Recent files in recent folder isn't appearing

Recents is a Smart Folder that depends on the “Last Used Date” metadata. That normally only gets set if you open the file from Finder.

If you are unable to see any recent files in the Finder's sidebar, there are a few steps you can try to fix the issue.

First, try restarting your MacBook Pro to see if that resolves the problem. If that doesn't work, you can try resetting the Finder by following these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app on your MacBook Pro. You can find it by searching for it in Spotlight.
2. In the Terminal, type the following command and press Enter: killall Finder
3. This will reset the Finder and you should see the recent files appear in the sidebar if they exist.

If resetting the Finder does not fix the issue, you may need to clear the recent items cache. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app on your MacBook Pro.
2. In the Terminal, type the following command and press Enter: rm -rf $TMPDIR../C/com.apple.recentitems/
3. This will delete the recent items cache and you should see the recent files appear in the Finder's sidebar if they exist.

If none of these steps fix the issue, it is possible that there is a problem with the operating system on your MacBook Pro. In this case, you may need to reinstall the operating system to resolve the issue.