User level: Level 1 (24 points)In the App Expose view I used to see all windows from the current app and a list of recently opened files.
Recently (I think since the update to MacOS 27) I only see the open windows, but not the recent files. I am currently on 27.0.1. with the same behavior.
I do see the recent files under the "File / Open Recent" menu, and these open correctly. So the problem is only in AppExpose.
Posted on Oct 6, 2026 10:10 PM
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)Oct 11, 2026 9:53 AM in response to bdimitrov
You can view recent files for an application by secondary-clicking on the app's icon in the Dock. Some applications, native Apple apps, for example, will show a list of recent files:
Other apps, e.g. third party apps like MS Word, will show an Open Recent option:
There are several other ways to access recently opened files on macOS.See the following information from Apple:
Open recently used items on Mac – Apple Support
There is one change to App Exposé that has occurred from Tahoe to Golden Gate concerning minimized windows, as opposed to recently opened files. In Tahoe, minimized windows show as small thumbnails in App Exposé, in Golden Gate they do not and only open/active windows are shown. It is not clear if that's intentional or a bug, but either way only Apple can revert that behavior. To have Apple consider your feedback, submit it here:
Showing Recent Files is not a documented feature of App Exposé, nor to my knowledge was it on previous versions of macOS. Apple describes the function of App Exposé as, "Show all open windows for the current app." That is the function attributed to it, whether accessed via Control-Down Arrow or via a three-finger downward trackpad swipe.
More info from Apple: View open windows and spaces in Mission Control on Mac – Apple Support
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256371706