{"id":563,"date":"2025-12-02T13:40:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/02\/best-alternatives-to-launchpad-in-macos-tahoe\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T13:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T13:40:11","slug":"best-alternatives-to-launchpad-in-macos-tahoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/02\/best-alternatives-to-launchpad-in-macos-tahoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Alternatives to Launchpad in macOS Tahoe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple tried to fix something that wasn&#8217;t broken and ended up removing one of the simplest, most reliable features on the Mac: Launchpad. For years, Launchpad was the quickest way to access the grid of applications installed on a Mac. It required no setup, no learning curve, and no extra steps. But with Tahoe, Apple replaced it with a new<strong> &#8220;Apps&#8221;<\/strong> overlay that feels half-baked, slower to navigate, and nowhere near as organized as the classic Launchpad experience.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re among the users who are annoyed by this, there are workarounds and third-party alternatives that bring back a Launchpad-like workflow or even improve on it.<\/p>\n<p>This post covers the best Launchpad alternatives and workarounds on macOS 26.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ec9aed8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-color:var(--theme-palette-color-2, #00509d);border-width:1px;border-radius:3px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-default has-border-color has-palette-color-2-border-color is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-2743f0ea wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<summary>Table of Contents<\/summary>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#1-turn-off-show-iphone-apps-in-the-applications-overlay\">1. Turn Off &quot;Show iPhone Apps&quot; in the Applications Overlay<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#2-add-the-applications-folder-to-the-dock\">2. Add the Applications Folder to the Dock<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#3-use-launchie\">3. Use Launchie<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#4-use-appgrid-launcher\">4. Use AppGrid Launcher<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#5-use-a-hot-corner-to-open-the-new-apps-overlay\">5. Use a Hot Corner to Open the New Apps Overlay<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#bringing-back-a-clean-efficient-app-launcher\">Bringing Back a Clean, Efficient App Launcher<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-turn-off-show-iphone-apps-in-the-applications-overlay\">1. Turn Off &#8220;Show iPhone Apps&#8221; in the Applications Overlay<\/h2>\n<p>In macOS 26 Tahoe, the new Apps overlay replaced the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/how-to-use-launchpad-on-mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener follow\" title=\"\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">Launchpad<\/a>. You can open it by clicking its icon in your dock, by pinching your thumb and three fingers together on the trackpad, or by pressing <strong>Command<\/strong> (\u2318) + <strong>Space<\/strong>, then <strong>Command<\/strong> (\u2318) + <strong>1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>At the top, it displays your five most frequently utilized applications, followed by a grid that organizes all your applications installed on your Mac and iPhone alphabetically. You can also use the category labels to filter applications.<\/p>\n<p>While it mimics the old Launchpad experience well, it shows iPhone apps alongside Mac apps by default, which can be distracting for users who only want to view their Mac applications. Fortunately, you can set the Apps overlay to display only Mac apps. Here&#8217;s how:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the <strong>Apps<\/strong> overlay by pressing <strong>Command (\u2318) + Space<\/strong>, then <strong>Command+1<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>three-dot<\/strong> button at the top right corner.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"427\" class=\"wp-image-751234 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Click the three-dot button at the top right corner\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-the-three-dot-button-at-the-top-right-corner.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-the-three-dot-button-at-the-top-right-corner.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-the-three-dot-button-at-the-top-right-corner-1200x1024.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-the-three-dot-button-at-the-top-right-corner-768x655.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-the-three-dot-button-at-the-top-right-corner-150x128.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Show iPhone Apps<\/strong> in the drop-down menu to filter out the iPhone apps.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"345\" height=\"261\" class=\"wp-image-751235 lazyload\" style=\"width: 345px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Click Show iPhone Apps in the drop-down menu\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-Show-iPhone-Apps-in-the-drop-down-menu.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-Show-iPhone-Apps-in-the-drop-down-menu.jpg 286w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Click-Show-iPhone-Apps-in-the-drop-down-menu-150x113.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This simple tweak brings it closer to the classic Launchpad experience, making it a more practical replacement for everyday use.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you still prefer a dedicated, full-screen launcher that truly replicates Launchpad, the next option might suit you better.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-add-the-applications-folder-to-the-dock\">2. Add the Applications Folder to the Dock<\/h2>\n<p>While turning off the \u201cShow iPhone Apps\u201d option solves the clutter problem, you still can\u2019t resize the Apps overlay window. If you want a bigger, cleaner, more flexible way to browse all your Mac apps, adding the Applications folder to the Dock is the simplest and fastest alternative. It gives you instant access to every installed app and lets you switch between Grid and List views.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can do this:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the <strong>Finder<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Grab the <strong>Applications<\/strong> folder in the sidebar, then drag and drop it onto the Dock to the right of the divider, next to the Trash icon.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"237\" class=\"wp-image-751237 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Grab the Applications folder in the sidebar\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar.jpg 1840w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar-1200x569.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar-768x364.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar-1536x728.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grab-the-Applications-folder-in-the-sidebar-150x71.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<li>Right-click the <strong>Applications<\/strong> icon, then select <strong>Grid<\/strong> under the &#8220;<strong>View content as<\/strong>&#8221; section.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"677\" class=\"wp-image-751246 lazyload\" style=\"width: 250px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Right-click the Applications icon then select Grid\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Right-click-the-Applications-icon-then-select-Grid-1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Right-click-the-Applications-icon-then-select-Grid-1.jpg 412w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Right-click-the-Applications-icon-then-select-Grid-1-150x406.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<fieldset class=\"quick-tips\">\n<legend>Note<\/legend>\n<p> Since the Applications folder lists apps alphabetically, its Dock icon appears as the first item in the grid view. <\/fieldset>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-use-launchie\">3. Use Launchie<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.launchie.app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" title=\"Launchie\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Launchie<\/a> is one of the closest recreations of the classic Launchpad you\u2019ll find for macOS 26. It brings back the familiar full-screen grid, complete with custom folders, drag-and-drop organization, and a global keyboard (<strong>Command<\/strong> (\u2318) + <strong>K<\/strong>) shortcut for instant access. <\/p>\n<p>The interface is clean, fast, and intentionally designed to look and feel like the Launchpad Apple unfortunately removed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"406\" class=\"wp-image-751247 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Use Launchie\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie-1200x976.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie-768x624.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie-1536x1249.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie-2048x1665.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-Launchie-150x122.jpg 150w\"><\/p>\n<p>If you want a near-identical replacement with an almost nonexistent learning curve, Launchie is easily the best pick.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-use-appgrid-launcher\">4. Use AppGrid Launcher<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/appgridmac.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" title=\"AppGrid\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">AppGrid<\/a> is a lightweight, visual launcher that organizes your apps into clean, scrollable categories rather than putting everything on a single, long grid. This makes navigation easier if you have a large app library or prefer a more structured layout. <\/p>\n<p>It supports smooth scrolling, quick search, and basic customization, giving you a neat and orderly way to browse apps without the complexity of a power-user tool.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" class=\"wp-image-751248 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Use AppGrid Launcher\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Use-AppGrid-Launcher-150x113.jpg 150w\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-use-a-hot-corner-to-open-the-new-apps-overlay\">5. Use a Hot Corner to Open the New Apps Overlay<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve cleaned up the Apps overlay to show only your Mac applications, you can make it even faster to access by assigning it to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/how-to-use-hot-corners-on-mac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener follow\" title=\"Hot Corner\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">Hot Corner<\/a>. This lets you open the overlay instantly with a quick flick of the cursor, without using Spotlight or the Dock icon. Here&#8217;s how:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>Settings<\/strong> and select <strong>Desktop &amp; Dock<\/strong> in the sidebar.<\/li>\n<li>Now, click the <strong>Hot Corners<\/strong> button, then choose a screen corner you want to use.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"432\" class=\"wp-image-751249 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Select Desktop Dock in sidebar and click Hot Corners button\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-Desktop-Dock-in-sidebar-and-click-Hot-Corners-button.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-Desktop-Dock-in-sidebar-and-click-Hot-Corners-button.jpg 1446w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-Desktop-Dock-in-sidebar-and-click-Hot-Corners-button-1200x1037.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-Desktop-Dock-in-sidebar-and-click-Hot-Corners-button-768x664.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-Desktop-Dock-in-sidebar-and-click-Hot-Corners-button-150x130.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<li>Select the <strong>Apps<\/strong> option in the menu that appears.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"146\" class=\"wp-image-751250 lazyload\" style=\"width: 500px;\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Select the Apps option in the menu\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-the-Apps-option-in-the-menu.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-the-Apps-option-in-the-menu.jpg 1182w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-the-Apps-option-in-the-menu-768x225.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Select-the-Apps-option-in-the-menu-150x44.jpg 150w\"><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bringing-back-a-clean-efficient-app-launcher\">Bringing Back a Clean, Efficient App Launcher<\/h2>\n<p>Although Apple has removed the familiar Launchpad experience in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/macos-26-tahoe-features\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener follow\" title=\"\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">macOS 26 Tahoe<\/a>, you don\u2019t have to settle for the cluttered default Apps overlay. With third-party tools like Launchie and AppGrid, built-in options like Hot Corners, and simple Dock and Apps overlay tweaks, you get instant access to all your apps. Pick the method that feels natural, set it up once, and enjoy a smoother, more efficient way to open your apps on macOS 26.<\/p>\n<p>Tried any of these methods on your Mac? Share your experience in the comments so others can discover what works best.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/launchpad-alternatives-for-mac\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"follow\">Best Alternatives to Launchpad in macOS Tahoe<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"follow\">iGeeksBlog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can\u2019t find Launchpad after updating to macOS Tahoe? Here are easy alternatives and fast methods to open and organize your apps.<br \/>\nThe post Best Alternatives to Launchpad in macOS Tahoe appeared first <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.totalcareacademy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}