Can I disable launchpad? It behaves strangely--"ghost' transparent Launchpad covers open apps

Question

Can I disable launchpad? It behaves strangely--"ghost' transparent Launchpad covers open apps

My problem is that on my MBPr 13" running Mavericks, Launchpad several times a day is randomly activated when I dont intend it to be (no idea why)--and not just nomally like in full view, but rather a "ghost" Launchpad in which all the icons are sort of transparently laid over the top of whatevr else is open. I can see the apps, and switch between them. but cant use them--they become unusable. Clicking anywhere clicks on the Launchpad icons and launches stuff--instead of clicking in the app that you can see behind this "ghost" overlay. All I can do is quit apps (switch there and use command-Q--cannot use cursor at all, as anything is inactive underneath this Launchpad overlay) and restart the computer.

I cannot find ANYTHING about this issue ANYWHERE. I hate Launchpad anyway, never use it (why do I need it, I have a dock! this is not a phone) and I would like to disable it. I cant even figure out what keystrokes cause it to activate. it's a bizarre mstery "feature."

Thank you.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Jun 9, 2014 1:19 AM

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Answer 1

Esquared

Level 6

12,415 points

Jun 9, 2014 1:44 AM in response to Samantha Thailer

You can find the keycombo that launches Launchpad in System Preferences->Keyboard->Shortcuts. You can deactivate it.

That being said, regardless if you like LP or not, it should never behave like you describe. So there might be something else wrong with your setup.

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Answer 2

Jun 9, 2014 2:29 AM in response to Samantha Thailer

PS-- Upgrading to 10.9.3 didnt change anything. Nor did it fix my other problems with Mavericks including formatting via keyboard commands (Bold/ital) not working in Mail, and being unable to change font style or size even with menu dropdown.

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Answer 3

Jun 9, 2014 2:25 AM in response to Esquared

Hi--I was excited to see this reply, but when I go to prefs under keyboard shortcuts, uner "Launchpad and Dock" there are only two options. "Turn Dock hding on/off" is checked. "Show launchpad" is unchecked.

Under "app shortcuts" there is only "show help menu" and hide others.

no shortcuts showing launchpad.

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Answer 4

Jun 9, 2014 2:28 AM in response to Esquared

And nothing under Keyboard either...(the Keyboatd menu under Shortcuts).

What am I missing?

Odd the Launchpad is so uncustomizable...not to mention, as you say, this odd behavior.

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Answer 5

benwiggy

Level 4

1,491 points

Jun 9, 2014 5:18 AM in response to Samantha Thailer

System Prefs > Keyboard > Shortcuts > LaunchPad & Dock > Show LaunchPad.

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Answer 6

Jun 9, 2014 10:14 PM in response to benwiggy

Right. As I said earlier, I saw that, and that's UNCHECKED. It was and is. So why does Launchpad keep showing up randomly--sometimes with 3/4-finger sideswipes that normally activate App switcher , or with downswipes that should launch mission control, or taps or really no move at all. Sometimes full-on Launchpad that I CAN get out of, and sometimes this" ghost launchpad' that's transparent that I CANT get out of, that disables all apps and overlays everything and launches apps when I click anywhere evey though it's faint and greyed out and all I can do is quit eveyrhting anf restart to get rid of it.

??

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Answer 7

benwiggy

Level 4

1,491 points

Jun 9, 2014 10:58 PM in response to Samantha Thailer

And System Prefs > TrackPad is set with LaunchPad unchecked?

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Answer 8

Eric Root

Level 10

685,305 points

Jun 10, 2014 1:12 PM in response to Samantha Thailer

Try doing a Dock reset, which also resets Launchpad.

Try doing a Dock restart using the following Terminal command:

killall Dock

Log out/in and test. If that doesn’t work, you need to look in your user Library/Applications Support/Dock for the .db. Use the Finder “Go To Folder” command. Enter ~/ Library/Applications Support/Dock. Move the .db to your desktop.

Then try a dock reset.

Applications/Utilities/Terminal enter the command

killall Dock

Log out/in test. If it works okay, delete the .db from the desktop.

If the Dock is the same, return the .db to where you got them from, overwriting the newer ones.

If you prefer to make your user library permanently visible, go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Learned from leonie.

I have to use it after every update.

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Answer 9

Jun 11, 2014 1:35 PM in response to benwiggy

Yes.

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Answer 10

Jun 27, 2014 10:45 AM in response to Samantha Thailer

Hey, I just came across this thread after experiencing the exact same issue. I may have accidentally triggered Launchpad (which I, too, never use) via the trackpad. I’ve disabled that option now (thanks) but, yes, this semi-responsive Launchpad overlay thing doesn’t seem like something that should happen anyway. Just putting this here for future reference and so you know it’s not just you 🙂.

MBP 15" Retina, OS X 10.9.3.

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Answer 11

Denis77

Level 1

0 points

Jul 15, 2014 5:07 PM in response to altairas_eye

I have had the same ghostly icons described by Samantha. I am using a Magic Trackpad with an iMac, and reach the locked-up ghostly icons via the inward pinch gesture. I got used to using Launchpad before updating to Mavericks, so would prefer it to work rather than having to turn it off. Some other aspects of my experience: it is an inconsistent thing, and seems to be more of a problem shortly after logging in; if I wait a while, it's less likely to happen. Perhaps related to that, the login process is slower with Mavericks than with Mountain Lion; it was initially very buggy and could take several minutes to be ready for work. Invariably, if it does happen and I log off and back on, things are fine. I recently updated to 10.9.4 and hoped to leave the problem behind, but it is still there.

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Answer 12

Jan 13, 2015 11:09 PM in response to Samantha Thailer

I just had this problem surface for the first time. Took me a while to figure out that the launchpad was activated, because the icons were so faint. I eventually figured it out because my click kept launching apps. Not sure what activated launchpad in the first place.

The "killall Dock" Terminal command that Eric Root mentioned worked to get me back in control of my mouse. I'm hoping the problem doesn't come back (if it does, I'll try his second recommendation).

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Answer 13

Mar 10, 2015 6:55 PM in response to Samantha Thailer

My toddler somehow got my computer into this state; no idea how.

On a Whim a did a three-finger-spread on the trackpad and it went away.

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