Apps menu changed on the Dock with macOS 26

z_zakiiii wrote:

Apps menu changed on the Dock with iOS 26



After updating the Mac OS to Tahoe, I am disappointed with the new Apps menu, with so small icons inside the box. The old menu like a iphones/ iPad was good. Does anyone knows how to make it default again?

Attaching screenshot of the new update of Apps .

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.0

re: < macOS 26 >

At this time there is no reverting back to the old LaunchPad

To be proactive you can submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I keep being surprised by how many people clamor for the return of Launchpad...

From that window, just type two or three letters and press enter.

Better yet, ignore the Dock and just press Command-space, type two or three letters, like "Saf", press enter, and you are running Safari, "Ma", enter, and you are running Mail, etc.

Launchpad seemed like a giant iPhone screen. The Mac has a physical keyboard, you know...

+ 1

dialabrain wrote:

I do organize apps in folders such as Games, Graphics, Internet, Media, Office, etc. Never used Launchpad and not using Apps. I use XMenu to navigate but adding the Applications folder to the Dock then clicking on it works almost as well.

As I recall (take that for what it's worth), at some point, Apple began discouraging people from mucking about in the Applications folder. Possibly when they introduced LaunchPad? By then, Spotlight was good enough to replace ODev's LaunchBar and I just stoped doing folders for applications.

When App Library came out in iOS, I also stopped sorting apps into folders on my iPhone. I have three Home Screens with apps and widgets (one if I'm using my Work Focus). App Library certainly isn't perfect in its categorization but it's good enough combined with, you guessed it, Spotlight.

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I keep being surprised by how many people clamor for the return of Launchpad...

From that window, just type two or three letters and press enter.

Better yet, ignore the Dock and just press Command-space, type two or three letters, like "Saf", press enter, and you are running Safari, "Ma", enter, and you are running Mail, etc.

And, I don't have to waste my time putting things in folders and hoping that I remember which ones.

I wonder if the people who like LaunchPad have more applications than the people who don't? One of the complaints I've seen is that they don't remember the names of all of the apps on their computer. I admit, I don't remember absolutely everything I have installed but I do know the names of the things I regularly use. On rare occasions, I open the Applications folder and scan through it for something. But not more than every couple of months.

lipe14 wrote:

I agree with you 100%.

After updating to macOS Tahoe 26, I’m also very disappointed with the new “Apps” menu. It mixes iPhone/iPad apps with Mac apps in a messy way, and there’s no option to keep them separated or return to the classic Launchpad style.

You can turn off the iPhone/iPad apps. Settings>Spotlight. Go to the bottom and untick iPhone apps.

I keep being surprised by how many people clamor for the return of Launchpad...

From that window, just type two or three letters and press enter.

Better yet, ignore the Dock and just press Command-space, type two or three letters, like "Saf", press enter, and you are running Safari, "Ma", enter, and you are running Mail, etc.

Launchpad seemed like a giant iPhone screen. The Mac has a physical keyboard, you know...

If you want just one click, put the app in the Dock. Then you can launch it that way.

With Launchpad it was at the very least one keystroke and one click, or two clicks.

With Spotlight it may be slightly more if you count individual actions, but it is all keyboard, zero clicks.

I understand that some people use the mouse more, others use the keyboard more.

I launch most applications with four key presses and without touching the trackpad.

For me, it is way faster. It may not be for you, of course.

I agree with you 100%.

After updating to macOS Tahoe 26, I’m also very disappointed with the new “Apps” menu. It mixes iPhone/iPad apps with Mac apps in a messy way, and there’s no option to keep them separated or return to the classic Launchpad style.

Another issue: screenshots now have a delay and you can’t drag them right away like before — which really breaks the workflow.

Honestly, the old Launchpad was much clearer and more productive. This new design feels like a step backwards.

teshawofdahoum wrote:

So, Luis, you suggest we replace one click with how many clicks and types?

Formerly Launchpad could be launched from the Dock - step #1

Then,  clink on the application of choice - step # 2 

Currently ⌘ + spacebar - step # 1 

Currently ⌘ + 1 brings up Applications  - step # 2 

Currently, click on the application of choice - step # 3 

Yes, in this setup,  there is exactly 1 extra step 

When 1 person gets traction on this issue of Launchpad being removed in Tahoe , then it becomes a hot topic

It is sort of like the first lemming that jumps off the cliff and all the others follow , without thinking this through.

Sicarius66 wrote:

En fait, on est habitué avec Apple à avoir le choix, ex : plein de personnalisation ajouté dans MacOS 26, mais on vous force à adopter le nouveau menu des applications.

Ce serait cool qu'on est le choix là aussi, surtout qu'il y a mon sens une double utilisation du Spotlight.

Pratique avant, meilleur maintenant avec "⌘ + &" on trouvait nos applications direct avec Spotlight, j'ai toujours utilisé "🔍 + saf" pour ouvrir Safari, pour reprendre l'exemple cité précédemment.

Encore plus génial pour la recherche de fichier et l'exécution de raccourcis.

L'ancien menu des applications (façon iOS) me permettait de trier mes apps par famille(et mon dieu qu'on s'y retrouve mieux !), et j'avais un "fourre-tout" où je mettais toute les app du genre CHESS !!! Ces app inutile qu'on ne peut pas supprimer...

Alors pourquoi instaurer un Spotlight bis pour les application uniquement quand on ajoute dans le même mise à jour le génialissime "⌘ + &" ???

C'est une deuxièmes recherche rapide intelligente en réalité, pas un menu pour applications...

Deux chemins pour l'exact même résultat.

Ce n'est que mon avis bien sûr ! ☮️

French - Communauté d’assistance Apple officielle

Communauté d’assistance Apple officielle

IdrisSeabright wrote:

I wonder if the people who like LaunchPad have more applications than the people who don't? One of the complaints I've seen is that they don't remember the names of all of the apps on their computer. I admit, I don't remember absolutely everything I have installed but I do know the names of the things I regularly use. On rare occasions, I open the Applications folder and scan through it for something. But not more than every couple of months.

There are times I think this too, regarding that many applications that memory fails them

Then it begs the question, how much is enough and how much is actually needed

Nay, the mantra I can not remember is exactly that, a mantra to possible fulfill the desired effects

Your suggest to open the Applications folder seems a viable option to me

IdrisSeabright wrote:

And, I don't have to waste my time putting things in folders and hoping that I remember which ones.

I do organize apps in folders such as Games, Graphics, Internet, Media, Office, etc. Never used Launchpad and not using Apps. I use XMenu to navigate but adding the Applications folder to the Dock then clicking on it works almost as well.

En fait, on est habitué avec Apple à avoir le choix, ex : plein de personnalisation ajouté dans MacOS 26, mais on vous force à adopter le nouveau menu des applications.

Ce serait cool qu'on est le choix là aussi, surtout qu'il y a mon sens une double utilisation du Spotlight.

Pratique avant, meilleur maintenant avec "⌘ + &" on trouvait nos applications direct avec Spotlight, j'ai toujours utilisé "🔍 + saf" pour ouvrir Safari, pour reprendre l'exemple cité précédemment.

Encore plus génial pour la recherche de fichier et l'exécution de raccourcis.

L'ancien menu des applications (façon iOS) me permettait de trier mes apps par famille(et mon dieu qu'on s'y retrouve mieux !), et j'avais un "fourre-tout" où je mettais toute les app du genre CHESS !!! Ces app inutile qu'on ne peut pas supprimer...

Alors pourquoi instaurer un Spotlight bis pour les application uniquement quand on ajoute dans le même mise à jour le génialissime "⌘ + &" ???

C'est une deuxièmes recherche rapide intelligente en réalité, pas un menu pour applications...

Deux chemins pour l'exact même résultat.

Ce n'est que mon avis bien sûr ! ☮️

I know that I have way too many apps on my iPhone, including many I have no idea about and don't remember downloading unless I launch them and look at them. I periodically make a stab at winnowing them down to something more reasonable but I usually get bored by the time I reach the Cs.

To compare notes re iPhone

I have less Third Party Apps on 1 iPhone than I do on the combined number to third party applications on 3 Apple machines with Tahoe

Yes, with the every speeding of Time , the memory has not yet become totally full ( subject to number of coffees I have had ) lol