With macOS Tahoe (macOS 26), Apple replaced the familiar Launchpad with a redesigned Apps view. While Apple pitched this change as a streamlined way to access your applications, not every Mac user is happy. For years, Launchpad gave users a full-screen grid, folder organization, and a quick, intuitive way to find apps. Now, the new Apps view feels different — and not always in a good way.
This article looks at what changed, why many users miss Launchpad’s full-screen layout and folders, and how you can adapt to the new Apps experience.
What Changed from Launchpad to Apps View?
Launchpad used to cover the entire screen, offering a grid of apps you could swipe through like on an iPhone or iPad. It also let you:
- Create folders by dragging apps together.
- Rearrange icons for personal organization.
- Quickly access apps using trackpad gestures, hot corners, or shortcuts.
In macOS Tahoe, Launchpad is gone and replaced with Apps. While it still shows your installed apps and supports search, the new design is not full screen, and apps are shown in a panel-style layout instead of the immersive grid.
Why Users Miss Launchpad
No Full-Screen Mode
One of the biggest complaints is that Apps doesn’t take up the whole display. Launchpad gave you a dedicated, distraction-free space to browse apps. Apps feels more like a drawer that never fully opens, which some users find less immersive and harder to navigate.
No Custom Folders or Tags
Launchpad allowed you to drag and drop apps into folders, creating a custom organizational system. In Apps, everything is shown in a single list. Without folders or tags, users with hundreds of apps feel the layout is scattered.
Slower Navigation for Power Users
Many users relied on Launchpad shortcuts, like pinch gestures or hot corners, to bring up a full-screen app list. While those shortcuts still open Apps, the new design feels like a downgrade — less structured and less customizable.
What Works Better in Apps
To be fair, Apps isn’t all bad. Apple streamlined search so you can simply type the first few letters of an app to open it quickly. Spotlight integration is tighter too — typing in Spotlight and pressing a shortcut (like Command + 3) can bring you directly to the app you want. For users who rely more on typing than tapping, this is faster than manually swiping through Launchpad pages.
Workarounds and Alternatives
Use Spotlight Search
Hit Command + Spacebar, type the app name, and launch instantly. This is the fastest way to bypass the clutter.
Pin Apps to the Dock
For frequently used apps, pin them directly to the Dock for one-click access.
Use Finder’s Applications Folder
If you prefer a list format, go to Finder > Applications. You can even create aliases or smart folders to simulate Launchpad-style categories.
Try Third-Party Launchers
Apps like Alfred, Raycast, or Quicksilver bring back a more powerful, customizable app launcher experience.
Conclusion
macOS Tahoe’s shift from Launchpad to Apps has left some longtime users frustrated. The lack of full-screen mode, custom folders, and easy drag-and-drop organization feels like a step backward for people who relied on those features.
Still, with Spotlight, Dock customization, and third-party tools, you can rebuild some of that lost functionality. Whether Apple will add folder support or a full-screen option in future updates remains to be seen. For now, adapting to the Apps view means leaning more on search and shortcuts — or turning to alternatives that restore the simplicity of Launchpad.
