Bring back Recent Items in your Mac's Apple menu

Why it happens

The Apple menu's Recent Items list follows one setting. When it's set to None, the list is empty, so it looks as if Recent Items has gone. Picking a number tells your Mac how many recent documents, apps and servers to keep there.

How to fix it

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click Menu Bar in the sidebar.

2. Find Recent documents, applications, and servers and pick how many items you want from its pop-up menu.

   Menu Bar›Recent documents, applications, and servers

3. Open a document or an app, then click the Apple menu and point to Recent Items. What you just opened should be at the top.

Still not fixed?

1. Wiped the list on purpose? Clear Menu at the bottom of Recent Items empties it. New items appear again as you open things.

2. Looking for recent apps in the Dock instead? That's a separate switch, Show suggested and recent apps in Dock, in Desktop & Dock.

   Desktop & Dock›Dock›Show suggested and recent apps in Dock

3. If the list stays empty while the setting is on a number, restart your Mac and open a few files again.

4. If Recent Items still won't fill up after a restart and the latest update, contact Apple Support.