Missing Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

Astoriaguy76 wrote:

This new way to launch apps is totally not Apple. I had no warning, and now when I click the new apps button, all the apps I have on my phone as well as on my Mac are intermingled. This kills my productivity as now I have to either search for the app I need or scroll through an endless list of BS apps that I use on my phone now on my Mac. I am really hating Apple right now. After almost 20 years of using Macs, I am rethinking my setup and may move back to a PC. Total garbage!!

We understand that not everybody follows the new from Apple when they Announced on Jun 5, 2025 the pending release of Tahoe

Though they did make an effort to present some of the New Features coming to Tahoe

Spotlight makes it easy to see all your apps, locate recent or suggested files, discover actions you can take, and view your clipboard history. Just launch Spotlight from the menu bar and select the Applications, Files, Actions, or Clipboard button, which will appears next to the search field.

As for iPhone apps appearing

Easy > > System Setting >> Spotlight and scroll down to near the bottom

It's ⌘ + ⇧ + A (CMD + SHIFT + A) while in Finder to show the /Applications view and if you customize the view, you can turn off the arrangement of icons and position things where you want them. Change the view to another folder and press the shortcut key to return to /Applications. It should remember the layout. However, at some point it will possibly forget and then you'll need to reposition them. But for the most part this works really well.

In Finder /Applications right-click and Show View Options set Group & Sort to none and ensure that Always Open in Icon View is checked as well as Browse in Icon View. Adjust the layout of the Applications the way you want them. Change the view and press the shortcut key and you are back in /Applications with it remembering the icon layout thus granting you the spatial awareness you are seeking.

asvpx wrote:

What an absolutely pointless answer ...adapt to change. Typing 'App' doesn't even bring up the App Store, nor does 'Messages' bring up Messages !! The thing is broken and no matter how you want to spin it, the simple launching of an application now involves extra steps for which there is zero benefit.

Respectfully , disagree

(Cmd) + spacebar  will invoke Spotlight 

Mouse over A for Applications or ⌘ + 1

Mouse over second icon for Files or ⌘ + 2

Mouse over third icon for Actions or ⌘ + 3

Mouse over fourth icon for Clipboard or ⌘  + 4

Using the ⌘ + 1 in may case 

It brings up a host of applications that came pre-installed with macOS 26 Tahoe and other Third Party Applications like “Ad and Stuff “ / Carbon Copy Cloner / Etrecheck Pro, Firefox and others 

spherical89 wrote:

Now, excuse me, I've had launchpad under the trackpad gesture, so I didn't need to use the keyboard at all, which DOES make a difference for convenience. If you don't see that then you don't see that, but I do, and I can't be the only one. Also, a much larger number of apps could be seen - and chosen from - at the same time, without scrolling. They were organized the way I want them (including custom folders) and not alphabetically. I had all my apps there, whereas the applications folder does NOT show my web apps.

Why are you telling us? We can't give you back Launchpad?

Submit your feedback to Apple here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Meanwhile, take a look at the third-party replacements such as Launchie.

https://www.launchie.app/

You can also invoke Apps using a trackpad gesture by adding it to a hot corner.

ESergei wrote:

I have the same problem. Spotlight can not find core applications like Calculator or Notes or Safari.

Calculator is one of the things I use Spotlight for the most. It has never failed me.

You may need to re-index. I've never had to do it but my understanding is that it can fix things like that.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

Try AppGrid Launcher

Launchpad has been replaced by Apps and performs the same function. Open Apps and a list of apps will be presented in list form. You can change from List to Grid by clicking on the ⋯⃝ more button at the top right of the Apps window. Apps are also categorized by type (Utilities, Productivity, etc.)

Downgrading to a previous macOS is a complicated process that requires the complete erase and reinstallation of macOS and your data of which you hopefully have backups.

Replacing your Mac with something else is your business of course but I would recommend you try using Apps and learning to adapt to change.

Formerly Launchpad could be launched from the Dock - step #1

Then,  clink on the application of choice - step # 2

Currently ⌘ + spacebar - step # 1 with keyboard 

Currently ⌘ + 1 brings up Applications  - step # 2

Currently, click on the application of choice - step # 3

OP wrote “ the simple launching of an application now involves extra steps for which there is zero benefit.  “

Yes, in this setup,  there is exactly 1 extra step 

No, it doesn't serve the same function. Launchpad allowed me to group programs, move untility programs to the back etc. Apps at the very least needs to let you force programs into the categories, Apps gets it wrong. The window isn't sizeable so you can see all the categories, you can't tell it to wrap the categories so you can see them all. They can fix this, but it needs to be fixed if it's actually going to serve the same function as Launchpad.

spherical89 wrote:

ITS NOT THE SAME! It used to be: pinch trackpad + choose app.

Now it’s cmd + space, then cmd + 1, then search for what you need, then click. This is absurd.

Formerly Launchpad could be launched from the Dock - step #1

Then,  clink on the application of choice - step # 2 

Currently ⌘ + spacebar - step # 1 

Currently ⌘ + 1 brings up Applications  - step # 2 

Currently, click on the application of choice - step # 3 

Or

Formerly Launchpad could be launched Applications folder- step #1

Then,  clink on the application of choice - step # 2 

Currently ⌘ + spacebar - step # 1 

Currently ⌘ + 1 brings up Applications  - step # 2 

Currently, Enter or click on the application of choice - step # 3 

This represents exactly 1 extra step

We do realize in ones very busy day that relearning is not always a easy task

Though, with repeated new actions, the mind can be re-wired if we have the will to do so

IdrisSeabright wrote:

I've never had a problem with it.

Nor have I.

I know that sometimes people do but, as I understand it, re-indexing usually resolves that.

People sometimes need to re-index Spotlight, but that's true with any version of macOS.

Appledotmac wrote:

Yep. Workarounds and third-party apps are not the same. Seeing "Adobe Distiller" at the top after my "seven frequently used apps" whenever I accidentally trigger Spotlight does me zero good, because I never use Adobe Distiller. Oh look, there's two copies of "Adobe After Effects" for some reason. So many Adobes right there that I don't use. Feelin' Really Productive!

Feedback - macOS - Apple

We are fellow users. We cannot change anything. All we can do is suggest workarounds and 3rd party utilities that will give you the LaunchPad functionality you miss so much. If that is not sufficient, then use the feedback link and tell Apple.

It's interesting that in 30+ years of using Macs I never used LaunchPad and still managed to be productive. Yes, it's possible to downgrade. I wil leave to others to post how.

dialabrain wrote:

Really?

I've never had a problem with it. I know that sometimes people do but, as I understand it, re-indexing usually resolves that.

Hello~ Why not let Apple know here? They get paid for people to be rude to them.

Product Feedback - Apple

~Katana-San~