How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

IdrisSeabright wrote:

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.

Fair point, you didn’t write “not worth resources” verbatim, you wrote “Apple doesn’t have to expend resources…” No misquote was intended. Also, you didn’t use the term “edge case,” that was my shorthand for how resource/percentage language can land in accessibility discussions, not intended to be read as a quote or an attempt to put words in your mouth. I started with “I’m sure this wasn’t your intent” because I was trying not to ascribe motives, only to point out that intent and impact don’t always align, especially around accessibility-related workflows. I suspect we’d agree that minority usage isn’t a good reason to dismiss accessibility-impacting regressions, and if my wording suggested otherwise, that wasn’t my intention.

I don’t want anyone to feel personally targeted in a technical discussion. My intent was to address the general wording and how it can land, not you or anyone else as a person. I understand it didn’t come across that way to you. If you have a preferred way to phrase that kind of point so it stays squarely on the issue, I’m genuinely open to it.

I haven’t updated yet and I’m trying to understand what the built-in options actually are, and I think it would also help others arriving here via search who are trying to set Tahoe up in a way that works for them. If you haven’t looked into that, no worries, totally fair. But if anyone does know the answers, I’d appreciate it.

• Are Spotlight’s Apps results (⌘Space -> ⌘1) and the new Apps view/launcher the same feature, or separate?

• Can either be opened directly in a variety of ways (Hot Corner? Trackpad gesture? Dedicated shortcut?), or do you always have to open Spotlight first?

• Is there a pointer-only workflow without typing, without requiring small/tightly packed targets?

• Are there any controls for tile size/spacing/layout density in the new Apps view, or is it fixed? (I mean target size/spacing rather than global text scaling, because precision needs and vision needs don’t always correlate, for instance Apple Music’s List Size option can increase text and row height without changing system-wide text size.)

• Does the new Apps view suggest likely apps based on usage, and is it accurate enough to reduce typing in practice?

• I hear it sorts apps into categories, can you move apps around or create your own categories?

Best of luck, and thanks in advance to anyone who can confirm the Tahoe specifics above.

Barney-15E wrote:

Nobody here can bring it back.

Also completely irrelevant.

Nobody here can do anything, except try to guess / justify Apple decisions.

LaunchPad was horribly inefficient. I had to open a window, move my mouse around, click on something, maybe more than once if it was in a folder. With Spotlight Ieave my hands on the keyboard, cmd-space, type two or three letters and hit return. Way more efficient.

You could have just pressed F4 to open it.

If you had apps in a folder you could bave moved them out of the folder.

All way more efficient than your stumbling around.

Launchpad also had a search box

So, to clarify -

• Launchpad - Press F4, type a few letters
• Spotlight - CMD+Space, type a few letters

Glad you're now almost as efficient as the rest of us - keep working on it.

You could have just pressed F4 to open it.

No, I would have had to press fn+F4. I use zero of the meta-keys, so have it set to be Fkeys. Executing that shortcut requires stretching beyond the normal touch-typing region and is impossible because both keys are “assigned” to the left hand. So, I have to look at the keys to get to the shortcut.

If you had apps in a folder you could bave moved them out of the folder.

Everybody here complains about not being able to categorize them as they wish. As in, put them in a folder. If I didn’t need them in a folder (I don’t), I’d just open the Applications folder like I have done for 40+ years.

All way more efficient than your stumbling around.

I don’t stumble around at all because I never used the iPhone interface on my Mac.

• Launchpad - Press fn+F4, type a few letters

• Spotlight - CMD+Space, type a few letters

So, I guess you agree it is easier to use Spotlight since the shortcut is easier to execute.

perpdog wrote:

Nobody here can do anything, except try to guess / justify Apple decisions.

No, we can provide options for the system as it currently exists. We can also direct you to submit feedback to Apple, who can, should they choose, do something about it.

Complaining and speculating are actually not permitted.

Barney-15E wrote:

Since we cannot change macOS, I don't quite understand the pile driving insistence that we come over to the dark side.

Misery loves company?

Thank you for this! You have saved my sanity.

About the only thing that Launchpad was useful for was uninstalling apps from the app store. Now you have to go to the App Store app to do that.

What does using full screen apps have to do with anything???? Could you explain that?

Launching an app using Command-space works irrespective of your current application being in full screen or not.

FWIW I do screenshots and screen capture all the time. Command-Shift-3 or -4 or-5

Different ways to work, I get that. Some people still go through all the way to the Edit menu to do a Copy 😎

I might have to sell all my Macs because the only thing I ever did with them is use Launchpad. 🤔

dialabrain wrote:

I might have to sell all my Macs because the only thing I ever did with them is use Launchpad. 🤔

That makes it sound as if you don't have a life.... ;-)

Well, I did have a life clicking on the Launchpad icon, but now I don't know. :o)

Saadi079 wrote:

1. Well, macOS Tahoe is the worst update.

Clearly, not everyone agrees with you…

Apple macOS Tahoe Review: Productivity Meets Transparency in the Company's Best Desktop OS Yet

Even my lowly M1 MBA w/16GB has low memory pressure…

with Firefox running…

Try launchie it is not bad https://www.launchie.app/