Apple Killing Launchpad: Why I’ll Miss It

Apple has reportedly begun phasing out Launchpad, the full-screen app launcher that has been part of macOS since 2011. While the company has not officially confirmed a removal date, recent macOS betas have shown Launchpad disabled by default on new Macs, and its code has been increasingly neglected. I’ll miss it because it remains the fastest way to see and launch every app on a Mac at a glance, especially for users who prefer a grid over the Dock or Spotlight.

Background: What Launchpad Was and Why It Exists

Launchpad debuted with Mac OS X Lion in July 2011, borrowing the grid-of-icons design from iOS. Its purpose was to give Mac users a familiar, touch-friendly way to browse and open applications, especially those coming from iPads or iPhones. Before Launchpad, macOS relied on the Dock, the Applications folder, and Spotlight (which itself was added in Tiger in 2005).

Launchpad lived in the Dock as a rocket icon and could be triggered with a four-finger pinch on a trackpad or by pressing F4 on some keyboards. It scanned the Applications folder and the App Store, showing every app in alphabetical order, with pages and folders you could rearrange. For a decade, it was a stable, if underused, part of macOS.

How Launchpad Works (and How It Differs from the Dock)

Launchpad is a full-screen overlay that displays all installed applications in a grid. You can swipe between pages, group apps into folders, and delete apps directly from the grid (for App Store apps) by holding the Option key or clicking and holding an icon until they jiggle. The Dock, by contrast, shows only the apps you pin plus recently used ones, and it sits at the edge of the screen.

Spotlight (Cmd+Space) is a text-based launcher that finds apps, files, and web results instantly. Launchpad is visual and spatial: you see everything at once, which can be faster than typing if you remember where an app is located. It also shows app icons at a large size, making it easier to recognize apps with similar names.

Why Apple Is Killing Launchpad (The Likely Reasons)

Apple has not issued a formal statement, but several factors point to Launchpad’s decline:

• Low usage: Most Mac users rely on Spotlight or the Dock; Launchpad was a niche feature that Apple never promoted heavily.
• Maintenance cost: Every new macOS release must keep Launchpad compatible with new app formats, screen sizes, and features like Stage Manager. That’s engineering effort with little payoff.
• Shift to other interfaces: macOS has evolved with features like Stage Manager (macOS Ventura, 2022) that organize windows, and the App Library on iOS that made Launchpad’s iOS-style grid redundant.
• Code neglect: In recent beta versions, Launchpad has been disabled by default on new Macs, and its preferences have been removed from System Settings. This is a classic sign of deprecation before removal.

Apple often removes features that are rarely used, such as the Dashboard (removed in macOS Catalina, 2019) and iTunes (replaced by separate apps in 2019). Launchpad appears to be following the same path.

How to Keep Using Launchpad (Workarounds and Alternatives)

If you still have a Mac running macOS Sonoma (14) or earlier, Launchpad should still work. You can enable it in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Dock > Launchpad (if the toggle exists). If it’s disabled, you can try:

1. Open System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
2. Scroll to the Dock section and look for a Launchpad toggle. If it’s off, turn it on.
3. If the toggle is missing, you may need to reset the Dock with the command defaults delete com.apple.dock; killall Dock in Terminal (this resets Dock settings, so back up first).
4. Alternatively, use Spotlight (Cmd+Space) and type the app name—it’s often faster.

For a similar grid launcher, third-party apps like Raycast or Alfred (both free with paid features) can show a visual grid, though they are primarily text-based. The Applications folder in Finder (Cmd+Shift+A) also shows a list, but not a full-screen grid.

Common Problems with Launchpad (and Why Some Users Gave Up)

Launchpad had quirks that frustrated many users:

• Slow first launch: On older Macs, Launchpad could take a few seconds to populate, especially after a reboot.
• No search bar: Unlike Spotlight, Launchpad had no built-in search (though you could start typing to filter, which was not obvious).
• App deletion confusion: Holding Option made icons jiggle, but you could only delete apps purchased from the App Store; others would show a warning.
• Folder management: Creating folders required dragging one app onto another, which was intuitive but could be finicky with a trackpad.
• Layout resets: After a macOS update, Launchpad sometimes re-sorted apps alphabetically, undoing your custom folders.

These issues meant many users tried Launchpad once and never returned, which likely contributed to its demise.

What to Use Instead (Spotlight, Dock, and Finder)

If Launchpad disappears, here are the main alternatives:

• Spotlight: Press Cmd+Space, type the first few letters of an app, and hit Enter. It’s the fastest for most people. You can also use it to open files, do math, and get web results.
• Dock: Pin your most-used apps. Right-click an app and choose Options > Keep in Dock. The Dock also shows running apps with a dot.
• Applications folder: Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+A, and you’ll see all apps. You can sort by name, date added, or kind, and drag apps to the Dock or toolbar.
• Stage Manager: If you use multiple windows, Stage Manager (Control+Up Arrow or the icon in Control Center) groups apps on the left side, but it’s not a launcher.
• Third-party launchers: Raycast and Alfred offer fast, extensible launching with plugins and clipboard history. They are free to start and have paid tiers.

Why I’ll Miss It (The Case for a Grid Launcher)

Despite its flaws, Launchpad had a unique value: it showed every app at once, without typing. For users with large screens, a grid is easier to scan than a list. It also worked well with trackpad gestures—pinch to see all apps, then click. It was especially useful for discovering apps you forgot you had, or for organizing apps into folders by category (productivity, games, utilities).

Spotlight requires you to remember the exact name; Launchpad lets you browse visually. For a family Mac shared by several people, Launchpad was a simple way to find apps without explaining Spotlight. Its removal would be a loss of accessibility, not just a feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Launchpad officially removed in macOS Sequoia?

As of macOS Sequoia (15), Launchpad is still present but disabled by default on new Macs. Apple has not announced a removal date, but the feature is deprecated and may be dropped in a future release. Users on older macOS versions can still enable it.

Can I still use Launchpad if I upgrade to macOS Sequoia?

Yes, if you upgrade an existing Mac, Launchpad should remain available unless Apple removes it in a later update. However, new Macs may have it turned off. You can try enabling it in System Settings > Desktop & Dock, or use a Terminal command to re-enable it.

What is the fastest way to launch an app on a Mac?

Spotlight (Cmd+Space) is generally the fastest for most users because you can type and press Enter without lifting your hands. For users who prefer a visual grid, Launchpad was faster than scrolling through the Applications folder, but third-party launchers like Raycast can be equally quick.

Can I get Launchpad back if Apple removes it?

If Apple fully removes Launchpad, you could use a third-party app that mimics its grid layout, such as Launchpad Manager or a custom Dock with folders. However, none are likely to replicate the exact full-screen gesture. Alternatively, you can create a Smart Folder in Finder that shows all apps, but it won’t be full-screen.

Why did Apple never add search to Launchpad?

Apple likely assumed Spotlight was sufficient for search. Launchpad was designed for visual browsing, and adding a search box would have duplicated Spotlight’s function. However, you can actually type in Launchpad to filter apps, but it’s not discoverable—a design oversight that contributed to its low usage.

Does Launchpad affect Mac performance?

Launchpad itself uses little resources when idle. However, it does index apps and may cause a slight delay on first launch, especially on older Macs. Its removal would free up a small amount of memory, but not enough to notice.

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