The new app launcher in macOS 26 is truly a massive step backwards. Launchpad is so much more user-friendly, customizable, and usable.
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the new app library in Tahoe is possibly one of the worst possible implementation
- Thread starter Love-hate 🍏 relationship
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been running tahoe since DP1, and no regrets, took a few days to get used to it. using the finger-swipe thing on the trackpad and starting to type an app name, then return... simple, efficient.
having the icons show in that window (with most recent at the top) is nice too
For me, Launchpad is broken. It has annoying bugs that Apple has not fixed, such as: certain apps appearing twice for no reason, empty folders appearing and occasional database corruptions resulting in crashes. I have reset Launchpad numerous times over the years.
Also, Launchpad has annoying limitations that iOS/iPadOS either never had or used to have (!), namely that
- you can uninstall only apps installed via the App Store,
- icons are forcibly sorted in the grid arrangement (no longer a thing in iOS/iPadOS),
- you cannot hide/remove an icon without uninstalling the app (available in iOS/iPadOS for years),
- you can drag only one icon at a time (iOS/iPadOS has supported dragging multiple icons for years),
- you cannot rearrange or hide pages or tie them to a focus mode (available in iOS/iPadOS for years) and
- you have to use a press and hold control scheme to delete apps instead of a control click or right mouse click.
in all the years of using launchpad, i only once had it reset, and was annoyed to have to put it back the way i want. otherwise, it was fine.
you're not on tahoe? as launchpad is no longer part of the OS...
I've used launchpad for years now, and it's my default way to find apps. When reinstalling, or configuring a Mac, I spend time moving the apps around to my liking (alphabetical order), and often within the first day, it resets to it's initial order (annoys the **** out of me). Always wished their was a way to 'sort' the apps.
This new feature in Tahoe I like. It presents them easily enough.
This new feature in Tahoe I like. It presents them easily enough.
I personnel love it, pull up finder, I use list in alphabetacly and it is so easy work with, all the apps I use all the time are in the dock and frequent are on desktop
Would be great if you could resize or customize this. It opens to such a small square, would be great to actually get some use out of this app. It's just not very useful to me to open apps. I liked the old way better, and will probably just stick to the app dock folders... my two cents.
I guess I just don't understand why they didn't introduce all of this functionality into the Spotlight search instead. They're roughly the same thing except that the new App Library is just apps.. Why have to gestures to bring up a search for apps?
it's in both places. you can open spotlight (ie with command-spacebar), start typing an app name... or click on the app icon. or invoke the trackpad swipe. anyway i find it fast and intuitive....
I just don’t understand why they’d take away something and have two ways to do the same thing. Accept, this is only for apps, Spotlight also finds my friend Bryan. Alton Brown would question Apple’s tools.
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i would think they've kept the finger-swipe access for those of us coming from launchpad. either way, i intuitively use both in a day, and great to have that quick access...
This new app launcher is an absolute unholy piece of sh_i_t.
why?
it works fine here, the new (beta 3) larger window is great; i thought i'd miss launchpad (i used it all the time), but prefer the newer apps app đź‘Ť
Check out this new Launchpad replacement for macOS Tahoe.
Launchpad - Modern macOS Application Launcher
Launchpad - A modern macOS application launcher with customizable grid layout, folders, and search.
kristof12345.github.io
If you miss the original Launchpad, check out this replacement with extra customization for macOS Tahoe.
Launchpad - Modern macOS Application Launcher
Launchpad - A modern macOS application launcher with customizable grid layout, folders, and search.
kristof12345.github.io
Yay. Another decade-old feature as a subscription. No thanks.
I will pay for some software, but I won't subscribe to a license. I'd sooner write my own app and then release it for free.
Why do you think it’s subscription? (It’s one time $5 or $10 based on tier.)
You're right.
The reason I thought that was because one of the options (the most expensive) lists "lifetime license" as a feature. But right above all the options it says "single time purchase. No subscription is required."
That's good. Although in this case, still not something I'd pay for. Rather than pay for features that Apple continuously removes, I'd rather just use Linux.