Level 1

26 points

Missing Launchpad after macOS upgrade: How to restore quick app access?

I just upgraded to the new MacOS and Launchpad has vanished. When I do the squeeze on the trackpad I get spotlight (which is already CMD-Space)

But what it shows is useless to try and find anything. I have to scroll through numerous apps to find the one I want. Or I have to type it in.

Previously with Launchpad it was just squeeze and click the app I wanted. I didn't think I would feel anger using a Mac, but here we are. :-/

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Launchpad is missing

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 11:47 PM

21 replies

m010726

Level 1

46 points

Oct 11, 2025 3:45 AM in response to Simod

Maybe Apple needed its Windows 7 moment...

Nov 23, 2025 3:03 PM in response to Simod

Thanks for the tip! I've downloaded and installed AppGrid, and so far, it looks great! It even gives you the command line instruction for Terminal to bring back your exact LaunchPad configuration.

Owl-53

Level 10

115,063 points

Sep 16, 2025 2:12 AM in response to Simod

Simod wrote:

1. I thought about copying LaunchPad from OS25 (different machine) to OS26, but don't have details on how to do that. Requires more than just the app.

Friendly, unsolicited advise

The frustrations being experienced can by understood when something like Launchpad has been incorporated in to Spotlight

That is a given

It will take use all time to adjust to the new features in macOS 26 Tahoe

That is the nature of change

Though, as has been gently inferred, " OS25 (different machine) to OS26, " there has never been a macOS 25 unless this was a typo error brought on by the frustrations one is experiencing

Simod Author

Level 1

26 points

Sep 16, 2025 4:10 AM in response to Owl-53

> when something like Launchpad has been incorporated in to Spotlight

It absolutely has not been incorporated into Spotlight. What you are seeing is spotlight as it was with a larger window.

If it had been incorporated then you would be able to customize what apps are shown, how they are categorized and reduce the time to find what you want.

Using Launchpad it was squeeze, click (max 2 clicks for folders). That is 2-3 actions by the end user.

Using the new spotlight it is considerably more actions to launch the same application. It also requires cognitive load task switching from mouse to keyboard, or having to scroll through numerous icons.

To add to that, the "most used" list is only 5 items. But they are OS most used, not what I most use from selecting an application. Which is why Preview is in my top 5 most used, yet I launch that by clicking on a file.

Don't get me started on the categories. Apprantly Discord is a developer tool and Terminal is a Productivity and Finance tool. 🤪

"Get used to it" doesn't excuse the really poor UX design.

JF10752

Level 1

34 points

Sep 16, 2025 7:27 AM in response to Simod

They've done the one thing that makes me hate Microsoft Windows more than anything else. Removed my ability to organize my applications in a meaningful way. Sure launchpad was sparse and could have used more features but now I just have an alphabetical list? This is meaningless. The UI changes from what was good to terrible, from the overly rounded window frames to the line spacing, bookmark counters in safari (Why do I need to know how many bookmarks are in a bookmark folder? I know how many are there because I put them there) just to start. It's overly just.

[Edited by Moderator]

Owl-53

Level 10

115,063 points

Sep 16, 2025 2:01 AM in response to Simod

The simplest solution would to invoke Spotlight and then ⌘ + 1

Using Grid view and refer below

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Missing Launchpad after macOS upgrade: How to restore quick app access?