Remove recent apps from the Mac Dock

Updated 2026 · 3 min read

macOS adds a "recent applications" section to the right side of the Dock — a separator line followed by up to three apps you've used lately. It was introduced with macOS Mojave and has been there ever since. If you didn't ask for it and find it clutters a carefully arranged Dock, here's how to remove it.

What the recent apps section looks like

The recent apps section sits between your pinned apps (on the left) and the persistent icons on the right (Downloads stack, Trash). It's separated by a thin divider and shows up to three app icons that you've launched recently but haven't pinned to the Dock. The selection changes automatically as you open different apps.

There's nothing wrong with it conceptually — it's handy if you use the Dock as your main app launcher. But if you use Spotlight, Raycast, or Alfred to open apps, the section adds noise without adding value.

Method 1: System Settings (macOS 13–15)

Unlike most Dock tweaks, this one actually has a GUI. Apple added it in macOS 13 Ventura:

Open System Settings (Apple menu → System Settings).
Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
Scroll down to the Dock section and find Show recent applications in Dock.
Toggle it off.

The recent apps section and its separator disappear immediately.

Method 2: Terminal command

The Terminal route is one command and is useful if you're scripting a Mac setup or prefer to stay in the keyboard:

# hide recent apps section from the Dock
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool false && killall Dock

The Dock restarts and the recent apps section is gone.

To restore it:

# bring back recent apps section
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool true && killall Dock

Both the Terminal command and the System Settings toggle write to the same preference key, so they stay in sync.

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What this doesn't affect

Hiding the Dock section has no effect on the Apple menu → Recent Items list (applications, documents, and servers there are controlled separately under System Settings → General → Recent items). Your app usage history and Spotlight suggestions are also unaffected.

Combine with other Dock tweaks

Most people who hide recent apps also find these useful:

Static-only mode: Show only running apps in the Dock. Combined with no recent-apps section, the Dock becomes purely a live task list.
Auto-hide: System Settings → Desktop & Dock → "Automatically hide and show the Dock." Reclaims screen space entirely when you're not using the Dock.
Remove bounce: While you're adjusting the Dock, it's worth silencing the attention-request bounce too.

Frequently asked questions

Does this affect the Dock on all desktops and Spaces?

Yes. The Dock is system-wide. Turning off the recent apps section removes it everywhere — all Spaces, all Mission Control desktops, and across displays if you have "Displays have separate Spaces" enabled.

macOS 12 Monterey and earlier

On macOS 12 and earlier the System Settings path is System Preferences → Dock & Menu Bar — look for the same "Show recent applications in Dock" checkbox. The Terminal command is identical.

The section came back after a macOS update

This occasionally happens with major macOS upgrades. If the setting reverts, just run the Terminal command again or toggle it off in System Settings — it takes seconds.