft)
- System: macOS or Windows
- Network: your office network must be configured by an deskbird Admin under Admin > Presence detection
- Installer: download the installer file for your operating system from the bottom of this page
3. Install on macOS
-
Download and install: download the
.pkgfile from the bottom of this page, open it, and follow the installation steps. - Grant permissions: when prompted, allow location access. If no popup appears, go to System Settings Privacy & Security Location Services and enable deskbird Dock.
- Sign in: the app opens automatically after install. Sign in using Google or Microsoft SSO via your browser.
- Access the dashboard: find the deskbird Dock icon in the top-right menu bar. Click it and select "Open Dashboard" to view the detected office and connected devices.
💡 Tip: if you don't see the tray icon, free up space in your menu bar via System Settings Control Center.
4. Install on Windows
-
Download and install: download the
.zipfile from the bottom of this page, extract it, and run the installer. If "Windows Protected your PC" appears, click "More Info" "Run anyway". - Sign in: the app opens automatically after install. Sign in using Google or Microsoft SSO via your browser.
- Access the dashboard: find the deskbird Dock icon in the bottom-right system tray (click the ^ arrow if hidden). Click it and select "Open Dashboard".
5. How it works
Once installed and signed in, deskbird Dock runs silently in the background. As soon as your device connects to a recognized office network, the app:
- Detects the office automatically based on the network
- Checks you into any existing desk and parking bookings for that day
- Updates your status to "In Office" in the Schedule tab
The Dock dashboard displays your current network status and connected monitors.
💡 Tip:
- For existing bookings: refresh your browser to sync the updated status in the deskbird web app.
- For new bookings: if the Dock is already running, sign out and back in, then refresh the web app to sync your latest changes.
6. Setting up office detection (Admins)
Office detection is typically configured by the IT team. To link a network to an office:
- Navigate to Admin Presence detection
- Select the desired office
- Click "Add network"
- Enter the network details (Wi-Fi SSID/BSSID, Default Gateway, or Public IP) to link them to the office
Once a network is added, any user connecting from that network will be automatically detected and checked in.
7. Troubleshooting
If something isn't working as expected, check the table below for common issues and quick fixes:
| Issue | What to do |
|---|---|
| Not being checked in automatically | Confirm you are on the office network. Ask your Admin to verify that Presence detection is configured for your office. |
| Tray bar icon is missing (macOS) | Free up space in your menu bar via System Settings > Control Center. |
| Tray bar icon is missing (Windows) | Click the ^ icon in the taskbar to reveal hidden icons. |
| Login error | Make sure you are using the exact email registered with deskbird. |
| Browser tab stuck on "loading" | The login tab may stay on "loading" after a successful sign-in. You can safely close it. |
8. Feedback & support
As an early beta tester, your feedback is essential to shaping the final product. To report bugs or request support, reach out to the deskbird team at dock@deskbird.com.
⚠️ Note: this version is for early-stage testing and may contain rough edges. It does not necessarily reflect the final product. Thank you for helping us build a better workspace experience!