How to Remove Recent Apps from Mac Dock: Turn Off Suggested Apps

Why Does macOS Add Recent Apps to Your Dock? macOS automatically adds recently used applications to your dock as "suggested" or "recent" apps. This feature is designed to help you quickly access apps you've been using, but many users find it clutters their carefully organized dock setup. The recent apps appear in a separate section of your dock, usually after your regular applications, and they come and go based on your usage patterns. While some people find this helpful, others prefer a static, predictable dock layout. Method 1: Turn Off Recent Applications in Dock The most straightforward way to stop recent apps from appearing is to disable the feature entirely: Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions) Click on Dock & Menu Bar (or just "Dock" in older versions) Uncheck "Show recent applications in Dock" The recent apps section will immediately disappear This completely removes the recent applications area from your dock, giving you back a clean, static lay