Show More Recent Apps in Your Mac's Dock: A Simple macOS Customization
Wondering how to show more recent apps in your Mac Dock? Many Mac users look for an efficient way to access their recently used applications quickly, improving productivity without cluttering the Dock permanently. By default, macOS displays up to three recent apps on the right side of the Dock divider, but did you know you can customize this number to suit your workflow? Whether you want to see five, ten, or more recent apps, adjusting this setting can help streamline your app switching and boost your efficiency.
macOS includes a convenient feature called “Show suggested and recent applications in Dock,” found in System Settings under Desktop & Dock. When enabled, it adds a divider in your Dock and lists recently used apps that aren’t permanently pinned. This feature is handy, but its default limit of three apps might feel restrictive if you regularly juggle multiple undocked programs. Luckily, you can easily expand this limit to show more recent apps using Terminal commands, giving you more immediate access without opening the full Applications folder.
If you’re comfortable with a little command-line magic, here’s how to increase the number of recent apps shown in your Mac Dock. Open the Terminal app, located in /Applications/Utilities/, and enter these commands:
This command tells macOS to display 10 recent applications after the Dock divider. You can replace the number 10 with any number you prefer, tailoring it to your specific needs. Want to revert back to the default of three recent apps? Simply change the second command to -int 3 and run the commands again. This flexibility ensures your Dock matches how you work best.
Optimizing your Mac Dock with this tip not only enhances your workflow but also leverages macOS’s built-in capabilities without installing third-party apps. This tweak is ideal for users who frequently open and close numerous apps and want fast access to recently used ones, improving navigation and productivity. Customize your Mac Dock today to keep your most-used apps at your fingertips, reducing time wasted searching or reopening apps.
If you want to get the most out of your Mac's Dock and keep your workspace clean yet accessible, adjusting how many recent apps show is a powerful, underutilized feature. Try it now and see how your Mac experience improves instantly!
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