diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0cf3ddf..3d67b71 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # ClipBored
 
-ClipBored is a small native macOS clipboard manager. It runs without a Dock icon, captures local clipboard history, and opens a keyboard-first bottom panel for search, sorting, copy, paste, pinning, and deletion.
+ClipBored is a small native macOS clipboard manager. It captures local clipboard history and opens a keyboard-first bottom panel for search, sorting, copy, paste, pinning, and deletion. It runs as a dockless menu-bar utility by default, with an optional Dock icon mode.
 
 The project is intentionally dependency-light: Swift Package Manager, AppKit, Carbon hotkeys, SQLite, and system frameworks only.
 
 ## Features
 
-- Dockless menu-bar utility (`LSUIElement=true`)
+- Dockless menu-bar utility by default (`LSUIElement=true`), with a Settings toggle for normal Dock presence
 - Right-click menu-bar status menu with capture state, history count, settings, pause/resume, and quit
 - Global shortcuts:
   - `Command + Option + V` toggles the clipboard panel
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ The project is intentionally dependency-light: Swift Package Manager, AppKit, Ca
 - Custom named collections for organizing clips from the card context menu
 - Copy and paste actions with Accessibility permission fallback
 - Image thumbnail cache with byte and file-count pruning
-- Configurable history length, cache limit, polling profile, ignored apps, content kinds, launch-at-login, and clear-on-quit behavior
+- Configurable history length, cache limit, polling profile, ignored apps, content kinds, launch-at-login, Dock/menu-bar presence, and clear-on-quit behavior
 - Local-only storage, with optional sensitive-content exclusion for common secrets
 
 ## Requirements
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/app/AppDelegate.swift b/sources/clipbored/app/AppDelegate.swift
index 1c491f1..ffc09a3 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/app/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/app/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 import AppKit
 
 final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
+  enum PresentationSurface: Equatable {
+    case menuBar
+    case dock
+  }
+
+  struct PresentationPlan: Equatable {
+    let showMenuBarIcon: Bool
+    let showDockIcon: Bool
+    let activationPolicy: NSApplication.ActivationPolicy
+  }
+
   struct StatusMenuPresentation: Equatable {
     let summary: String
     let detail: String?
@@ -61,6 +72,7 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
       settingsShortcut: settings.settingsShortcut
     )
     bindSettings()
+    applyPresentation(changedSurface: nil)
     monitor.setPaused(settings.pauseCapture)
     monitor.start()
     shortcutManager.start()
@@ -415,7 +427,9 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
     case .launchAtLogin:
       applyLaunchAtLoginSetting(settings.launchAtLogin)
     case .showMenuBarIcon:
-      refreshStatusItem()
+      applyPresentation(changedSurface: .menuBar)
+    case .showDockIcon:
+      applyPresentation(changedSurface: .dock)
     case .pauseCapture:
       monitor.setPaused(settings.pauseCapture)
       if settings.showMenuBarIcon {
@@ -430,6 +444,48 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
     }
   }
 
+  static func presentationPlan(
+    showMenuBarIcon: Bool,
+    showDockIcon: Bool,
+    changedSurface: PresentationSurface?
+  ) -> PresentationPlan {
+    var plannedMenuBarIcon = showMenuBarIcon
+    var plannedDockIcon = showDockIcon
+
+    if !plannedMenuBarIcon && !plannedDockIcon {
+      if changedSurface == .menuBar {
+        plannedDockIcon = true
+      } else {
+        plannedMenuBarIcon = true
+      }
+    }
+
+    return PresentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: plannedMenuBarIcon,
+      showDockIcon: plannedDockIcon,
+      activationPolicy: plannedDockIcon ? .regular : .accessory
+    )
+  }
+
+  private func applyPresentation(changedSurface: PresentationSurface?) {
+    let plan = Self.presentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: settings.showMenuBarIcon,
+      showDockIcon: settings.showDockIcon,
+      changedSurface: changedSurface
+    )
+
+    if settings.showMenuBarIcon != plan.showMenuBarIcon {
+      settings.showMenuBarIcon = plan.showMenuBarIcon
+    }
+    if settings.showDockIcon != plan.showDockIcon {
+      settings.showDockIcon = plan.showDockIcon
+    }
+
+    NSApp.setActivationPolicy(plan.activationPolicy)
+    configureMainMenu()
+    refreshStatusItem()
+  }
+
   private func applyLaunchAtLoginSetting(_ shouldLaunch: Bool) {
     let result = lifecycleService.applyLaunchAtLogin(shouldLaunch)
     switch result {
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/models/SettingsModel.swift b/sources/clipbored/models/SettingsModel.swift
index 042f018..fadb4b8 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/models/SettingsModel.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/models/SettingsModel.swift
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ final class SettingsModel {
     case settingsShortcut
     case launchAtLogin
     case showMenuBarIcon
+    case showDockIcon
     case pauseCapture
     case pollProfile
     case captureStatus
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ final class SettingsModel {
     static let pruneDuplicates = "pruneDuplicates"
     static let launchAtLogin = "launchAtLogin"
     static let showMenuBarIcon = "showMenuBarIcon"
+    static let showDockIcon = "showDockIcon"
     static let openShortcut = "openShortcut"
     static let settingsShortcut = "settingsShortcut"
     static let ignoredApps = "ignoredApps"
@@ -56,6 +58,9 @@ final class SettingsModel {
   var showMenuBarIcon: Bool {
     didSet { if oldValue != showMenuBarIcon { storeAndNotify(.showMenuBarIcon) } }
   }
+  var showDockIcon: Bool {
+    didSet { if oldValue != showDockIcon { storeAndNotify(.showDockIcon) } }
+  }
   var openShortcut: ShortcutBinding {
     didSet { if oldValue != openShortcut { storeAndNotify(.openShortcut) } }
   }
@@ -107,6 +112,7 @@ final class SettingsModel {
     pruneDuplicates = defaults.object(forKey: Keys.pruneDuplicates) as? Bool ?? true
     launchAtLogin = defaults.object(forKey: Keys.launchAtLogin) as? Bool ?? false
     showMenuBarIcon = defaults.object(forKey: Keys.showMenuBarIcon) as? Bool ?? true
+    showDockIcon = defaults.object(forKey: Keys.showDockIcon) as? Bool ?? false
     openShortcut = Self.readShortcut(from: defaults.string(forKey: Keys.openShortcut)) ?? AppConfiguration.defaultOpenShortcut
     settingsShortcut = Self.readShortcut(from: defaults.string(forKey: Keys.settingsShortcut)) ?? AppConfiguration.defaultSettingsShortcut
     ignoredApps = defaults.stringArray(forKey: Keys.ignoredApps) ?? AppConfiguration.defaultIgnoredApps
@@ -135,6 +141,7 @@ final class SettingsModel {
     defaults.set(pruneDuplicates, forKey: Keys.pruneDuplicates)
     defaults.set(launchAtLogin, forKey: Keys.launchAtLogin)
     defaults.set(showMenuBarIcon, forKey: Keys.showMenuBarIcon)
+    defaults.set(showDockIcon, forKey: Keys.showDockIcon)
     defaults.set(openShortcut.encoded(), forKey: Keys.openShortcut)
     defaults.set(settingsShortcut.encoded(), forKey: Keys.settingsShortcut)
     defaults.set(ignoredApps, forKey: Keys.ignoredApps)
diff --git a/sources/clipbored/views/SettingsWindowController.swift b/sources/clipbored/views/SettingsWindowController.swift
index 0c216be..48fa710 100644
--- a/sources/clipbored/views/SettingsWindowController.swift
+++ b/sources/clipbored/views/SettingsWindowController.swift
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSObject, NSTextFieldDelegate, NSTextViewD
   private let defaultSortPopup = NSPopUpButton()
   private let launchAtLoginButton = NSButton()
   private let showMenuBarIconButton = NSButton()
+  private let showDockIconButton = NSButton()
   private let launchStatusLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "")
 
   private var openShortcutControls: ShortcutControlSet?
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSObject, NSTextFieldDelegate, NSTextViewD
     }
     configureCheckbox(launchAtLoginButton, title: "Launch at login", action: #selector(launchAtLoginChanged))
     configureCheckbox(showMenuBarIconButton, title: "Show ClipBored in the menu bar", action: #selector(showMenuBarIconChanged))
+    configureCheckbox(showDockIconButton, title: "Show ClipBored in the Dock", action: #selector(showDockIconChanged))
     configureStatusLabel(launchStatusLabel)
 
     return page([
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSObject, NSTextFieldDelegate, NSTextViewD
       section("Lifecycle", [
         launchAtLoginButton,
         showMenuBarIconButton,
+        showDockIconButton,
         launchStatusLabel
       ])
     ])
@@ -392,6 +395,7 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSObject, NSTextFieldDelegate, NSTextViewD
     select(defaultSortPopup, rawValue: settings.defaultSortMode.rawValue)
     launchAtLoginButton.state = settings.launchAtLogin ? .on : .off
     showMenuBarIconButton.state = settings.showMenuBarIcon ? .on : .off
+    showDockIconButton.state = settings.showDockIcon ? .on : .off
     launchStatusLabel.stringValue = settings.launchAtLoginErrorMessage
 
     refreshShortcutControls(openShortcutControls, binding: settings.openShortcut)
@@ -468,7 +472,19 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSObject, NSTextFieldDelegate, NSTextViewD
   }
 
   @objc private func showMenuBarIconChanged() {
-    settings.showMenuBarIcon = showMenuBarIconButton.state == .on
+    let shouldShowMenuBarIcon = showMenuBarIconButton.state == .on
+    settings.showMenuBarIcon = shouldShowMenuBarIcon
+    if !shouldShowMenuBarIcon && !settings.showDockIcon {
+      settings.showDockIcon = true
+    }
+  }
+
+  @objc private func showDockIconChanged() {
+    let shouldShowDockIcon = showDockIconButton.state == .on
+    settings.showDockIcon = shouldShowDockIcon
+    if !shouldShowDockIcon && !settings.showMenuBarIcon {
+      settings.showMenuBarIcon = true
+    }
   }
 
   @objc private func shortcutChanged(_ sender: NSControl) {
diff --git a/tests/clipboredtests/AppDelegateTests.swift b/tests/clipboredtests/AppDelegateTests.swift
index 92b6495..882e1db 100644
--- a/tests/clipboredtests/AppDelegateTests.swift
+++ b/tests/clipboredtests/AppDelegateTests.swift
@@ -3,6 +3,46 @@ import XCTest
 @testable import ClipBored
 
 final class AppDelegateTests: XCTestCase {
+  func testPresentationPlanMapsDockPreferenceToActivationPolicy() {
+    let dockless = AppDelegate.presentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: true,
+      showDockIcon: false,
+      changedSurface: nil
+    )
+    XCTAssertTrue(dockless.showMenuBarIcon)
+    XCTAssertFalse(dockless.showDockIcon)
+    XCTAssertEqual(dockless.activationPolicy, .accessory)
+
+    let dockVisible = AppDelegate.presentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: true,
+      showDockIcon: true,
+      changedSurface: nil
+    )
+    XCTAssertTrue(dockVisible.showMenuBarIcon)
+    XCTAssertTrue(dockVisible.showDockIcon)
+    XCTAssertEqual(dockVisible.activationPolicy, .regular)
+  }
+
+  func testPresentationPlanKeepsOneVisibleEntryPoint() {
+    let hidingMenuBar = AppDelegate.presentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: false,
+      showDockIcon: false,
+      changedSurface: .menuBar
+    )
+    XCTAssertFalse(hidingMenuBar.showMenuBarIcon)
+    XCTAssertTrue(hidingMenuBar.showDockIcon)
+    XCTAssertEqual(hidingMenuBar.activationPolicy, .regular)
+
+    let hidingDock = AppDelegate.presentationPlan(
+      showMenuBarIcon: false,
+      showDockIcon: false,
+      changedSurface: .dock
+    )
+    XCTAssertTrue(hidingDock.showMenuBarIcon)
+    XCTAssertFalse(hidingDock.showDockIcon)
+    XCTAssertEqual(hidingDock.activationPolicy, .accessory)
+  }
+
   func testStatusItemMenuRoutingSeparatesLeftAndRightClick() {
     XCTAssertFalse(AppDelegate.shouldOpenStatusMenu(eventType: .leftMouseUp, modifierFlags: []))
     XCTAssertTrue(AppDelegate.shouldOpenStatusMenu(eventType: .rightMouseUp, modifierFlags: []))
diff --git a/tests/clipboredtests/SettingsModelTests.swift b/tests/clipboredtests/SettingsModelTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d050f7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/clipboredtests/SettingsModelTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import XCTest
+@testable import ClipBored
+
+final class SettingsModelTests: XCTestCase {
+  func testShowDockIconPersistsAndNotifies() {
+    let suiteName = "com.clipbored.settingsmodel.\(UUID().uuidString)"
+    let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: suiteName)!
+    defer {
+      defaults.removePersistentDomain(forName: suiteName)
+    }
+    let settings = SettingsModel(defaults: defaults)
+    var changes: [SettingsModel.Change] = []
+    settings.observe { changes.append($0) }
+
+    XCTAssertFalse(settings.showDockIcon)
+
+    settings.showDockIcon = true
+
+    XCTAssertTrue(defaults.bool(forKey: SettingsModel.Keys.showDockIcon))
+    XCTAssertEqual(changes.count, 1)
+    guard case .showDockIcon = changes.first else {
+      return XCTFail("Expected showDockIcon change notification")
+    }
+
+    let restored = SettingsModel(defaults: defaults)
+    XCTAssertTrue(restored.showDockIcon)
+  }
+}