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If Launchpad is missing after upgrading to macOS Tahoe, you are not imagining it. Apple removed Launchpad in macOS 26 and replaced it with the new Apps view. Spotlight and the Applications folder still exist, but many users miss the old grid. Search-based launchers are great when you already know what you want. A visual app grid is better for browsing, organizing, or finding apps by sight.
AppGrid is a macOS app designed to fill that gap. It brings back the familiar visual app grid and adds a few organization tools Apple never built into the original Launchpad.
What Changed in Tahoe
The original Apple Launchpad is no longer available in the current release of macOS Tahoe. Early Terminal workarounds applied only to beta builds and are no longer a reliable fix. If you want the Launchpad-style grid back, the practical option is to use a dedicated launcher that restores the browsing workflow, rather than trying to patch the system.
Can You Restore the Original Launchpad in macOS Tahoe?
There is no supported macOS setting to bring back Launchpad. You can use Apple’s new Apps view, open the Applications folder in Finder, or install a dedicated Launchpad replacement if you want the old grid workflow.
Where AppGrid Fits
AppGrid is a native macOS launcher for users who want the Launchpad experience back on macOS 26 Tahoe. It shows your apps in a clean, paginated grid, supports folders and sorting, and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
It is not a competitor to Spotlight or Raycast. Those tools are excellent for keyboard-first workflows. AppGrid is for the other case, when you want a spatial, visual overview of every app on your Mac.
Core Features
Visual App Grid
Apps appear in a paginated grid that mirrors the classic Launchpad layout. Pages separate apps by purpose: everyday tools on page one, creative apps on page two, developer tools on page three. Folders reduce clutter further by grouping related apps together.
Launchpad Layout Import
If you upgraded from macOS Sequoia to macOS Tahoe, AppGrid reads your old Launchpad database and automatically rebuilds your existing layout. The pages, folders, and app placement you spent years arranging carry over, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Multi-Select and Bulk Organization
The original Launchpad forced you to move icons one at a time. AppGrid lets you select multiple apps and move, group, or organize them in a single action, turning a thirty-minute cleanup into a one-minute job.
AI-Assisted Rearrangement
AppGrid includes natural-language reorganization. You type instructions like “group all my browsers” or “move all browsers to page 3,” and the grid rearranges itself. Useful after years of accumulating clutter from apps you tried, used, and forgot.
Sorting, Hot Corners, and Gesture Activation
Sort Everything alphabetizes all your apps across every page with a single click. Hot corners and pinch-to-open match the muscle memory many users built up with the old Launchpad, so the grid is always one gesture away.
Compared with Spotlight and Keyboard Launchers
| Feature | AppGrid | Spotlight | Raycast / Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual app grid | Yes | No | No |
| Pages and folders | Yes | No | No |
| Bulk app organization | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| AI rearrangement | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| Launchpad layout import | Yes | No | No |
| Keyboard search | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Hot corner / pinch open | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
The two approaches complement each other. Use Spotlight or a keyboard launcher when you know exactly which app you want. Use AppGrid to browse, organize, or rediscover apps you haven’t opened in months.
Other Ways to Open Apps in macOS Tahoe
You can still use Spotlight, the new Apps view, or the Applications folder in Finder. These are fine if you search by name, but they do not restore Launchpad’s pages, folders, grid layout, or spatial memory. AppGrid is for users who specifically want that visual Launchpad workflow back.
Free and Pro Features
AppGrid’s free tier covers the core Launchpad-style workflow: visual app grid, pages, folders, layout import, sorting, and keyboard shortcut activation. The Pro version adds multi-select bulk operations, AI-assisted rearrangement, hot corners, and pinch gesture activation. It is sold as a $25 lifetime license with a 3-day free trial.
Pros
- Restores the Launchpad workflow on macOS 26 Tahoe without relying on terminal hacks
- Imports your existing Launchpad layout when upgrading from Sequoia
- Bulk multi-select makes app cleanup much faster
- Natural-language rearrangement can group apps from prompts such as “move all browsers to page 3.”
- Native macOS app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs
Cons
- Bulk operations, AI rearrangement, and gesture activation are Pro-only
- Layout import requires upgrading from Sequoia (fresh Tahoe installs have nothing to import)
- Not a keyboard-first launcher; pair with Spotlight or Raycast for command-style workflows
Conclusion
macOS Tahoe moved away from Launchpad, but the underlying need persisted. Many Mac users still prefer a visual, spatial way to browse their apps, especially on machines with hundreds of installed tools. AppGrid is a practical way to restore that workflow on Tahoe, with enough extra organization features to feel more modern than a straight clone. You can learn more or try it from the AppGrid website.
A Few Common Questions
Is Launchpad gone in macOS Tahoe?
Yes. Apple removed Launchpad in macOS 26 Tahoe and replaced it with the new Apps view.
Can I get the original Launchpad back?
Not reliably. The old Terminal workaround only applied to early Tahoe beta builds and no longer works reliably in the official release.
Who is AppGrid for?
AppGrid is one option built specifically around the old visual grid workflow, including pages, folders, sorting, and the import of Launchpad layouts.
Does AppGrid work on Intel Macs?
Yes. AppGrid runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
