Missing Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

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.

I just moved to Mac from Windows a year ago, for the first time, and so I had to re-learn a great deal of things, and it wasn't a problem. It's not about re-learning, it's about losing a ton of functionality and convenience in the name of... what exactly?

[Edited by Moderator]

I agree with you about the ease of using the trackpad, but the most obvious value of the launchpad from my perspective was the ability to organize all of my apps into functional bins. I knew exactly where to look for video editing, audio editing, communications, and photography, each of which has myriad apps with names I don't care to recall.

Apple's removal of the launchpad has wasted a significant amount of my time and effort with streamlining the computer as a tool. It's the opposite of a "bicycle for your mind" as Mr. Jobs once put it. I miss him...

m010726 wrote:

Apple's removal of the launchpad has wasted a significant amount of my time and effort with streamlining the computer as a tool. It's the opposite of a "bicycle for your mind" as Mr. Jobs once put it. I miss him...

Are you talking about the Steve Jobs who didn't like to give customers choices but instead wanted them to use what he thought was best?

Tell Apple what you think here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I am a developer. macOS always indexes the system, so I have to run sudo mdutil -i off /Applications.

In older versions of macOS, I could still use Launchpad to find apps after disabling indexing, but now Spotlight search in Launchpad no longer works.

When indexing is enabled, mdutil runs all day, the CPU stays around 50–80%, disk usage is very high, and development tasks (like installing npm packages) cause even more CPU spikes.

nguyentiennam wrote:

I also wonder about the complete removal of the app launcher without any prior warning from any reviewer.

Everyone who used the beta versions of macOS 26 knew it had been removed. Everyone who used a beta version of macOS 26 was also legally prohibited from discussing it.

There is still an app launcher, albeit somewhat different.

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!

sdorst wrote:

Where can I send a request to Apple to fix this?

To have Apple consider your feedback, submit it here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

+1

I've seen somebody find a way to resume the Launchpad from the Terminal but I didn't tried...

That workaround was apparently in a beta version of Tahoe but did not make into the full release version.

Thanks for taking the time to answer, I appreciate it.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Apple doesn't read here for feedback or suggestions.

Do you know WHY Apple doesn't read here?

Is there any 'connection' between MacRumors and the ASC forums?

They should have also highlighted what they were deleting. :)

Redeyes wrote:

They should have also highlighted what they were deleting. :)

Elaborate ?

If there are some new technical suggestions to be offered ?

By all means do so :-)

Anthony Sbarro wrote:

Spotlight can not find core applications like Calculator or Notes or Safari.

Really?

+1