Missing Launchpad in macOS Tahoe (26) How to Get it Back

Many Mac users who upgraded to macOS Tahoe (26.0), including me, are surprised to find Launchpad is gone. Apple’s replacement is a new Apps experience that lives inside Spotlight. If you relied on Launchpad’s grid, folders, and muscle-memory gestures, this can feel like a productivity hit.

If you visit Apple’s support page and choose macOS Tahoe from the drop-down menu, you’ll notice there’s no mention of Launchpad at all. However, if you select any earlier macOS version, the documentation still explains how to use Launchpad.

This article explains why Launchpad is missing on macOS Tahoe, what you can and can’t customize, and practical workarounds to recreate a Launchpad-style workflow–without downgrading your Mac.

What actually changed?

Launchpad was removed in macOS Tahoe.
Apple’s replacement is Apps in Spotlight:
- Open Spotlight > pick Applications (⌘ 1) for an app browser.
- You can view a list or grid (⋯ button at top-right of the Apps window).
- Apps are auto-grouped by categories, like Utilities, Social and more (not user-editable).

Launchpad lets you create folders, arrange icons, and launch by trackpad gesture / Hot Corner. Apps in Spotlight currently have limited arrangement and no custom folders, and it mixes in things some users don’t want to see.

Fastest ways to open apps in macOS Tahoe

Spotlight > Applications tab
- Press ⌘ Space, then ⌘ 1 to jump to Applications.
- Type a few letters to filter, Return to launch. You can do any of the following:
  - Move selection: Press an arrow key.
  - Filter by category: Click a category chip (for example, Productivity & Finance).
  - Change layout: Click the More (⋯) button, then choose Grid or List. You can also choose to show iPhone apps.
Hot Corner for Spotlight (fast with mouse)
- Head to System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners…
- Assign a corner to Apps.
- Flick your cursor into that corner, press ⌘ 1, type app name, Return.
Keep /Applications as a Dock stack (grid you can shape)
- Launch Finder > /Applications.
- From the top menu, choose View > Show View Options:
  - Always open in Icon View
  - Browse in Icon View
  - Group By: None; Sort By: None
Manually arrange icons; Finder will remember your layout.
Drag the /Applications folder to the right side of the Dock.
Right-click the Dock stack > View content as Grid for a quick, Launchpad-ish launcher.

During Downtime or when you reach an app’s Screen Time limit, app icons appear dimmed with an hourglass.

Re-create "folders" (Launchpad-style) with aliases

If Launchpad folders were your organization system:

On the Desktop, create a folder titled My Apps.
Inside it, create subfolders (e.g., Photo, Office, Dev, Media).
In /Applications, ⌥ ⌘ drag an app into a subfolder to create an alias (you can place the same app in multiple subfolders).
Drag My Apps into the Dock and set it to View as Grid.
This returns a curated, visual launcher you control.

Can I still launch by gesture?

Trackpad "pinch" for Launchpad is gone with Launchpad itself.
Workaround: Assign Spotlight to a Hot Corner. It’s a single, quick mouse move and keeps you off the keyboard if that’s your preference.

Add apps so they appear in Spotlight’s Apps window

Apps you download from the App Store appear automatically.
For apps from other sources, drag the app into the Applications folder in Finder; it will then appear in the Apps window.