Missing Launchpad after macOS upgrade: How to restore quick app access?

For what it's worth:

- Open Finder and drag the Apps folder to the right side of the dock (after the vertical line). This creates a shortcut to all your apps. Control-click this shortcut and choose your preferred "Kind," "Show As," and "Show Content As."

- In place of Launchpad, there's also a new app called Apps, which opens the app overview. Your apps are sorted by category here.

Or add a hotcorner link at any corner you like.

Simod wrote:

I just upgraded to the new MacOS and Launchpad has vanished. When I do the squeeze on the trackpad I get spotlight (which is already CMD-Space)

But what it shows is useless to try and find anything. I have to scroll through numerous apps to find the one I want. Or I have to type it in.

Previously with Launchpad it was just squeeze and click the app I wanted. I didn't think I would feel anger using a Mac, but here we are. :-/

see if this resolves your issue—

https://www.macworld.com/article/2846899/this-terminal-trick-brings-back-launchpad-on-macos-26.html

report back your success or failure.

I can not help with your anger issue. You can reference the following—

See "more resources" for issues beyond technical support:

https://learn.appleservices.apple/here-to-help

Simod wrote:

> when something like Launchpad has been incorporated in to Spotlight

It absolutely has not been incorporated into Spotlight. What you are seeing is spotlight as it was with a larger window.

If it had been incorporated then you would be able to customize what apps are shown, how they are categorized and reduce the time to find what you want.

Using Launchpad it was squeeze, click (max 2 clicks for folders). That is 2-3 actions by the end user.

Using the new spotlight it is considerably more actions to launch the same application. It also requires cognitive load task switching from mouse to keyboard, or having to scroll through numerous icons.

To add to that, the "most used" list is only 5 items. But they are OS most used, not what I most use from selecting an application. Which is why Preview is in my top 5 most used, yet I launch that by clicking on a file.

Don't get me started on the categories. Apprantly Discord is a developer tool and Terminal is a Productivity and Finance tool. 🤪

"Get used to it" doesn't excuse the really poor UX design.

While some individuals visit these forums seeking technical solutions to specific Apple-related issues, there are also those who seek recognition or fame through their contributions. 

Simod wrote:

That does not work and it disables spotlight being used in the menu bar + CMD-Space.

Appreciate your feedback.

I would encourage you to contact Filipe Esposito concerning his article:

https://www.macworld.com/author/filipe-esposito

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

you can try the App icon left side of the Dock

Simod wrote:

1. I thought about copying LaunchPad from OS25 (different machine) to OS26, but don't have details on how to do that. Requires more than just the app.

Friendly, unsolicited advise

The frustrations being experienced can by understood when something like Launchpad has been incorporated in to Spotlight

That is a given

It will take use all time to adjust to the new features in macOS 26 Tahoe

That is the nature of change

Though, as has been gently inferred, " OS25 (different machine) to OS26, " there has never been a macOS 25 unless this was a typo error brought on by the frustrations one is experiencing

They've done the one thing that makes me hate Microsoft Windows more than anything else. Removed my ability to organize my applications in a meaningful way. Sure launchpad was sparse and could have used more features but now I just have an alphabetical list? This is meaningless. The UI changes from what was good to terrible, from the overly rounded window frames to the line spacing, bookmark counters in safari (Why do I need to know how many bookmarks are in a bookmark folder? I know how many are there because I put them there) just to start. It's overly just.

[Edited by Moderator]

JF10752 wrote:

They've done the one thing that makes me hate Microsoft Windows more than anything else. Removed my ability to organize my applications in a meaningful way. Sure launchpad was sparse and could have used more features but now I just have an alphabetical list? This is meaningless. The UI changes from what was good to terrible, from the overly rounded window frames to the line spacing, bookmark counters in safari (Why do I need to know how many bookmarks are in a bookmark folder? I know how many are there because I put them there) just to start. It's overly just. Ugly.

These changes make the UX bad enough to make me reconsider my investment into the apple ecosystem.

Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

The lesson to be learned is that, if you're change-averse, wait a week or so and read what other people are saying about the new OS.

As has been said elsewhere

No one forced the individual to upGrade to macOS 26 Tahoe

To effect such an upGrade would have required a conscience and purposefully action on the part of the Owner of the computer

I personally perform my due diligence on any new version of macOS before to dip my toe into the water - per se

Tahoe was announce somewhere in June of this year

Apple even had a website called something like Tahoe Preview where individuals had the chance to see some, not all the new features that Apple Intended to present in the now released version

chdsl wrote:

Sure, the old Launchpad has gone away, but now it is called Apps. You can open it and place it anywhere you'd prefer. You can also make it longer. It is now more like Linux Application Menus.

Good thought 👍 though not sure this will gain too much traction

🦉