How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

So going to googles home page and typing into the search bar “what are people’s overall opinions of apples 26 update” doesn’t count as googling. Gotcha. Even when it has given me more information about people opinions than you have throughout this conversation. It’s easy to find good things and bad things about the 26 update. It just depends on what you go digging for. If you only want to see positives then it’s easy to google all of the positives and only show the (opinionated) best things about it. Im neutral on Apple. I have both apple and samsung ecosystems and had both of them for many years. Apples software is so limiting it’s almost hilarious. It would be different if it Mac Os was bad to start with. But 18 was actually pretty nice. So it only makes it worse when it falls off even further from good than from bad to start with.

zZKableZz wrote:

It would be different if it Mac Os was bad to start with. But 18 was actually pretty nice.

I'm glad that you enjoyed using macOS 18. Not sure how you managed that, since it doesn't exist, but well done!

Might want to google search that.

Now, did you mean macOS 15 (the version before macOS 26), or did you mean iOS 18 (the version before iOS 26)?

zZKableZz wrote:

So going to googles home page and typing into the search bar “what are people’s overall opinions of apples 26 update” doesn’t count as googling. Gotcha.

You gave a screenshot of the AI response, not from an article or news site. Since you like physical world analogies, you effectively stopped a person on the street who looked like they might know something, asked them to give you an answer, and didn't double-check it.

zZKableZz wrote:

According to Idrisseabright googles AI overview doesn’t count. Regardless 26 is a dumpster fire. You CAN’T change my mind. Agree to disagree.

I don't care what you like or don't like and have no interest in changing your mind. However, you've spent a lot of time trying to change everyone else's. It has been entertaining.

I really enjoyed launchpad being able to pinch on my track and see all of my apps as large icons and being able to easily swipe left and right and not have to use the keyboard to search for an app...I'm 45 and I like being able to see everything easily and not have it super small... I have a 27 in monitor and loved seeing all the apps big when I pinched on the track pad...

1Plus1Equals2 wrote:

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.

On what are you basing that assumption? I would say, based on the number of threads on the matter I've seen here (or perhaps I should say have not seen), it's a lot less popular than you think. Apple has access to enormous amounts of user data that I'm sure they take into consideration. I'm also not clear what you think the benefit to Apple is to "force" people to use Spotlight.

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

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

Except now they are supporting "Apps." So, it doesn't appear there is a net difference.

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.

We each have our needs and preferences.

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.

I find Spotlight much more efficient as my hands never leave the keyboard. If I can't remember the name of an app, it's probably because I don't use it, and I should delete it. And the new feature in Spotlight for pasting in something I've used earlier in the day... wonderful.

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

Without a doubt.

Tell Apple what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

You can download LaunchMe from the AppStore. It’s even better than Launchpad was and there are a lot features and customization like custom app icons, widgets, wallpaper, hiding apps and more. You should try it

Peter Jorgensen1 wrote:

I'd like to join in encouraging Apple to bring back Launchpad in MacOS. In the meantime, I'm using AppGrid, but please, Apple: Give us Launchpad back in MacOS 26.2.

Once more: Apple is not here. This is a user forum. Let Apple know of your wishes using the feedback page (posted here multiple times).

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.

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.

Well, those people will have to find a new routine for launching apps, many of which have been recommended in the 9 page thread that you apparently didn’t bother to read before adding to the thread.

peteoldroyd wrote:

That’s fine. You’re welcome to your opinion. It does solve the OPs problem though.

Downgrading to Sequoia does not restore Launchpad to Tahoe. There are many Launchpad alternatives listed.

dimondRift wrote:

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.

The difference is that Apple doesn't read here, so posting here isn't giving any feedback to them. At best, posting here is catharsis.

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.

I think hearing different perspectives is helpful. I don’t see why it’s such a big deal to some people that we discuss it.

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.

But I was pretty shocked to discover Launchpad was missing when I set up Tahoe for the first time, and it was very helpful for me to find this “help forum” and know I wasn’t the only one.

There are good 3rd party replacements that work well for some people. The issue for many others, including myself, is that they don’t work with hot-corners.

Anyone who used launchpad without a hot corner, was missing out. It opened instantaneously with a quick flick of the mouse or trackpad—and all your apps were conveniently organized in a way that works best for you.

[Edited by Moderator]

Long time Apple user here. I've always gotten use to the updates and very rarely complain because I know it's just a learning curve but taking launchpad away has hit a nerve. I have dyslexia and ADHD. The previous layout of launchpad was perfect for these diagnosis. The app change over though is horrible. Horrendous, and has made my computer less accessible to me now.

Instead of having space between my apps so that I could clearly see them, I now have apps that are bunch together that make it hard for me to read. I know we have the search function but that also hinder my ability to be independent. I appreciate everything my phone and Apple devices can do to help me with my day-to-day life but I don't appreciate the change from launchpad to apps.

I don't need to change how I've got my computer set up but I do need to be able to control small things like the spacing in the apps app to be able to visually see and read them without having to look it up like I do on my phone. Please give me back launchpad. It was one of my favourite things on Mac because everything wasn't bunched together. I don't need the writing to be bigger. I just need more space around the apps and launchpad had that right. Please bring back launchpad or allow apps to go fullscreen and for me to control the spacing between things. It's just like reading a document for me. If I can change the word/line spacing from a 1 to a 1.2 on that document I can now read that more easily.