Cannot add Applications to an Empty Dock on iPad.
The Dock turns small before I try add the App and when I do, the App merely returns to it’s previous position on the grid.
iPad, iPadOS 18
When adding Apps to the iPad dock, drag the each App to the left of the dock divider. You cannot add Apps to the right - as this area is used by the iPad to show the most recently used Apps and the App Library.