Apple has dropped Launchpad from macOS 26 Tahoe, folding its core functionality into Spotlight. This move eliminates a tool many users relied on for quick, visual access to apps. The change has triggered sharp criticism, especially from those who prefer manual control over app organization.
For years, Launchpad provided a simple, grid-style layout to access all installed apps. It mimicked the iOS home screen and let users create folders based on their own categories. With the update, Apple has removed this structure in favor of a system-controlled interface.
Many users feel the new Spotlight setup lacks the flexibility Launchpad offered. App categories are now handled automatically, similar to iOS’s App Library, where mislabeling is common. That loss of user-defined organization has made the upgrade a deal-breaker for some.
Users Sound Off
As reported across multiple Reddit threads, reactions to Launchpad’s removal were divided. Some questioned its value on non-touch devices, but a large portion defended it as a simple, customizable way to access apps without relying on search or Finder.
One of the most common concerns was the inability to assign personal categories. Others argued that Launchpad’s fullscreen view made app browsing faster and cleaner. Users also noted that integrating it into Spotlight strips away gesture-based access many had incorporated into daily use.
No Replacement for User Control
The broader concern is not just about Launchpad. It’s about user autonomy. Apple’s decision removes a familiar, user-customized tool in favor of a static system-driven approach. For users who value organizing their workspace their own way, this feels like a step backward.
According to the community, Apple’s choice overlooks a dedicated segment of its base. These users aren’t asking for radical new features. They want to keep what worked.
As macOS 26 Tahoe heads toward public release, it’s clear the debate over Launchpad won’t fade quietly.
bro if you liked launchpad you can download launchOS its free and good I used and its better than old one and im not joking
Apple is clearly now runs by clowns. What genius decided to do away with al our folders in launchpad? Glad I took the time to organize everything to a working solution only to have the children at apple decide they know better! Spend a little more time on things customers need and little less designing new emoticons and calendars with holidays nobody wants and maybe we will all be happier. Terrible experience, getting worse by the day. Apple..it just doesn’t work anymore.
This is an absolutely dumb move by apple, removing useful functuionality and replacing with something weaker. In other words A Regression.
There is absolutely no need to remove launchpad and replace it with a primitive app launcher, in order to add the enhanced spotlight capabilities.
The two could easily co-exist. In fact the notion that one can always remember the nonsensical names of apps that are used to perform various tasks is somehing I never would have expected from a UX focused company lke apple. It is exactly what Microsoft did when it took away the start menu and replaced it with the start screen, only to go back to a more customisable launcher in win11. I simply cannot understand what they were thinking. Clearly they were not!
I never understood what Launchpad did that Finder didn’t do better. I mean, you can organize and group your apps into folders in Finder, and display them as a grid of icons just like Launchpad if you want. You can even have them pop up as a grid from a folder shortcut in the Dock. But then again, the concept of the Finder and of a filesystem in general is itself a stumbling block for many users thanks to the way iOS works and presents things.
It is a significant downgrade for me. I live by launchpad. I am going to stay on the prior release even on my M4 MacBook Pro until they restore it, I find a good third party solution, or os 27 if that offers a better experience.