Winstep Nexus Dock for Windows

Used Winstep Nexus Dock for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Key Details of Winstep Nexus Dock

Access your most frequently used applications from a customizable dock on your desktop.
Last updated on February 25, 2025
There have been 5 updates
Virus scan status:
Clean (it’s extremely likely that this software program is clean)

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 25, 2025

The Winstep Nexus Dock is a free alternative to the standard Windows desktop, and it can add character to your user experience.

Pros

Tons of customization: Winstep Nexus Dock give you a lot of options and a fine degree of control over how the dock looks, moves, and sounds. You could have the dock running on a hundred different PCs, with no two docks feeling exactly alike.

It can completely replace the taskbar: If you're transitioning from Mac OS X or another dock-oriented OS, or if you just want to try something different, the Nexus Dock can be configured to accommodate all the actions of the Windows taskbar, including access to the Start menu and the system tray.

Helpful fallback options: If you end up not liking your customized dock and you don't know how to get back, you can reset the whole thing or individual sections. You can also back up your settings and move them to another device that has the dock installed.

Cons

Not clear what user problem it's solving: The Windows taskbar may not be exciting, but it doesn't get many complaints, either. The Nexus Dock is an interesting alternative that can help you personalize your desktop, but it doesn't feel like an essential piece of the user experience.

System tray icons get stretched: System tray icons don't look very good when they are stretched out to Nexus Dock size. Also, it would be nice to be able to set your own icons.

Minimal options for the screenshot tool: The screenshot tool is featured as a default item on the taskbar, but you can't set a quality level or file type, and we'd prefer PNG to JPG. You can only tell the tool which folder to save the image in. For screenshots, we'd recommend Lightshot or Greenshot instead.

Bottom Line

If you think that the Windows user interface is dull and you want to try something different, the Nexus Dock is worth a look. It may also be useful for Mac users who are transitioning to Windows or who must use Windows at work.

What’s new in version 25.2

19.2 fixes an issue with the weather module returning N/A for certain locations, adds support for HTTPS weather connections, allows setting fixed width and/or height for Grid Stacks, adds a new Light Mode to the User Interface to match the upcoming April update Windows 10 light mode, further improves handling of UWP apps (Sticky Notes), and offers many other stability improvements!

Winstep Nexus Dock for Windows

Used Winstep Nexus Dock for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: March 11, 2019

Latest update: February 25, 2025

Version: 25.2

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 11
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 7
Windows 10
Windows Vista

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 2,744,062

Downloads Last Week: 26

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.1/5

155 User Votes

Amazing software and Developer
jmoehringJune 7, 2016
Pros
Software is highly customizable to suit any menu layouts you need. The Developer is quick to respond, communicates and understands issues well and resolves them in a very timely manner.
Cons
None at this time!!
Summary
Absolutely love this app on my Windows 10 laptop. Highly recommend!!!
A necessity on my computer.
AmbrosiusGiancarloAugust 17, 2015
Pros
For me, it is very suitable
Cons
Nothing can make me picky.
Summary
I like it much better than Object Dock
craig.knapp1February 16, 2015
Pros
18FEB2015. I like WinStep Nexus Dock better than Stardock's Object Dock. First, Object Dock was conflicting with USB SAFELY REMOVE, which reported that Object Dock had USB drive's "locked down", even FORCED STOP could not "unlock" Object Dock from drives which I was attempt to eject (disconnect from the computer, safely parking the drive heads.). Secondly, on my Win7 32Bit, 4GB RAM, 2x 2TB HD, 1GB Video RAM system, WinStep Nexus Dock seems to use less resources than Object Dock.
Cons
None. None. (sorry for the repetition, was forced to enter 10 characters in this block).
Summary
Nexus is a great replacement for the Windoze Taskbar, enhances the look considerably, and seems to go easy on system resources.
nice launcher
freetechnoJanuary 12, 2015
Pros
it made my desktop much more beautiful
Cons
no cons at all
Summary
Very nice launcher - Free version
Arafurian01December 28, 2014
Pros
Many different attractive graphical designs; many options for customising; some useful widgits included. Runs without the slightest sign of instability.
Cons
Figuring out all the customisable choices is a bit of a nightmare; there are just so many options, and some of them are a bit obscure. So it took me quite a while - an hour or more - of trial and error before I could get it to work the way I wanted. (Still, I shouldn't complain too much; at least it finally gave me what I wanted!)
Summary
I have Win8.1, with a very large number of apps (many hundreds) installed. About 50 of these apps, I use often, but the remainder only infrequently. My major challenges are, firstly, remembering which app is best for which job; and, secondly, finding ways of conveniently accessing them. For this reason, I use a variety of launchers, including Windows's built-in Taskbar's Toolbars, MadAppLauncher and a couple of home-brewed launchers (based on CherryTree hierarchical database) for the more obscure apps. The Nexus dock will fit nicely into this mix.
Winstep's Free Nexus Dock 12.2
mdw.woodyOctober 22, 2014
Pros
I Use 2 docks Nexus and Rocket. The Nexus is by far the best and easiest to use.
Cons
There is only one problem that I have ever had and even that has only cropped up recently. That is the weather module has quit working the last two months or more. It used to work flawlessly and very accurate. Now to get the weather I have to right click the icon and go to detailed which then opens a browser window to the Weather Channel Website. Something I could do myself with less mouse clicks.
Summary
If you don't need or want the weather module, then its one of the best out there.
Been waiting for 5 days after purcase, still nothing.
claesbrandtJanuary 26, 2014
Pros
Fantastic piece of software. Really gives me a taskbar replacement I like.
Cons
Right click on icons doesnt give you jump-lists. Integration with start menu is not so elegant.
Summary
It's now 5 days ago I paid for the software and I haven't heard a single word from the developer. I don't even know if it will ever come. I'm giving them a couple of more days and then I will get a refund from the payment gateway, which already agreed to do so in case the developer doesn't answer soon. Until they have fixed the delivery issues, I cannot give them more than 3 stars.
48 hours in 2013. Sorry
ruggerdAugust 18, 2013
Pros
Don't know because I was never able to install
Cons
it's 2013. I'm not paying 40.00 to wait 2-3 days for my software. Not acceptable. No response from customer service.
Summary
I'm not sure how they justify making people wait days to acquire a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD. It doesn't matter how well the software is made when the developer is this ignorant to make people wait days to download the software. This is UNACCEPTABLE, UNACCEPTABLE, UNACCEPTABLE. PERIOD!
Program still needs some work.
zaabaawaaAugust 8, 2013
Pros
Idea - good. functions - good. lay-out - good.
Cons
Download in Spanish or Portuguese.Not changeable to English during operation. After installation I did find place to change language. Result: Change to English, presentation on screen in Swedish, English and Portuguese. No response from program support, so the next day I removed this program from my PC, since you can not work guessing what words means in some language you do not know.
Summary
Program still needs work - after that it might be a useful tool.
Good desktop software
haqyerJuly 24, 2013
Pros
Offers many options to select. A powerful tool to organize your desktop.
Cons
If you select "Prevent maximized windows from overlapping the dock" option, it appears on the internet browser and can be very annoying. If you don't select that option, then desktop items can place behind the dock and you can't click on them.
Summary
A good software but also need improvement.

Developer’s Description

By Winstep Software Technologies

Access your most frequently used applications from a customizable dock on your desktop.

The Winstep Nexus Dock is a free Windows dock application that provides fast access to your most frequently used applications, with flexible options allowing it to dock or float anywhere on the screen. Every feature you would expect from a dock and then more, including widgets, many different mouse-over effects, skins, drag-and-drop, ability to display running applications and the system tray, Windows 7 "superbar" ability with Aeropeek, live icon reflections and support for Windows Aero Glass effects.