How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

Launchpad is gone in Tahoe. That means your organization and curated folders will be gone, too, and cannot be recreated. The Apps app, which is Apple's Spotlight-driven replacement for Launchpad, is accessible via a hot corner (something not everyone knows).

Alright thanks for the clarity, they straight up deleted user created layouts and folders, folder names, etc, instead of porting that info over to whatever the new thing is. I guess we'll see if the feedback works, and I just wont update till it's fixed. Good to know.

I'll also point out that I remember when Apple was lambasted for eliminating the floppy disk drive from their computers, and we know how that ultimately shook out.

Sure, but for every floppy story I can tell you one about how they changed a thing and then put it back. Also when you buy a computer you can see what disk reader it has or doesn't have. When folks updated to Tahoe they mostly had no idea their curated layout and folders would be trashed. It's really not the same.

JF10752 wrote:

Have they fixed this yet? Every SINGLE TIME I GO TO LAUNCH AN APPLICATION I GET ANGRY.

Fixed what? Apple deliberately changed the system, removing the old Launchpad.

Some people loved it, other never touched it.

There have been many proposed alternatives that you can try.

If you are waiting for a "fix", you will continue to be disappointed.

baneyw wrote:

Well, that's certainly not faster than Launchpad with a hot corner.

It is, for me. That’s the nice thing about choices. Unfortunate for you that your favorite choice was removed because Apple made a design decision about it.

You said the dock was the fastest way to launch apps. What about all those apps that don't fit on the dock?

I explained. If you don’t understand the explanation, that’s not my fault.

We arranged our other apps in Launch Pad. We used folders to organize them. The apps we used the most were located nearest the hot corner we assigned inside Launch Pad, where it was most convenient. The apps we used less frequently were stored elsewhere, or in folders with related apps.

Yes you did, did you think you were telling me something I don’t know? Now, you can’t do that anymore unless you revert to Sequoia.

In 2011, assigning Launch Pad to a hot corner was a very popular idea. Many users like me have been using it ever since. Apparently you never discovered the beauty of this little hack. Whether or not you ever discovered it, doesn't make much difference.

I tried it. Didn’t like it. Removed it as a hot corner and deleted Launchpad from my Dock.

But if you've never discovered or used it, your opinion of it is meaningless. But just so you know: It was, in fact, the best and fastest mouse-only way to launch apps. Used when your hands are performing mouse or trackpad functions.

I’m sure there’s a ‘best’ way to do lots of things that I don’t need or want to do.

Also, your opinion of whether Apple will or will not bring back Launchpad is meaningless. They've brought back many nixed features before. If enough users express discontent with this decision, they will bring it back. Whatever that number is--and there is a number.

Indeed, time will tell. But those numbers are not counted in this forum.

Also, your opinion of the merits of discussing this issue in this support forum is meaningless. Yes, many of us know that Apple may or may not see this discussion, or act upon the contents of it.

There is no ‘may’ about it.

The responses here are extremely helpful for people like me who went searching to find out if there was a way to replace Launch Pad in macOS Tahoe. They apparently aren't useful to you, so I don't know why you're even here???

Perhaps you didn’t bother to notice that I was the first person on this thread to provide Apple’s official feedback link and links to 3rd party Launchpad replacements.

How do I restore the old Launchpad in mac… - Apple Community

[Edited by Moderator]

In my opinion, this is most likely a marketing and financial decision from Apple.

1. Removing a heavily used feature is an efficient way to push users toward another one.

I think the majority of Mac users rely on Launchpad, and fewer use Spotlight.

By removing Launchpad, users are essentially forced to switch to Spotlight.

2. It’s also an effective way to showcase “changes” in a new OS release.

As a user, I just want a consistent experience, but Apple needs to ship a major upgrade every year.

If they changed nothing, people would question the value of the upgrade, so they must introduce changes — even when some of them feel unnecessary.

3. From a financial perspective, this also makes sense.

First, they no longer need to maintain Launchpad, which reduces cost.

Second, many users would turn to third-party Launchpad alternatives.

That means more Launchpad-like apps sold through the App Store — which increases Apple’s commission.

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In my daily usage, I like both Launchpad and Spotlight. They’re both essential to me on macOS.

I use the Dock for the most frequently used apps, Launchpad for less frequent apps arranged into folders and pages, and Spotlight for file search.

Launchpad only requires the trackpad and one hand. It’s intuitive — I can instantly locate the app I need because my brain uses visual and spatial memory to remember where each icon is, especially the ones pinned on the first page.

Spotlight requires the keyboard, and you must remember and type the app’s name before scanning the results. That can take longer. I only use Spotlight when I can’t find an app in Launchpad.

Additionaly, I don’t think Launchpad’s removal is caused by any technical limitation.

It’s simply Apple pushing users toward what they want you to use — which has always been their style.

baneyw wrote:

What about the apps that you don’t regularly use—but rely on? You don’t like having the ability to arrange those in launchpad?

Well maybe not for you? But many people rely on this as part of their every day workflow.

You get one of the free LaunchPad 3rd party replacement apps, and now you are no longer dependent on Apple.

-Or- you use folders you create, then put on the Dock, and fill with your favorite app Aliases.

-Or- you use Command-Space -> type-name-of-app

-Or- you use the replacement Apps app (which in many ways is a different form of Command-Space.

As for me, that is what Command-Shift-A is for. You can arrange the icons in the Applications folder anyway you like, if you set the folder to Finder -> View -> Sort by -> None

There are lots of way to organize apps.

But the easiest for what you are used to, would be to get a 3rd party app to replace LaunchPad. It is rather painless, and takes less time than posting in these forums.

• Launchie (App Store)
• LaunchMe (App Store)
• AppGrid Launcher (App Store)
• AppHub (paid app)
• LaunchPad on GitHub

ShahenShah12 wrote:

very bad update.we want old launchpad in next update

"We" who? I don't want it back. Most of the people I know who I've asked about it don't care. The rest have moved on to other solutions.

You want the old launchpad. That's all well and good but no one reading here can make that happen. Let Apple know what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

You might also want to look at one of these third-party replacements:

• **Launchie** (App Store)
• LaunchMe (App Store)
• **AppGrid Launcher** (App Store)
• AppHub (paid app)
• LaunchPad on GitHub

I removed the apps icon from the dock and added free version of appGrid. Walking thru its install steps it restored the apps and nested app folders I had created in old Launchpad. It finds the old data and builds it from that.

Not a 100% replacement in the UX interactions, but close enough.

[Edited by Moderator]

I mean you have point that the feedback page is really good. However, it is a struggle for me to believe that everysingle person is going to believe, know or enage with that in the same way that user and help forums give to provide feedback and ACTUAL thoughts on what the company is doing.

baneyw wrote:

Again: Whether Apple reads it or not, I don’t care. I’m happy discussing it here with others. Every day, new people learn about it and go looking for answers. Google points them here.

And you're certainly free to do that. However, a lot of people try to address Apple directly from these forums. To allow them to think they are telling Apple anything would be doing them a disservice.

They’ve made their minds up: It doesn’t matter to them because it doesn’t impact their workflow.

If it did, they would certainly understand why so many of us are willing to “waste our time” here. Fine.

You appear to be conflating too different things. Giving feedback to Apple, which doesn't happen here, and getting suggestions and help from other users, which does happen here and is not a waste of time.

I reluctantly got to Tahoe via 'apple software behaving badly' and support would not help unless I upgraded to Tahoe. I decided to stay here, rather than reverting, and launchpad was the thing that almost had me revert - it is an integral part of my use after several years of muscle/brain memory.

Turns out there is an excellent solution: LaunchOS (install directly from the developer) restores launch pad, and even kept my previous layouts. Free version, but I bought the paid version to support the independent dev. And yay - no app store, dev got 100% of my money. Feeling good about that.

submit feedback. sadly nobody on here can fix it. But apple can and HAS in the past put stuff back if enough people write in.

The best way is to back up your data and do a clean install back to the previous OS, Sequoia.

give to provide feedback and ACTUAL thoughts on what the company is doing.

That has never occurred in any way in the history of Apple.