How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

Thanks for that feedback but I have zero interest in downloading a third party app. I find it hard to trust 3rd party apps. Also making someone download an extra app makes it not accessible. Thanks anyway.

I use Xmenu

https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/search?q=xmenu

It places an icon in my menu bar which when I click on it there's a drag-down list of my Applications folder. It's basically an alias style feature to the Applications folder so if you have some applications in folders in that folder you can drag down to view those. Click on an application and it opens it.

Incidentally, it offers this for other major folders on your computer as well as one icon where you can put folders and files you use frequently.

idontwantanamebutapplemademe wrote:

Thanks for that feedback but I have zero interest in downloading a third party app. I find it hard to trust 3rd party apps. Also making someone download an extra app makes it not accessible. Thanks anyway.

In that case, I suggest you try to get used to Spotlight. You can hope Apple changes their mind. To me, hope is not a plan.

DotNetMaui wrote:

I strongly dislike the "new" small launchpad.

I want a full screen app launcher, I don't always want to type app/game name.. now I think about it, Windows 8 startscreen was actually good.

See:

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

And Windows 8 is no longer current by a good number of years.

Well, I understand your Point of View, but there were some of us that actually found the old way VERY efficient versus now having to do in and have a long list of apps to sort through or to search by name for it every single time. Maybe asking customers if they want to revert to the old LaunchPad versus forcing them into an experience that they HATE would be a better UX. I mean, good for you that you like it...but there are a number of us that HATE it.

Texboy232 wrote:

Well, I understand your Point of View, but there were some of us that actually found the old way VERY efficient versus now having to do in and have a long list of apps to sort through or to search by name for it every single time. Maybe asking customers if they want to revert to the old LaunchPad versus forcing them into an experience that they HATE would be a better UX. I mean, good for you that you like it...but there are a number of us that HATE it.

Have you told Apple how you feel?

Product Feedback - Apple

Have you looked at any of the third-party options discussed in this thread?

bjuler222 wrote:

The new app launcher is a good example for changed upon the user nobody asked for breaking valuable habits and harming productivity. This is not innovation, it is empty change.

I get it. If you didn't ask for it, then nobody asked for it. This thread got 204 upvotes, and the installed base of Tahoe is tens of millions. Some simple math should give you a sense of the scale of the 'problem' here.

That would be excessive. I am not against the new OS version. I just find that the app launcher was better off to be full screen and not forced into a much smaller window without the ability to resize. I find the design of the new app launcher suboptimal. That's it.

Kurnbread wrote:

Launchpad was the most advanced way to single handedly open an app. Periodt. They killed it so they could try to sell more Vision Pros

I tried it for about ten seconds and disabled the shortcut and removed it from my Dock. I easily launched apps from Spotlight without problem faster than I could make the LaunchPad appear on screen. I don't use the Apps app, either. Everything Apple makes to appeal to iPhone and Windows converts is completely useless to regular Mac users.

Kurnbread wrote:

Launchpad was the most advanced way to single handedly open an app. Periodt.

Perhaps for you it was. For me, it was not. I removed Launchpad from my Dock and kept on opening apps in the says that work best for me.

Kurnbread wrote:

Launchpad was the most advanced way to single handedly open an app. Periodt. They killed it so they could try to sell more Vision Pros

I can launch apps no-handed. Do I win a prize?

Tell Apple what you want to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

And, while you keep hoping that Apple adds it back, try one of the third-party replacements.

Kurnbread wrote:

There are people who use a stylus (aka Spotlight) and those who do not (Launchpad).Unfortunately, the stylus people are in charge now.

Lol. I don't use a stylus (even though I got an Apple Pencil Pro to go along with my iPad Pro M5, I use it maybe once a month). I just put the apps I use in the Dock and it's a short trackpad move and a click/tap to open them. Mostly, they're already open in one of my several Spaces and use a three-finger swipe or the App Switcher (Command-Tab) to move between them. If it's an app I use infrequently, then Command-A or Command-U takes me to the folder and I double-click the app. Done.

There are people who use a stylus (aka Spotlight) and those who do not (Launchpad).Unfortunately, the stylus people are in charge now.

Never used a stylus on a Mac in my life. I can't even imagine how that would help launch an app. Prior to Spotlight being able to find them, I just opened the Applications folder as I've done for over 40 years.

wiggle321 wrote:

Of course this forum doesn’t drive Apple decisions, but it’s valuable for sharing experiences. I’ve filed feedback with Apple and encourage others to as well.

I have. The changes in Spotlight are great. I use command-space command-4 multiple times a day.

While LaunchPad may be gone, there are the same ways there have always been to look at apps as a grid. Even without a third-party app. I suspect the number of third-party apps, however, will diminish over time just as the number of "Finder replacement" apps has.

Apple devices will never meet all the needs of all the people who use them. I think expecting that is unreasonable. There will always be people for whom something different than what Apple offers is preferable for whatever reasons. And that's exactly why there are third-party developers. Apple doesn't have to expend resources maintaining something only a small percentage of users care about. Users still get choices and may even have more ability to influence a small developer than they ever would with Apple.

wiggle321 wrote:

Where I think we’re talking past each other is that this thread isn’t really about “Spotlight got new features” (or even “can you launch apps by typing”).

It was just an example of feedback I gave Apple regarding Tahoe.

I really have no interest in debating the virtues of LaunchPad over any other option. And there are lots of options.

I also don't appreciate that you deliberately misquoted me to further your narrative that I am uncaring or oblivious. I did not say "not worth the effort." Tone trolling is a waste of everyone's time.

Best of luck.