How to hide recently used apps on Mac

Hiding Recently Used Apps on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

If you are a Mac user, you may have noticed that the dock at the bottom of your screen displays icons of recently used apps. This feature can be helpful for quickly accessing apps that you have recently opened. However, there may be instances where you want to hide the recently used apps on your Mac for privacy or organizational purposes.

Understanding the Dock on Mac

The dock is a bar located at the bottom of your Mac's screen that houses app icons. It provides a quick and convenient way to access your frequently used apps. By default, the dock displays the icons of apps that you have opened recently.

Hiding Recently Used Apps on Mac

If you want to hide the recently used apps on your Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Apple logo located at the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
3. Click on "Dock & Menu Bar" from the System Preferences window.
4. Uncheck the box next to "Show recent applications in Dock"

<ol>
  <li>Click on the Apple logo located at the top left corner of your screen.</li>
  <li>Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.</li>
  <li>Click on "Dock & Menu Bar" from the System Preferences window.</li>
  <li>Uncheck the box next to "Show recent applications in Dock".</li>
</ol>

After unchecking the box, the dock will no longer display the icons of recently used apps. Instead, it will only show the app icons that you have pinned to the dock.

Why Hide Recently Used Apps on Mac?

There are a few reasons why you may want to hide the recently used apps on your Mac:

• Privacy: If you are sharing your Mac with someone else, you may not want them to see which apps you have recently opened.
• Organization: Hiding the recently used apps on your Mac can help you keep your dock clutter-free and organized.
• Focus: If you are trying to focus on a specific task, hiding the recently used apps can help you avoid distractions and stay on track.

Considerations When Hiding Recently Used Apps on Mac

While hiding the recently used apps on your Mac can be helpful in certain situations, it is important to consider the potential downsides. For instance:

• Ease of access: Hiding the recently used apps can make it more difficult to quickly access apps that you have recently opened.
• Memory: If you have a lot of apps installed on your Mac, hiding the recently used apps may not be practical since you will have to manually search for the app that you want to open.

In conclusion, hiding the recently used apps on your Mac can be a useful way to enhance your privacy, organization, and focus. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily hide the recently used apps on your Mac. However, it is important to consider the potential downsides before making this change.

References:

• Mac Basics: Customize the Dock on Mac. (n.d.). https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/customize-the-dock-on-mac-mchlp1034/mac
• How to Hide Recently Used Apps on Mac Dock. (2021, January 11). https://www.lifewire.com/hide-recently-used-apps-on-mac-4173803