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Launchpad is gone from the user-facing macOS Tahoe experience. Apple’s replacement is an Apps browsing view inside Spotlight, with categories and suggestions—but it does not bring back Launchpad’s manually arranged pages and folders. Some users have voiced frustration about that loss; the available reports and forum posts are anecdotal, not evidence that most Mac users hate the change.
What happened to Launchpad in macOS Tahoe?
Apple’s September 2025 macOS Tahoe feature guide describes a Spotlight feature called “Browsing Apps.” It shows Mac apps in categories, offers suggested apps, and can include some iPhone apps that launch through iPhone Mirroring. Open Spotlight and press Command-1 or the right arrow once, or click the Apps icon in the Dock.
Launchpad had been part of macOS since OS X Lion, released in 2011, according to Macworld’s coverage of the change. Its defining feature was not simply a list of apps: users could arrange icons across pages and group them into folders. Tahoe’s Apps view offers category or name browsing and icon or list presentation, but no equivalent way to curate that layout. 9to5Mac’s explanation also describes Apps as a Finder app that can be added to the Dock and says the former four-finger inward pinch gesture opens it.
Why are some users unhappy with the replacement?
The frustration is about control as much as access. People who relied on a familiar grid, personalized icon order, or folders lost that organization when they upgraded. Reports also describe complaints about app-list noise or omissions, icon scanning, and mouse-wheel or gesture behavior. Those reports document specific experiences; they do not establish how common each complaint is.
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The Mac Observer’s September 16, 2025 report collects examples of those reactions. Apple Community discussion titles include “why did you remove launchpad app in 26 macOS” and “Request: Restore Launchpad Functionality or Allow Customizable App Organization in macOS Tahoe.” These are examples of individual users’ language, not a representative survey. OWC’s September 23, 2025 guide notes that some early upgraders and power users already preferred the Dock, Spotlight, or Spotlight alternatives, and characterizes frustration as more visible after general release. That, too, is editorial observation rather than a measured poll.
So “users hate” is a headline’s broad framing, not a demonstrated consensus. The evidence supports a more limited conclusion: some users are frustrated, particularly those who valued Launchpad’s custom layout, while others prefer the replacement or already used different launch methods.
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Ways to find and launch apps in Tahoe
Use the Apps view
Click the Apps icon in the Dock, or open Spotlight and press Command-1 or the right arrow to enter the browsing view. Browse by category or name, or use Spotlight to search for an app. This is a natural fit if you are comfortable with categories, alphabetical browsing, or typing an app’s name. Apple also presents Spotlight as a place to find files and actions and access clipboard history.
Make a Dock grid from the Applications folder
For a visual grid without extra software, add the Applications folder to the Dock:
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- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
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- Open Finder and locate the Applications folder.
- Drag the folder to the Dock’s right-hand section, beyond the divider and near the Trash.
- Control-click or right-click the Dock folder, then choose View content as > Grid.
The folder opens as a Dock pop-up grid, as described by 9to5Mac and OWC. It provides an at-a-glance view without installing an app, but it is not a replacement for Launchpad’s individually arranged pages and folders.
Open Applications in Finder or search with Spotlight
Finder’s Applications folder remains available. In Finder, press Shift-Command-A to open it, a shortcut documented by Macworld. Spotlight remains the quicker keyboard-first option when you know an app’s name.
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- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
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- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
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Consider a third-party visual launcher
If custom ordering and folders are essential, third-party launchers may be worth considering. OWC names Launchie and AppHub as examples, but app availability and distribution can change, so verify current compatibility, update status, price, and distribution before installing.
Availability can be especially complicated for utilities that resemble Launchpad. In a March 25, 2026 report, 9to5Mac quoted AppGrid developer Attila Miklosi saying Apple blocked further App Store updates because the app was “too similar to Launchpad.” That is the developer’s account as quoted by the publication, not a statement from Apple. The report says the developer’s alternate distribution was outside the App Store; check the app’s current status and distribution directly before relying on it.
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- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
Which alternative fits your routine?
| Option | Best suited to | What it does not restore | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotlight Apps view | Category browsing, alphabetical browsing, and search | Manually arranged pages and folders | Integrated into macOS, but offers less layout control |
| Applications folder in Dock Grid view | Quick visual scanning without installing a utility | Launchpad-style custom pages and folders | Opens as a Dock pop-up rather than a full-screen launcher |
| Finder Applications folder | Browsing the installed-app folder or using its keyboard shortcut | A curated launch grid | Requires moving to Finder rather than using Launchpad’s layout |
| Third-party visual launcher | Users who need more control over order, folders, or presentation | System-level integration is not guaranteed | Compatibility, distribution, update path, security posture, accessibility, and cost vary by app and can change |
When comparing launchers, consider whether custom order and folders matter more than search speed, how densely you want icons displayed, and whether you prefer Dock, gesture, or keyboard activation. For third-party tools, also check accessibility and pointer or gesture ergonomics, as well as how the app is distributed and updated. Apple’s built-in routes have the clearest system integration; independent utilities may offer layout control but bring their own maintenance and distribution considerations.
Can you restore Launchpad with Terminal?
Do not rely on Terminal instructions published for macOS Tahoe beta versions. Macworld reports that those methods no longer work in the official Tahoe release and can disable Apps and Spotlight. The supported choices described here are to use Tahoe’s Apps view, Finder or Spotlight, the Dock’s Applications grid, or a third-party launcher you have verified.
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