Activity Monitor missing from App shortcut in Dock after upgrade

Scroll down to the bottom and you will find it. Or select the Utilities tab at the row along the top. The reason activity monitor is at the bottom is because it’s in the utilities folder, which shows up under U in alphabetical order even though the folder structure is not replicated in the Apps app.

Launchpad is not available in macOS 26 Tahoe. Instead, Apple has replaced it with a Spotlight-based application library similar to that on iOS. By default, the Apps app replaced the Launchpad app in your Dock (if it was there). macOS organizes the apps, you cannot manually sort them. To have Apple consider your feedback on this issue, submit it here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

A possible workaround might be a 3rd party app, such as AppGridLauncher app (Mac App Store link) or https://www.launchie.app/.

If I understand correctly, you are talking about Apps, the “replacement” for Launchpad.

I don’t think you can manually alter it (as you could with Launchpad). If you want to, there are many alternatives to Launchpad; but as someone who never used Launchpad in the first place, here’s how I start Activity Monitor (or any app, for that matter): command-space, type Ac, press enter. Quick and entirely without leaving the keyboard. You can also press that icon in the Dock and start typing Ac and press enter.