6 reasons the loss of Launchpad sucks

[KES3059A3]

Plenty of users aren't keyboard jockeys and prefer a more visual way to quickly access our apps--and the loss of Launchpad in Tahoa is a big detriment to them. Yes, the new Spotlight has a rudimentary visual app launcher, but it lacks:

1. The ability for the user to customize the order of the apps
2. The ability for the user to sort apps into folders for the most sensible organization for them
3. The ability to see notification badges, like those on the Messages app
4. The ability to uninstall apps from macOS (long-click, wiggle, click the X)
5. The ability to see which apps are updating (no progress bar under the app icon for updating apps)
6. The ability to see all the beautiful app icons full-screen for easy clickability

I am so shocked Apple has done away with Launchpad and abandoned all these benefits.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I can understand Apple adding new methods of accessing apps, but removing one doesn’t make sense.

Launchpad wasn’t perfect - largely self-inflicted because they failed to fix bugs and the apps like to ‘reorder’ themselves on occasion. But how difficult would it have been to just fix the bugs and add minor improvements?

 

[TheBeverage]

GitHub - trey-a-12/LaunchBack: A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe

A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe - trey-a-12/LaunchBack

github.com

Currently the best alternative, though for the time being I'll be enjoying the next two years of Safari and security updates on my Sequoia install and hoping Apple's design team gets their act together.

 

[Sniper08]

I can understand Apple adding new methods of accessing apps, but removing one doesn’t make sense.

Launchpad wasn’t perfect - largely self-inflicted because they failed to fix bugs and the apps like to ‘reorder’ themselves on occasion. But how difficult would it have been to just fix the bugs and add minor improvements?

I agree, this is a frustrating loss and illogical. I'm not sure what they're gaining out of this.

And before the usual "just put the apps folder in the dock" crowd shows up: that's not an alternative. Neither is the 'new' way of launching apps. They don't replace the functionality, and making a ton of aliases and managing that isn't either.

 

[fisherking]

6 reasons why the loss of Launchpad is okay:

1. With the same gesture, all of our apps are now accessible from one window; no need to scroll through pages to hunt for an app
2. When you go to open an app, you can start typing the name, see the app, hit return. It’s simple and immediate
3. Notification badges continue to show in the Dock as always
4. You can remove app store apps from the Applications folder (non-app store apps never were removable from Launchpad). Now there is one basic route to delete any app
5. Apps generally update pretty quickly, not sure why someone would need to watch an updating progress bar (but whatever makes one happy 👍)
6. Some people want to open an app quickly and get to work (versus admiring the app icon for a few minutes)

it’s really so easy to open an app (using the finger swipe or command-spacebar, for instance). and since we’re on keyboard-based computers, we’re all keyboard jockeys


(disclaimer: this is all just my opinion) 🙏

 

[yellowhelicopter]

1. With the same gesture, all of our apps are now accessible from one window; no need to scroll through pages to hunt for an app
2. When you go to open an app, you can start typing the name, see the app, hit return. It’s simple and immediate

1. They could just add launchpad icon scale/padding setting to accommodate huge number of apps on one page for those who want it. Then again, it's only a minimal effort to scroll the screen left-right one or few times.

2. You can but that requires additional efforts, and it isn't exactly simple - it requires typing, and that's not always easy f.e. in low light. I don't use keyboard while navigating or doing basic UI staff.

I personally find Launchpad a god send feature compared to Windows alphabetical apps menu. It seems like Apple decided to degrade to Windows way in this regard for whatever reason.

 

[fisherking]

1. They could just add launchpad icon scale/padding setting to accommodate huge number of apps on one page for those who want it. Then again, it's only a minimal effort to scroll the screen left-right one or few times.

2. You can but that requires additional efforts, and it isn't exactly simple - it requires typing, and that's not always easy f.e. in low light. I don't use keyboard while navigating or doing basic UI staff.

I personally find Launchpad a god send feature compared to Windows alphabetical apps menu. It seems like Apple decided to degrade to Windows way in this regard for whatever reason.

not sure about 'degrade to windows', but it's unlikely we'll see launchpad for some time... if ever. and not using a keyboard seems pretty... singular; how many macusers do this? anyway, hope you find a workaround, a 3rd-party app. something. good luck with it 👍

 

[Fishrrman]

It's not a problem if you don't use the launchpad...

I put icons of my Applications folder and Utilities folder into the dock above the trash can:

I set them up so that they display Apps "in a list":

Gives me quick access to my apps that way.

 

[Sniper08]

6 reasons why the loss of Launchpad is okay:

1. With the same gesture, all of our apps are now accessible from one window; no need to scroll through pages to hunt for an app

This is literally a lie. The launchpad has been replaced by the app drawer and you have to scroll down a narrow grid of 5 apps until you find the one you want - assuming you remember the name of it (some of us use more than 90 apps).

Of course you also get to scroll past all your utility apps every time, even if your setup has them launching at login and you rarely launch them manually (Lulu, Betterdisplay, bartender, and so on).

1. When you go to open an app, you can start typing the name, see the app, hit return. It’s simple and immediate

Congratulations, that was always an option. Perhaps we should remove that and bring back launchpad because it works better for me.

1. Notification badges continue to show in the Dock as always

Ok? should I keep all apps that notify me in the dock? At all times? That's almost 100 apps.

1. You can remove app store apps from the Applications folder (non-app store apps never were removable from Launchpad). Now there is one basic route to delete any app

Awesome, so now instead of having a convenient way to manage the app store apps, we're reduced to one basic route.

1. Apps generally update pretty quickly, not sure why someone would need to watch an updating progress bar (but whatever makes one happy 👍)

"I have never encountered this scenario so clearly it's not an issue👍."

1. Some people want to open an app quickly and get to work (versus admiring the app icon for a few minutes)

"I don't like to do this thing so clearly no one else should do it."

(disclaimer: this is all just my opinion) 🙏

Disclaimer: We are well aware 🙏

GitHub - trey-a-12/LaunchBack: A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe

A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe - trey-a-12/LaunchBack

github.com

Currently the best alternative, though for the time being I'll be enjoying the next two years of Safari and security updates on my Sequoia install and hoping Apple's design team gets their act together.

I tried this out and it performed terribly on my system. I don't see an update since June, so hopefully the developer is waiting for Tahoe to finalize before continuing development?

 

[fisherking]

This is literally a lie. The launchpad has been replaced by the app drawer and you have to scroll down a narrow grid of 5 apps until you find the one you want - assuming you remember the name of it (some of us use more than 90 apps).

Of course you also get to scroll past all your utility apps every time, even if your setup has them launching at login and you rarely launch them manually (Lulu, Betterdisplay, bartender, and so on).


Congratulations, that was always an option. Perhaps we should remove that and bring back launchpad because it works better for me.


Ok? should I keep all apps that notify me in the dock? At all times? That's almost 100 apps.

Awesome, so now instead of having a convenient way to manage the app store apps, we're reduced to one basic route.


"I have never encountered this scenario so clearly it's not an issue👍."


"I don't like to do this thing so clearly no one else should do it."


Disclaimer: We are well aware 🙏




I tried this out and it performed terribly on my system. I don't see an update since June, so hopefully the developer is waiting for Tahoe to finalize before continuing development?

a bit extreme, but you do you. and i always know what app i want to open, but that's just me.

either way, the choices remain: adapt. find a workaround (several ppl have discussed these things). find another app. or complain 🤔

 

[vinegarshots]

I find launchpad to be pretty pointless, and I've used in maybe once or twice. Won't miss it in the slightest

 

[fisherking]

I find launchpad to be pretty pointless, and I've used in maybe once or twice. Won't miss it in the slightest

it was great for macbook users, having a simple trackpad gesture to invoke it. but am getting all that done now anyway, and don't miss: seeing it, organizing it, re-organizing it, wishing icons were smaller (so i could get more on one page).

 

[gank41]

What I'm missing the most is that the most recently installed Apps are always at the end of the Launchpad apps grid. I'd organize them and stuff and sort them into folders how I'd like, and then if/when I'd install an App later and maybe I wouldn't open it right away, maybe even forget for the moment.. The Launchpad would have the app right there.

 

[Che Castro]

Are

GitHub - trey-a-12/LaunchBack: A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe

A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe - trey-a-12/LaunchBack

github.com

Currently the best alternative, though for the time being I'll be enjoying the next two years of Safari and security updates on my Sequoia install and hoping Apple's design team gets their act together.

Are you going to update to 15.7 released today?

 

[TheBeverage]

@Che Castro It's not my software.

 

[Che Castro]

@Che Castro It's not my software.

I meant are you personally going to update your Mac to sequoia 15.7 released today ?

 

[Stable Entropy]

GitHub - trey-a-12/LaunchBack: A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe

A free and open-source re-implementation of the macOS Launchpad pre-Tahoe - trey-a-12/LaunchBack

github.com

Currently the best alternative, though for the time being I'll be enjoying the next two years of Safari and security updates on my Sequoia install and hoping Apple's design team gets their act together.

Thanks for sharing this! I'm good with all the other changes in the 26 OS updates, but the change in LaunchPad is baffling

 

[Che Castro]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm good with all the other changes in the 26 OS updates, but the change in LaunchPad is baffling

I wouldn’t use that yet , the last update was in June

 

[thebart]

I miss launchpad. I work that way. There's no need to tell me I'm doing it wrong.

I use only 6 things that came with MacOS: Finder, Launchpad, System Monitor, Settings, Automator, Shortcuts. They got rid of Launchpad instead of all the stuff like podcasts and books that I never use and should be downloaded from the store.

Also, the new apps window can be resized but it doesn't retain its size, which is dumb.

So far, the only new thing I like is that the scrollbars are easier to see. I honestly don't notice the vaunted glass effects, except where they make things harder to read. If I turn on reduce transparency, it makes my desktop widgets HARDER to see because they're now white text on light grey. D'oh!

 

[TheBeverage]

Are

Are you going to update to 15.7 released today?

Oh, misunderstood, yes at some point this weekend I’ll personally be updating. I intend to keep with the latest version of macOS 15 for security updates and would recommend the same. I also fully expect Apple will refine the OS over the next couple years, so by the time Sequoia is at risk of not receiving security updates we will be have a more refined design. And if I’m wrong… well, I still need my security updates, so at that point I’ll grit my teeth and bear it.

 

[drewboy891]

Just tried out the new “Apps” app in today’s release and… this is not it.

It’s pulling in every single iPhone app I own, with no way to filter or hide them, and it’s showing duplicates for any app that exists on both my Mac and my phone (see the two Amazon Photos icons in my screenshot). It turns what should be a quick way to launch apps into a cluttered mess.

Launchpad used to give me a clean, organized view where I could group things into folders — productivity, creativity, utilities, etc. Now everything is just dumped together in one endless grid, and it’s frustrating to navigate.

At the very least, Apple should:

• Let us filter Mac apps vs. iPhone/iPad apps
• Provide an option to hide iOS apps entirely
• Allow users to switch back to Launchpad if they prefer it

This new approach feels clunky and not fully thought through.

 

[ManuCH]

Tahoe has now been released. Is there any decent third party solution that replaces Launchpad functionality and doesn't look like an ugly workaround? I have a couple of friends who want to downgrade because of the loss of Launchpad alone, and I'm trying to help them (I never used Launchpad myself).

In particular, the loss of folders and left/right page swipe seems to be what's bothering the most.

 

[ebika]

Just tried out the new “Apps” app in today’s release and… this is not it.

It’s pulling in every single iPhone app I own, with no way to filter or hide them, and it’s showing duplicates for any app that exists on both my Mac and my phone (see the two Amazon Photos icons in my screenshot). It turns what should be a quick way to launch apps into a cluttered mess.

Launchpad used to give me a clean, organized view where I could group things into folders — productivity, creativity, utilities, etc. Now everything is just dumped together in one endless grid, and it’s frustrating to navigate.

At the very least, Apple should:

• Let us filter Mac apps vs. iPhone/iPad apps
• Provide an option to hide iOS apps entirely
• Allow users to switch back to Launchpad if they prefer it

This new approach feels clunky and not fully thought through.

View attachment 2549690

This works for me:

Go to System Settings -> Spotlight -> Disable The "iPhone Apps" setting from the "Results From System" section.

 

[Kylo83]

Yea I hate it, such a downgrade

 

[Macalicious2011]

OMG. What is this. Just saw it in a review. 🤣