How do I restore the old Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

zZKableZz wrote:

So you operate your computer/laptop without looking at it? It doesn’t matter if it’s digital or physical. When things are presented to you. You look at it (unless you are blind and use accessibility options) and interact with it. The physical mouse is not going to move itself. The physical keyboard isn’t going to type itself.

I was specifically answering about the difference in finding a physical object versus finding a digital file. Outside of "Honey, do you know where I left my shoes?" we don't really have a way to search for physical objects without using our eyes. So, yes, finding some way to order the is very helpful. For digital files, however, we can use other methods than simply looking at things to determine if they are what we want. We can use the computer's searching ability, in this case, Spotlight. I don't need to look at a view on the screen and sort through icons visually. I type a few letters (and no, I don't look at the keyboard when I'm typing) and Spotlight finds it.

Oh, I also do a lot of interacting with my devices without looking at them or touching them, using Siri. That includes typing.

I think you might benefit by thinking outside the box a bit. But you use whatever methods work for you. It's all a matter of personal preference.

I would use whatever method that works best for me, but Apple took that away. Now I'm being forced to use a different method that is very apparent that a lot of people don’t like or want.

Either way the 26 update across the entire ecosystem is a complete dumpster fire.

zZKableZz wrote:

“Not for most people.” Definitely haven’t had the best experience with it myself so far. A quick google search says otherwise.

You weren't doing a Google search, you were asking Google's AI. Those are very different things. It doesn't matter much here as this is an unimportant question but you should really learn the difference before you ask an AI a question and trust the answer on something important.

Even what you posted said very little about actual numbers of people. And that's because AI responses are just stringing together words the way they've seen them strung together elsewhere. Most people who are happy with how things are working are not posting on Reddit or elsewhere saying, "Yay, I love macOS 26!!!!" The people who post are doing so because they're unhappy.

This is a very eloquent reply and nails it. Like said previously, launchpad could be better. It worked very well, was completely nonintrusive, and especially with trackpad gestures using it didn't involve the mental trainwreck of calculating the name of the application, how far it's indexed down the alphabetical list, whether it's worth the time to scroll to it, click, nothing happens double click, etc.

When I need to pull up another component it disrupts the entire workflow.

Completely baffling that they'd take this out since it's the system used across their entire ecosystem. I guess my phone's icons are going to go away to? On my tablet? AppleTV?

List / search makes sense when you're looking for something, but like said above, when you arrange your workspace, desktop, or file cabinet to suit your needs, having it suddenly be taken away is counterproductive.

I see a lot of senseless changes being make in OS's and am coming to the conclusion that people who have grown up accustomed to using phones instead of computers are beginning to contribute to ux design.

It also seems there are people who think our computers are unsorted mess heaps and we have to have index and sort for everything.

TBH I would be fine with the fvwm2 application selector, or any program selector, as long as it stayed in the configuration I set it up for.

So going to googles home page and typing into the search bar “what are people’s overall opinions of apples 26 update” doesn’t count as googling. Gotcha. Even when it has given me more information about people opinions than you have throughout this conversation. It’s easy to find good things and bad things about the 26 update. It just depends on what you go digging for. If you only want to see positives then it’s easy to google all of the positives and only show the (opinionated) best things about it. Im neutral on Apple. I have both apple and samsung ecosystems and had both of them for many years. Apples software is so limiting it’s almost hilarious. It would be different if it Mac Os was bad to start with. But 18 was actually pretty nice. So it only makes it worse when it falls off even further from good than from bad to start with.

zZKableZz wrote:

It would be different if it Mac Os was bad to start with. But 18 was actually pretty nice.

I'm glad that you enjoyed using macOS 18. Not sure how you managed that, since it doesn't exist, but well done!

Might want to google search that.

Now, did you mean macOS 15 (the version before macOS 26), or did you mean iOS 18 (the version before iOS 26)?

zZKableZz wrote:

So going to googles home page and typing into the search bar “what are people’s overall opinions of apples 26 update” doesn’t count as googling. Gotcha.

You gave a screenshot of the AI response, not from an article or news site. Since you like physical world analogies, you effectively stopped a person on the street who looked like they might know something, asked them to give you an answer, and didn't double-check it.

zZKableZz wrote:

According to Idrisseabright googles AI overview doesn’t count. Regardless 26 is a dumpster fire. You CAN’T change my mind. Agree to disagree.

I don't care what you like or don't like and have no interest in changing your mind. However, you've spent a lot of time trying to change everyone else's. It has been entertaining.

I really enjoyed launchpad being able to pinch on my track and see all of my apps as large icons and being able to easily swipe left and right and not have to use the keyboard to search for an app...I'm 45 and I like being able to see everything easily and not have it super small... I have a 27 in monitor and loved seeing all the apps big when I pinched on the track pad...

1Plus1Equals2 wrote:

1. Removing a heavily used feature is an efficient way to push users toward another one.

I think the majority of Mac users rely on Launchpad, and fewer use Spotlight.

By removing Launchpad, users are essentially forced to switch to Spotlight.

On what are you basing that assumption? I would say, based on the number of threads on the matter I've seen here (or perhaps I should say have not seen), it's a lot less popular than you think. Apple has access to enormous amounts of user data that I'm sure they take into consideration. I'm also not clear what you think the benefit to Apple is to "force" people to use Spotlight.

3. From a financial perspective, this also makes sense.

First, they no longer need to maintain Launchpad, which reduces cost.

Except now they are supporting "Apps." So, it doesn't appear there is a net difference.

In my daily usage, I like both Launchpad and Spotlight. They’re both essential to me on macOS.

I use the Dock for the most frequently used apps, Launchpad for less frequent apps arranged into folders and pages, and Spotlight for file search.

Launchpad only requires the trackpad and one hand. It’s intuitive — I can instantly locate the app I need because my brain uses visual and spatial memory to remember where each icon is, especially the ones pinned on the first page.

We each have our needs and preferences.

Spotlight requires the keyboard, and you must remember and type the app’s name before scanning the results. That can take longer. I only use Spotlight when I can’t find an app in Launchpad.

I find Spotlight much more efficient as my hands never leave the keyboard. If I can't remember the name of an app, it's probably because I don't use it, and I should delete it. And the new feature in Spotlight for pasting in something I've used earlier in the day... wonderful.

It’s simply Apple pushing users toward what they want you to use — which has always been their style.

Without a doubt.

Tell Apple what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

You can download LaunchMe from the AppStore. It’s even better than Launchpad was and there are a lot features and customization like custom app icons, widgets, wallpaper, hiding apps and more. You should try it

Peter Jorgensen1 wrote:

I'd like to join in encouraging Apple to bring back Launchpad in MacOS. In the meantime, I'm using AppGrid, but please, Apple: Give us Launchpad back in MacOS 26.2.

Once more: Apple is not here. This is a user forum. Let Apple know of your wishes using the feedback page (posted here multiple times).

What about the apps that you don’t regularly use—but rely on? You don’t like having the ability to arrange those in launchpad?

Well maybe not for you? But many people rely on this as part of their every day workflow.

baneyw wrote:

What about the apps that you don’t regularly use—but rely on? You don’t like having the ability to arrange those in launchpad?

Well maybe not for you? But many people rely on this as part of their every day workflow.

Well, those people will have to find a new routine for launching apps, many of which have been recommended in the 9 page thread that you apparently didn’t bother to read before adding to the thread.

peteoldroyd wrote:

That’s fine. You’re welcome to your opinion. It does solve the OPs problem though.

Downgrading to Sequoia does not restore Launchpad to Tahoe. There are many Launchpad alternatives listed.