Show More (or Fewer) Recent Apps in Your Mac's Dock

[MacRumors]

In macOS, a handy option called "Show suggested and recent applications in Dock" (found in System Settings ➝ Desktop & Dock) adds a divider to the right-hand side of your Mac's Dock, and after it displays any apps you recently used – or any that macOS thinks may be useful to your workflow – that aren't permanently docked.

Assuming that you have no undocked apps that are currently open, the right side of the divider shows three of the most recently used apps that have since been closed. However, there is a way to make it show more, which can be useful if your workflow involves using a lot of undocked apps consecutively.

If you're comfortable pasting commands into Terminal, it's perfectly possible to increase or decrease the number of recently opened apps that show in your Dock.

Open a Terminal window (the app can be found in /Applications/Utilities/) and paste the following at the command prompt, then press Enter:

defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool true;
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recent-count -int 10;
killall Dock

Note that the -int argument defines the number of recently opened apps that you want to display in the Dock after the divider (10 in this example). You can change the number to suit, and you can revert back to showing three apps anytime by using -int 3 in the second command.

Article Link: Show More (or Fewer) Recent Apps in Your Mac's Dock

 

[ignatius345]

If you're comfortable pasting commands into Terminal, it's perfectly possible to increase or decrease the number of recently opened apps that show in your Dock.

Open a Terminal window (the app can be found in /Applications/Utilities/) and paste the following at the command prompt, then press Enter:​

defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool true;
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recent-count -int 10;
killall Dock

OnyX is also excellent for tweaking such things:

 

[DribbleCastle]

Ha, this is one of the first settings I suggest to any new Mac user. Never loved the recently used apps. I like to keep things classy.

 

[winxmac]

macOS: Suggested
Windows 10/11: Recommended

I always make sure to disable it on both systems.

 

[idahoidahoidaho]

I immediately turn off “recently used” for the dock. Then I make the dock and top bar only appear when I go to them. It’s the cleanest experience possible for a Mac.

 

[ss2cire]

Nifty, I wonder if this could be integrated into Tinker Tool

 

[JosephAW]

Useful tip, I didn’t know there was a quantity setting.

 

[pacmania1982]

As someone who has a massive dock showing the apps I use, I’ve always hated this feature. Also the click to view the desktop.

 

[chelsel]

Thanks. Looked at Onyx but just went with defaults write option

 

[Le0M]

thanks for sharing!!
I find terminal tidbits always very interesting and useful!
keep ‘em coming!

 

[Sirious]

I used to switch off the recent apps feature but have kept it on for the last couple of years. Its actually handy!

 

[svish]

Very good tip. However I prefer to turn off recently used apps. If ever I do turn it, will surely check this out.

 

[Reason077]

I wish there was a way to stop the task-switcher (cmd-tab) appearing on the wrong display in a multi-monitor setup, when you have the dock orientation set to left or right (instead of bottom).

Currently, the task-switcher always follows the dock, instead of appearing on the current display (ie: the display with currently focused app and active menu bar)

This behaviour is so weird and infuriating!

I guess it’s relatively rare for people to prefer their dock on the side so maybe not a lot of people see this bug. I don’t suppose anyone knows of a way to fix it?

 

[ignatius345]

I wish there was a way to stop the task-switcher (cmd-tab) appearing on the wrong display in a multi-monitor setup, when you have the dock orientation set to left or right (instead of bottom).

I feel like I saw a utility recently that fixes this and lets you pin your task switcher to a specific display. Unfortunately can't recall the name of it but maybe someone else can...

 

[jonnysods]

One of the first things I shut off when I wipe and relaod my mac.

 

[BradMacPro]

OnyX is also excellent for tweaking such things:
View attachment 2514963

Do we figure that 10 is in fact a maximum? I'm sure the range is in fact adequate, just curious. I got 6 in there.