How to remove recent apps from the Dock on a Mac

One setting adds apps you never chose to your Dock. Its name on current macOS, where to find it, and what to do when one recent app stays.

Guide · Updated 16 October 2026

How do I disable recent apps in the Dock?

Open System Settings, Desktop & Dock, and turn off Show suggested and recent apps in Dock. The extra section and its divider disappear at once. On current macOS the setting has this longer name; older guides call it Show recent applications in Dock.

What are the apps between the two lines in my Dock?

Recent apps you have closed, and apps macOS suggests, such as the app open on your iPhone through Handoff. They are not kept; they rotate. Apps you kept in the Dock sit to the left of them.

Why does one app keep appearing after I turned it off?

It is open. Every running app shows in the Dock while it runs, whatever this setting says, and leaves when you quit it. To keep one there permanently, right click it and choose Options, Keep in Dock.

How do I remove a single app from the Dock?

Drag it up out of the Dock until Remove appears, then let go. The app stays installed.

More Dock settings worth changing: customising the Dock. Adding the apps you do want: add apps to the Dock.

Checked on 16 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1, by reading the Dock's settings, the labels in System Settings and the keyboard shortcut list. Nothing was changed. show-recents was 0 (off) on this Mac.

Questions

How do I stop recent apps showing in my Mac Dock?

System Settings, Desktop & Dock, turn off Show suggested and recent apps in Dock.

Why does my Mac Dock show apps I did not add?

Suggested and recent apps are on, or the app is open. Running apps always appear while they run.

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