How to remove icons from Launchpad that do not have "X"

This was perfect! Worked great, and I've been looking how to fix this for a while. Installed XCode leaves a "Developer" folder in Launchpad that I don't want, I just wanted the XCode icon. This app worked perfectly, thanks! (Why this option isn't built in to Lion I will never understand.)

This youtube video shows the simplest and cleanest way to remove individual apps that you did not download from the Mac App Store. http://youtu.be/wTy9PGf5BAw?hd=1

Use an application like AppCleaner. To remove the application drag it from the Application File to AppCleaner and press delete

I've found a way to clean it up without using any of these other apps like AppCleaner etc.

Please follow instructions on this link.

http://toucharcades.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/clean-out-launchpad-completely.html

It also contains instructions on how to put them back if you wished too.

Its basically using a command which is on the link in the Terminal application to do it for you. It's easy to pick and choose which ones you want in there afterwards.

Although the terminal command does remove the icons, it also corrupts the database. Once you've done it, OS X Lion will re-populate all of your icons every time you restart your computer, or log out, then log back on.

Google "Launchpad Manager" instead - there are some really good apps out there that do it for you - for free.

They also have in-app purchase options for advanced operations like alphabetical ordering and saving your launchpad layout.

Nikolai Yde wrote:

Finder > Applications. Drag the application OUT of the Applications folder, and it should not appear in Launchpad.

A word of caution here...

While applications may seem to function well when dragged out of /Applications folder,

/Applications is where updates look for them.If you move apps from the /Applications folder or even move apps out of their enclosing folders, within the /Applications folder, you're looking for trouble down the road.

Here's an easy solution I found that worked for me. Found it posted on MacRumors:

just installed lauchpad cleaner , worked a treat !

open finder.. open your applications.. double click the app you want to remove to open your options...click move to trash....and then empty trash.

Lanny, I agree with you completely. If Apple had put an "X" next to every icon that wasn't from the App store people would be deleting their apps unintentionally.

Hi guys,

If you just want to remove the icons without uninstalling the app, check out http://launchpadcleaner.com/

It's free, with an in-app purchase option to unlock advanced features, like alphabetical ordering, backup/restore, ...etc.

it works perfect thanx

Right on Rob Shepard. That fixed me right up!

Ok the easiest solution is also the simplest - you don't need to install anything or enter codes in terminal. I too had items in my launchpad that wouldn't go away even when they were supposedly uninstalled (They were steam games). All I did was:

open finder > All My Files > search *name of app*

The icon showed up after putting its name in the search bar in the top right - then I moved it into the trash. I then emptied the trash, and after checking back on launchpad it was gone.

This was done on a MacBook with Mavericks OS.

Open finder. Go > Enclosing Folder. Repeat until you get to your Hard Drive. Then find your user account. Open Applications folder in your user account. That's where my unwanted icons were stored, not in the applications folder for "every" user.