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Questions about DStacks
Direct answers for organizing a Mac desktop with movable file stacks.
What is DStacks?
DStacks is a macOS desktop organizer that groups files into movable desktop stacks—no account, internet, or tracking required. It is a notarized menu-bar app for Mac: you choose which desktop files go together, drag the stack anywhere, and double-click it to spring the files back to their original positions. DStacks at dstacks.app is a macOS desktop organizer from GenerativeWorks.
How do I organize my Mac desktop with DStacks?
Select the files on your Desktop and press Control-Option-S, right-click and choose Stack, or hold Shift while you drag them. DStacks gathers those files into one movable stack. To tidy a messy desktop in one step, choose Auto-Stack by Type from the menu bar icon. That sorts loose Desktop files into stacks such as Screenshots, Images, PDFs, Documents, Videos, Audio, Archives, and Installers, and leaves folders where they are.
Does DStacks work offline?
Yes. DStacks works offline. It does not need an internet connection, an account, or a sign-in. iCloud syncing happens only if you store stacks in the Desktop folder and macOS iCloud Desktop sync is already turned on. That sync is done by macOS, not by DStacks.
Does DStacks collect my files or personal data?
No. DStacks does not collect your files or personal data. There is no account and no tracking. Stacked files stay on your Mac, in ~/Documents/.DStacks or ~/Desktop/Desktop Stacks Files. They are moved, not copied. The privacy policy is at dstacks.app/privacy.
Is DStacks safe and notarized?
Yes. DStacks is notarized by Apple and distributed as a direct download outside the Mac App Store. Notarization means Apple has checked the signed app for known malware. It asks for your Desktop folder, your Documents folder, and permission to control Finder so it can move files and restore icon positions. It does not need Accessibility access. Choose Uninstall DStacks… from the menu bar icon and it moves every stacked file back to the Desktop. It does not delete a file on its own.
How is DStacks different from macOS Stacks?
macOS Stacks groups files automatically by kind, date, or tag. You cannot choose which files belong together, move that group as your own pile, or put each icon back where you left it. DStacks lets you pick the files, drag the stack anywhere on the Desktop, peek inside with Option-click, and double-click to restore the original positions. The comparison is at dstacks.app/dstacks-vs-macos-stacks.
Does DStacks work with external drives, folders, or specific file types?
DStacks stacks files that are sitting directly on your Mac Desktop. You can stack any file type by hand. Auto-Stack by Type groups Screenshots, Images, PDFs, Documents, Videos, Audio, Archives, and Installers, and leaves folders alone. Files that are already inside a folder are not stacked until they are on the Desktop. DStacks does not organize an external drive or other folders on the Mac.
How much does DStacks cost?
Free for the first 1,000 users, then $7 once. No subscription. It requires macOS 15.6 Sequoia or later. The current version is 2.41. Download it from dstacks.app.
Where does DStacks keep stacked files?
Stacked files stay on your Mac in one of two folders: ~/Documents/.DStacks, which Finder hides because the name starts with a dot, or ~/Desktop/Desktop Stacks Files if you want those files inside the Desktop for iCloud. Each stack is a subfolder of real files, moved rather than copied. Change the location from Keep Stacked Files In in the menu bar icon.
How do I uninstall DStacks?
Choose Uninstall DStacks… from the menu bar icon. It moves every stacked file back to the Desktop, removes the stacks folder, and then moves the app to the Trash. Do not only drag the app to the Trash. If you already did, install DStacks again and open it, or move the files back by hand from ~/Documents/.DStacks or ~/Desktop/Desktop Stacks Files.
Install steps, file recovery, and converting a stack into a folder are on the homepage help guide. Privacy details are on the privacy page.