Launchpad on Big Sur

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curious88 Author

Level 1

48 points

Launchpad on Big Sur

How do I remove items from Launchpad without deleting the app?

iMac 27″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Aug 29, 2021 2:48 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

116,710 points

Aug 29, 2021 6:10 PM in response to curious88

There should not be any Documents in LaunchPad. LaunchPad should only be showing apps.

You create a "Folder" in LaunchPad by dragging one icon on top of another which you want to be grouped together. If you hover long enough, it will open, and you can choose to not drop the app into that group. So, when you accidentally do that, you can sort of abort it. You can also move it after the fact.

You can drag items around on the LaunchPad, so you could also move those seven items into another page where there are more icons.

I never use the LaunchPad as I don't see the point short of trying to make it look like an iPhone. To launch apps, I just open Spotlight (cmd-space) and start typing the name of the app. When it finds the app, I hit return.

Again, the LaunchPad is not for Documents, and you should not see any there.

So, I have to wonder what you are seeing that you are calling the LaunchPad.

This guide may help you identify what you are calling LaunchPad (unless it really is LaunchPad and yours is showing documents). macOS User Guide - Apple Support

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Answer 2

curious88 Author

Level 1

48 points

Aug 29, 2021 5:47 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for the suggestion Barney. Bought a new iMac, running Big Sur. Several unwanted app icons suddenly appeared in Launchpad after Mac tech (I hired) transferred everything from old 2014 iMac to new. The odd thing is that in my documents I have a folder (call it A), and under A I have 4 other folders, and in each of these folders I have documents labeled specific years. It's all nice and neat in documents, easy to find and use. But on Launchpad, 7 documents appear as individual items - ugly, confusing and waste of space. And these are documents I access several times each year but don't want to see them as 7 different items/icons in Launchpad.

Do I add the new folder you're recommending directly onto Launchpad (and how) OR do i now need to change my existing folders via Finder-Documents, etc., or ? I think I'm getting too old for these constant learning curves, sigh.

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Answer 3

curious88 Author

Level 1

48 points

Aug 29, 2021 8:25 PM in response to Barney-15E

Oops, I misspoke - I meant 7 apps in LaunchPad. I too have almost never used LaunchPad but during poking around in what's new/changed on my new iMac and Big Sur, I noticed the 7 apps. I'll just move them to another page so I don't have to see them. Thanks again - much appreciated.

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