diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts b/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
index 0441ffc..b00a667 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettingsData = {
   ui: {
     theme: "system",
   },
+  preferences: {
+    launchAtLogin: true,
+    showWidgetWhileInactive: true,
+    showInDock: true,
+  },
   transcription: {
     language: "en",
     autoTranscribe: true,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts b/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
index a1a3b21..f1664d6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ export interface AppSettingsData {
     launchAtLogin?: boolean;
     minimizeToTray?: boolean;
     showWidgetWhileInactive?: boolean;
+    showInDock?: boolean;
   };
   telemetry?: {
     enabled?: boolean;
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts b/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
index cc456d3..c9e179a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
@@ -183,13 +183,15 @@ export class AppManager {
   }
 
   private setupSettingsEventListeners(settingsService: SettingsService): void {
-    // Handle preference changes (widget visibility)
+    // Handle preference changes (widget visibility, dock visibility)
     settingsService.on(
       "preferences-changed",
       async ({
         showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged,
+        showInDockChanged,
       }: {
         showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged: boolean;
+        showInDockChanged: boolean;
       }) => {
         if (showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged) {
           const recordingManager =
@@ -197,6 +199,9 @@ export class AppManager {
           const isIdle = recordingManager.getState() === "idle";
           await this.updateWidgetVisibility(isIdle);
         }
+        if (showInDockChanged) {
+          settingsService.syncDockVisibility();
+        }
       },
     );
 
@@ -231,17 +236,21 @@ export class AppManager {
 
     this.windowManager.createOrShowMainWindow();
 
+    // Apply dock visibility based on user preference (macOS only)
     if (app.dock) {
-      app.dock
-        .show()
-        .then(() => {
-          logger.main.info("Explicitly showing app in dock");
-        })
-        .catch((error) => {
-          logger.main.error("Error showing app in dock", error);
-        });
-    } else {
-      logger.main.warn("app.dock is not available");
+      if (preferences.showInDock) {
+        app.dock
+          .show()
+          .then(() => {
+            logger.main.info("Showing app in dock based on preference");
+          })
+          .catch((error) => {
+            logger.main.error("Error showing app in dock", error);
+          });
+      } else {
+        app.dock.hide();
+        logger.main.info("Hiding app from dock based on preference");
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
index cd9d9c3..2d0dc38 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
@@ -40,10 +40,18 @@ export default function PreferencesSettingsPage() {
     });
   };
 
+  const handleShowInDockChange = (checked: boolean) => {
+    updatePreferencesMutation.mutate({
+      showInDock: checked,
+    });
+  };
+
   const showWidgetWhileInactive =
     preferencesQuery.data?.showWidgetWhileInactive ?? true;
   const minimizeToTray = preferencesQuery.data?.minimizeToTray ?? false;
   const launchAtLogin = preferencesQuery.data?.launchAtLogin ?? true;
+  const showInDock = preferencesQuery.data?.showInDock ?? true;
+  const isMac = window.electronAPI.platform === "darwin";
 
   return (
     <div className="container mx-auto p-6 max-w-5xl">
@@ -115,6 +123,29 @@ export default function PreferencesSettingsPage() {
 
             <Separator />
 
+            {/* Show in Dock Section (macOS only) */}
+            {isMac && (
+              <>
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+                  <div className="space-y-1">
+                    <Label className="text-base font-medium text-foreground">
+                      Show app in dock
+                    </Label>
+                    <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      Display the application icon in the macOS dock
+                    </p>
+                  </div>
+                  <Switch
+                    checked={showInDock}
+                    onCheckedChange={handleShowInDockChange}
+                    disabled={updatePreferencesMutation.isPending}
+                  />
+                </div>
+
+                <Separator />
+              </>
+            )}
+
             {/* Theme Section */}
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
               <div className="space-y-1">
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts b/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
index 4368eb2..48da0b1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export interface AppPreferences {
   launchAtLogin: boolean;
   minimizeToTray: boolean;
   showWidgetWhileInactive: boolean;
+  showInDock: boolean;
 }
 
 export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
       launchAtLogin: preferences?.launchAtLogin ?? true,
       minimizeToTray: preferences?.minimizeToTray ?? true,
       showWidgetWhileInactive: preferences?.showWidgetWhileInactive ?? true,
+      showInDock: preferences?.showInDock ?? true,
     };
   }
 
@@ -315,6 +317,7 @@ export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
       changes: preferences,
       showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged:
         preferences.showWidgetWhileInactive !== undefined,
+      showInDockChanged: preferences.showInDock !== undefined,
     });
   }
 
@@ -332,6 +335,26 @@ export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Sync the dock visibility setting with macOS
+   * This ensures the dock visibility matches our stored preference
+   */
+  syncDockVisibility(): void {
+    // Only applicable on macOS where app.dock exists
+    if (!app.dock) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Get the current preference asynchronously and apply it
+    this.getPreferences().then((preferences) => {
+      if (preferences.showInDock) {
+        app.dock?.show();
+      } else {
+        app.dock?.hide();
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get telemetry settings
    */
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts b/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
index 20b70f0..21b3252 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ const AppPreferencesSchema = z.object({
   launchAtLogin: z.boolean().optional(),
   minimizeToTray: z.boolean().optional(),
   showWidgetWhileInactive: z.boolean().optional(),
+  showInDock: z.boolean().optional(),
 });
 
 const UIThemeSchema = z.object({