How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Barney-15E wrote:

Since we cannot change macOS, I don't quite understand the pile driving insistence that we come over to the dark side.

Misery loves company?

You may be correct. It seems his entire world will collapse around him if he doesn't convince us of the divine beauty of the iPhone app.

Anthony Sbarro wrote:

Not quite. This is a discussion forum. We're have a discussion.

If by that, you mean you keep trying to argue with people who tell you they don't want to argue, sure.

I'm determined to convince people that my opinion is valid because a science based reality exists and that we shouldn't accept whatever Apple tells us as the only reality.

You're trying to convince us that your opinion, your preference is the only right one. I'm sorry to tell but it's not.

If you believe that user satisfaction is entirely irrelevant for Apple and they have zero interest in any feedback at all, (1) I feel very sad for you and (2) why would they have the feedback form?

I don't know where you're getting that. I probably suggest that people use the feedback page a dozen times a day. However, I don't think that Apple looks at user satisfaction the same why you do. You appear to think that it means, "give me exactly what I say I want." Apple seems to take a larger view. They seem to be trying to give the most people the best experience. They will never, however, be able to please everyone. It would be illogical to think they could.

I've yet to hear anyone suggest any reason why LaunchPad should have been wholly removed. Perhaps someone will come across this post who does have some insight as to why Apple removed a core element of the operating system and has made a decision to make it harder for users to do a simple task such as launching an application.

We are not Apple. We don't know exactly why Apple made this decision. What I can tell you is that Apple has access to the user interaction data of everyone who's ever checked the box to say they can have it. That's probably millions of people. Over years. They have far more insight into what most people do on the devices than you or I ever will.

I concede that it takes a lot of effort to make Apple change things but they have. Although, in one case, I've had to get rid of my Apple Watch because they refused to return the face switcher which was another primary element of the operating system.

Do you mean swiping to change faces? They returned that ages ago.

If enough people are heard, and Apple refuses to simply turn LaunchPad back on, perhaps others will continue to build a proper replacement such as Launchie (though it's missing too many features to use yet - I'll be watching).

You might want to contact the developers of Launchie to let them know what features you think they should ask. And maybe throw a little money their way.

FWIW the mac existed for nearly thirty years before Launchpad. To those who came to the mac from iPhone it may have become familiar, but for those of us who have been using macs since way back, Launchpad is completely out of place.

Launchpad was not horribly inefficient - the replacement is.

Previously I did a simple gesture on my trackpad and viola, a screen of curated popular but secondary apps appeared and I need only barely move my cursor to an icon and there it was. No cluttered dock. No need to type to search for the app. Much more efficient IMHO.

Bring back Launchpad as least as an option to choose in Settings! (and yes I've given feedback to Apple)

JazimBlue wrote:

Launchpad was not horribly inefficient - the replacement is.

Previously I did a simple gesture on my trackpad and viola, a screen of curated popular but secondary apps appeared and I need only barely move my cursor to an icon and there it was. No cluttered dock. No need to type to search for the app. Much more efficient IMHO.

Bring back Launchpad as least as an option to choose in Settings! (and yes I've given feedback to Apple)

I just typed a few letters and I got what I wanted. I didn't have to search through a sea of icons.

Build your own curated folders of app aliases.

Launchpad was super efficient. I had mine in a Hot Corner. Slide the mouse to the corner, click on app, 99% of which were on the first screen, because I'd arranged them deliberately for this purpose. It was a 5 x 7 grid....who needs more than 35 apps on a daily basis? And if you do, it's a simple 2-finger slide on the Trackpad.

JivingJohnson wrote:

Launchpad was super efficient. I had mine in a Hot Corner. Slide the mouse to the corner, click on app, 99% of which were on the first screen, because I'd arranged them deliberately for this purpose. It was a 5 x 7 grid....who needs more than 35 apps on a daily basis? And if you do, it's a simple 2-finger slide on the Trackpad.

35 multi-colored icons mashed together. That must look like Walt Disney puked on the screen.

Presumably you didn't use Launch Pad because you already used Spotlight search and find that more efficient. The question was: Why would Apple essentially duplicate Spotlight? If anyone wanted to search for apps that way they already could.

Launch Pad was way more efficient for people who knew how to use it. Hot Corner--> Frequently used apps on the first page. No need to type [cmd + space] to summon the search. No need to type the name of the app to pull it up. No need to arrow down and hit enter, or move your hand to the mouse/trackpad to click. With Launch Pad, you're already on your mouse and it takes split seconds to launch apps. Much more efficient for many users like me.

Apple could have merely included the ability to toggle between both versions. And... I assume most people who already use spotlight won't even use the new apps feature because it's completely redundant for them.

Many users have different workflows. I used Lauch Pad frequently. I put it in a hot corner and placed my most frequently opened apps on the first page. It was way more efficient for me. I don't always sit with my hands on the keyboard. I navigate mostly with a mouse/trackpad. I read a lot and watch a lot of video. Losing that ability for no good reason doesn't make sense. Users already had spotlight search if they really want to type in the name of their apps. Many find that faster for them. Fine. Spotlight already existed and that's why they didn't use Lauch Pad.

baneyw wrote:

Presumably you didn't use Launch Pad because you already used Spotlight search and find that more efficient. The question was: Why would Apple essentially duplicate Spotlight? If anyone wanted to search for apps that way they already could.

Launch Pad was way more efficient for people who knew how to use it. Hot Corner--> Frequently used apps on the first page. No need to type [cmd + space] to summon the search. No need to type the name of the app to pull it up. No need to arrow down and hit enter, or move your hand to the mouse/trackpad to click. With Launch Pad, you're already on your mouse and it takes split seconds to launch apps. Much more efficient for many users like me.

Apple could have merely included the ability to toggle between both versions. And... I assume most people who already use spotlight won't even use the new apps feature because it's completely redundant for them.

And, that is all completely irrelevant. We can't do anything about it. Spend your time more efficiently pleading your case to Apple.

Do you even know what the word irrelevant means? I’ve seen you use that over and over in this thread.

This is a discussion. The posts and comments you object to as “irrelevant” here are completely relevant to the discussion.

I think you’re trying to suggest, that the discussion itself is futile. I disagree, because Apple has famously backpedaled on many, many changes over the years when their customers let them know they were upset about it.

baneyw wrote:

I think you’re trying to suggest, that the discussion itself is futile. I disagree, because Apple has famously backpedaled on many, many changes over the years when their customers let them know they were upset about it.

First of all this is not a soapbox or discussion forum. It's a support forum populated by users. Apple is not here, and does not peruse these forums. So virtually all the posts here are in fact irrelevant.

If you want Apple to pay attention then send them feedback to the relevant location.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

It doesn't work the same. I use full screen apps for video and photo editing, so it's several extra steps to switch to the desktop from full screen, and then to restore the app to the way I was using it before afterward. What a mess. I just want to restore the old OS...

m010726 wrote:

I just want to restore the old OS...

As I understand it, that's theoretically possible but probably more difficult than just getting used to the change.

Perhaps this article will provide some assistance:

Replacing LaunchPad (ZDnet)

He’s referring to the proposed workarounds suggested to mimick the old Launch Pad. They don’t fix the issue and I also 100% agree.

He doesn’t want to use cmd + space and neither do I, because my hands aren’t anywhere near a keyboard 75% of the time.

Because we use our Mac’s differently. We have a different workflow.

When I’m glued to the screen working on a project, then keyboard shortcuts are fine. But I still never use Spotlight for apps. It’s slower and the only reason people disagree is because they didn’t know how to use Launch Pad like we did. Hot Corner with most-used apps on the first page.

I use it for screen capture all the time: I placed the app at the top-left corner of launch pad. The same hot corner assigned, so with a mouse gesture I’ve got the app up.

I sometimes use that feature hundreds of times a day. You’re telling me it’s more efficient to grab my keyboard, hit Cmd+space and begin typing screen capture… arrow down and hit enter EVERY TIME?

Okay, I’ll pin it on the dock. But what about my the other frequently used apps.

They didn’t have to kill it for NOT ONLY a duplicate feature, but a weak version of spotlight because it only searches apps.

Not everybody used Launch Pad like this, but those who did understand the value and why the proposed solutions aren’t helpful.