apps only shows standard apple apps macos tahoe

Raendeer wrote:

How do i fix this?

Spotlight is one of the core, foundational technologies of modern macOS. Unfortunately, it's also one of the flakiest.

Here's one thing to try. In the Finder, manually locate one of your 3rd party apps, ideally one that starts with one of the first letters of the alphabet. Launch the app. Then quit it.

Now try the "new" Launchpad/Spotlight. Do you see the app? If so, that's the fix. You'll need to manually launch all of your apps to re-register them with the operating system.

I've encountered this problem myself. I don't know what causes it.

I never used Launchpad, or the Dock, but that is because I know the names of the applications, so Spotlight it is... for me :-)

In your case, a possible alternative is to add folders to the right side of your Dock.

Make two folders, say Apps1 and Apps2 (though you can figure out better names than those), and fill them with aliases of the applications, as you want them organized. Add these two folders to the Dock.

(Cmd) + spacebar  will invoke Spotlight 

Mouse over A for Applications or ⌘ + 1

Mouse over second icon for Files or ⌘ + 2

Mouse over third icon for Actions or ⌘ + 3

Mouse over fourth icon for Clipboard or ⌘  + 4

Using the ⌘ + 1 in may case >> Applications

It brings up a host of applications that came pre-installed with macOS 26 Tahoe and other Third Party Applications like “Ad and Stuff “ / Carbon Copy Cloner / Etrecheck Pro, Firefox etc etc. 

Agree, Launchpad may have been useful in its day

It seems Apple has decided in macOS 26 Tahoe.

To expand the functionalities of Spotlight to include that which Launchpad has been doing 

Launchpad was first introduced in Mac OS X Lion, which was released in 2011. It brought an iPhone-like "home screen" experience to the Mac, allowing users to see and organize all their installed applications in a grid-based interface. 

The lines between iOS and macOS are becoming more buried with each newer versions of both operating systems

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I never used Launchpad, or the Dock, but that is because I know the names of the applications, so Spotlight it is... for me :-)

In your case, a possible alternative is to add folders to the right side of your Dock.

Make two folders, say Apps1 and Apps2 (though you can figure out better names than those), and fill them with aliases of the applications, as you want them organized. Add these two folders to the Dock.

+ 1

Try rebuilding the spotlight index.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

Then, you may consider the suggestion from @Barney-15E and rebuild the spotlight index

I can see all applications, be they Apple installed or Third Party software

Should neither suggestion work

You may try restarting in Safe Mode.

Does the issue persist ?

FWIW, I see all apps I have installed. Don't why you don't or how to fix it. I never used LaunchPad. I organize my apps into folders; Graphics, Media, Games, etc.

You are welcome 👍

It, safe boot, followed by a normal boot has been known to do magic

🦉