Launchpad is the full-screen grid of every app on your Mac, styled like an iPhone or iPad Home Screen. It is the fastest way to see what you have installed, launch something, or clean up apps you never open. Here is how to use it — and what changed in macOS Tahoe (macOS 26), where Launchpad was renamed and moved.
How to open Launchpad
On macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and earlier there are four ways to open it:
- Trackpad gesture: pinch your thumb and three fingers together on the trackpad. This is the quickest method once it becomes muscle memory.
- Dock icon: click the silver rocket icon in the Dock (it may be labeled Launchpad).
- Spotlight or keyboard: press the Launchpad key on newer Magic Keyboards (the grid icon, usually F4), or add a shortcut in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Launchpad.
- Applications folder: open Finder, choose Go > Applications, and double-click Launchpad.
To close Launchpad without opening anything, press Esc, click an empty area of the background, or do the reverse pinch (spread thumb and three fingers apart).
Search for an app instantly
The single most useful trick: once Launchpad is open, just start typing. There is a search field at the top, and typing a few letters filters the grid down to matching apps. Press Return to launch the top result. For most people this is faster than scrolling — open Launchpad, type “pre”, hit Return, and Preview opens.
Page through and rearrange your apps
If you have more apps than fit on one screen, Launchpad spreads them across multiple pages. Swipe left or right with two fingers on the trackpad, use the arrow keys, or click the dots near the bottom to jump between pages.
To move an app, click and hold its icon until the icons start to jiggle, then drag it wherever you want — including onto another page. Drop it and click an empty spot to lock the new layout in place.
Group apps into folders
Folders keep Launchpad tidy, exactly like on an iPhone:
- Drag one app icon directly on top of another. macOS creates a folder containing both.
- The folder opens with an editable name (for example “Creative” or “Utilities”) — type a new name and press Return.
- Drag more apps into the folder, or drag an app out to remove it. A folder empties itself automatically when the last app leaves.
Delete an app from Launchpad
Launchpad can uninstall apps you got from the App Store. Click and hold any icon until they jiggle, then click the ✕ in the corner of the app you want gone and confirm. If an app has no ✕, it did not come from the App Store — drag it to the Trash from the Applications folder instead. For a full walkthrough of every removal method (including the leftover files most people miss), see our guide on how to uninstall apps on a Mac.
Where Launchpad went in macOS Tahoe (macOS 26)
Starting with macOS Tahoe (macOS 26, 2025), Apple removed the standalone Launchpad app and folded the same full-screen app grid into a new Apps view. The behavior is nearly identical — only the name and the way you open it changed:
- Click Launchpad in the Dock (Apple kept the Dock icon), or open Spotlight and it now leads with an Apps section that shows the same grid.
- The old trackpad pinch may open the Apps view or do nothing depending on your settings — the reliable route on Tahoe is the Dock icon or Spotlight.
- Searching, folders, and dragging to rearrange all work the same as classic Launchpad.
So if you upgraded and think “Launchpad is gone,” it is not — it is the Apps view now, and everything in this guide still applies. On any Mac still running Sonoma or earlier, Launchpad works exactly as described above.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open Launchpad without a trackpad?
Click the rocket icon in the Dock, press the Launchpad/grid key on a Magic Keyboard, or open it from Finder > Go > Applications > Launchpad. On macOS Tahoe, use the Dock icon or Spotlight’s Apps section.
Why is Launchpad missing on my Mac?
If you are on macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) or later, the standalone Launchpad was replaced by the Apps view — click the Launchpad icon in the Dock or use Spotlight to reach the same app grid. On older macOS, check the Dock or open it from the Applications folder.
How do I make folders in Launchpad?
Drag one app icon on top of another; macOS creates a folder you can rename. Drag more apps in or out at any time.
Does deleting an app in Launchpad remove all its files?
Deleting an App Store app from Launchpad removes the app, but some apps leave behind support files. See our uninstall guide for clearing the leftovers.