The Dock in macOS is more than just a static app launcher—it’s also a dynamic workspace helper. One powerful feature is the ability to show recent apps in Mac Dock, helping you quickly reopen tools you’ve recently closed. But did you know you can control how many of those recent apps appear?
With a quick tweak in System Settings or a single command in Terminal, you can choose to show more or fewer recently used apps right in your Dock. Here’s how.
What Is the “Recent Apps” Feature in macOS Dock?
Apple’s macOS includes an option called “Show suggested and recent applications in Dock.” You’ll find it under:
System Settings → Desktop & Dock
When enabled, it adds a divider on the right side of your Dock. To the right of this divider, macOS displays up to three recently used apps that are not permanently docked—helpful if you rotate through a wide set of apps for different tasks.
How to Adjust the Number of Recent Apps in the Dock
Want more than three? You can change that number using Terminal, a powerful macOS utility.
Steps to Show More Recent Apps in the Dock:
- Open Terminal (find it in
/Applications/Utilities/). - Paste the following command:
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool true;
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recent-count -int 10;
killall Dock
- Press Enter.
The Dock will momentarily disappear and restart—now showing 10 recent apps to the right of the divider.
Customizing the App Count
- Change
-int 10to any number that suits your workflow. - To revert to default (3 apps), use:
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recent-count -int 3;
killall Dock
This flexibility is ideal for power users, developers, designers, and anyone who regularly uses multiple undocked apps.
Turn Off Recent Apps in Dock (Optional)
If you’d rather not see any recent apps:
- Open System Settings.
- Navigate to Desktop & Dock.
- Scroll to Dock section.
- Toggle off “Show suggested and recent applications in Dock.”
This will remove the divider and extra app icons entirely.
Why Adjusting Recent Apps Improves Workflow
- Quick access to frequently used but undocked apps
- Reduces clicks and time spent searching
- Keeps Dock uncluttered with temporary apps
- Makes your Dock dynamic and responsive to tasks
Conclusion
With just a Terminal command or a quick trip to your settings, you can show more recent apps in Mac Dock—or none at all. It’s a small change with big productivity gains, giving you quicker access to the tools you use most while keeping your workspace tidy.
