Reopen recent work
Find canvases, projects, and goals you opened recently without starting from search.
Recent is the fastest way back to work you already opened
Use Recent on Home when you want to reopen something you were already working on. It is the right place for the very normal "where was that canvas?" moment after a meeting, review, browser restart, or context switch.
Recent is a shortcut, not a complete archive. It helps you continue work quickly, but it is not proof that something exists or does not exist. If the item is not visible, use Global search, All canvases, Shared with me, or the owning area.
Availability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Available on | All plans |
| Available for | Web app, desktop app |
| Who can do it | All users with access to the recent work |
Where to find Recent
Open Home, then scan the Recent area. Select a card or row to open the item.
Recent is workspace-specific. If you switch to another workspace, the list changes.
What can appear in Recent
Recent can include canvases, projects, goals, and other work you opened recently, depending on your access and the product areas enabled in the workspace.
| If you need | Use |
|---|---|
| A canvas you opened recently | Recent first, then All canvases if it is missing. |
| A project you were planning | Recent first, then Projects or search. |
| A goal or OKR you checked | Recent first, then OKRs. |
| Work someone shared with you | Recent may show it after you open it, but Shared with me is the better source. |
| Deleted work | Recent may no longer open it. Check Trash. |
Reopen recent work
- Open Home.
- Confirm the workspace is correct.
- Find the item in Recent.
- Open the card or row.
- If it opens the wrong item, return to Home and search by the exact title.
- If it does not appear, use Global search or the full product area.
Recent works best when you recently opened the exact item. If you only heard about the work from someone else, start with Shared with me, Inbox, or search instead.
Common ways teams use Recent
Recent is most useful during context switching. A designer might open a canvas before a critique, jump into a project during standup, then return to the canvas after the meeting. A project owner might use Recent to reopen the project plan, then use People to find the person who owns the next review. A manager might use Recent to return to the same goal or planning board several times during a week.
Recent also helps after a browser restart or app refresh. If you were in the middle of reviewing work and lost your place, Home → Recent is the lowest-friction path back. If the item does not appear, that is when search and the full areas matter.
When Recent is not enough
Recent is intentionally small. It does not replace the full browse and recovery tools.
| Situation | Better path |
|---|---|
| You know part of the title | Global search. |
| You know it was a canvas | All canvases. |
| You remember a file inside the work | Files, then open the containing work. |
| Someone sent it to you | Shared with me. |
| It was mentioned in a comment | Mentions or Inbox. |
| It may have been deleted | Trash. |
Permissions and visibility
Recent only shows work your account can currently access. If access changes, a previously recent item may disappear or fail to open. That can happen when a canvas is unshared, a project permission changes, a workspace role changes, or the item is deleted.
If another teammate can open the work and you cannot, ask them to send the link and ask the owner or workspace admin to review your permission. Use Can't access work if the link opens an access error.
How to keep work findable later
Recent is automatic, but findability depends on good naming and context. Give canvases and projects names that include recognizable campaign, client, team, or deliverable words. If a file is the thing people will remember, make sure it is attached to the right canvas or project so Files can lead people back to the surrounding context.
If you are sending work to someone else, do not tell them "it is in Recent." Recent is personal. Send the link, share the canvas, or mention them in the right place.
Mistakes and recovery
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Recent shows old work | Open the item you need from search or the owning area. Recent updates as you use ALLO. |
| A card disappeared | Check the workspace, your access, All canvases, and Trash. |
| A recent item opens but content looks missing | The item may have loaded without the file or section you expected. Search inside the canvas, check Files, or ask the owner whether content was moved or deleted. |
| You opened the wrong workspace | Switch workspaces, then reopen Home. Recent is not global across every workspace. |
| The item was shared externally | Check Shared with me or ask the sender to resend the link. |
Support questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does Recent show everything I have ever opened? | No. It is a compact shortcut for recent activity, not a history export or archive. |
| Can another teammate see my exact Recent list? | Recent is based on your access and activity. Send links when you need another person to open the same work. |
| Why did a deleted item vanish from Recent? | Deleted or inaccessible work may stop opening from Home. Check Trash. |
| Why do I see a project but not the canvas inside it? | Open the project, check the task or linked canvas, or search All canvases. |
| Should I use Recent or Global search? | Use Recent when you recently opened the item. Use Global search when you know a name, keyword, or person. |
Related articles
- Understand projects
- Understand Goals/OKRs
- Use Home
- All canvases overview
- Find canvases
- Shared with me overview
- Search across ALLO
- How Trash works
- When work looks missing