Launchpad is gone in macOS 26 and users hate the replacement

macOS 26 (“Tahoe”) swaps the old full-screen Launchpad for a new Apps panel tied more closely to Spotlight. On paper it’s cleaner and less intrusive; in practice, heavy Launchpad users say it’s a downgrade that slows them down. For broader context on why Tahoe’s UI is controversial, see our roundup: macOS 26 critics: cluttered & inconsistent.



What changed



The old grid you could organize into pages and folders is gone. The new Apps panel pops up as a floating window you can resize or move, shows categories under the search bar, and lists apps alphabetically.



Why people are upset




It won’t remember size. You can resize the panel, but users report it snaps back next launch.



No folders or custom layouts. Years of muscle memory—pages like “Work,” “Utilities,” “Creative”—are wiped out.



Mixed, noisy app lists. iPhone apps, CrossOver/Parallels entries, and Adobe utilities clutter results; some say third-party apps don’t appear at all.



Keyboard/mouse ergonomics feel worse. Horizontal tag chips don’t scroll with a mouse wheel; gestures feel glitchy for some; grid/list views are basic.



Accessibility regressions. Folks who relied on big, spatially consistent icons say the new panel is harder to scan.




What still works (and quick coping tips)




Recreate a fast launcher with the Dock. Drag /Applications into the Dock, set Display as: Folder and View content as: Grid for a one-click app grid.



Lean on Spotlight (or a launcher). If you’re keyboard-first, ⌘+Space + first letters is still the fastest way to open apps.



Trim the noise. Users report you can hide iPhone apps from appearing in results via Settings → Spotlight.



Position sticks, size doesn’t. Moving the panel’s location is remembered between launches; resizing usually isn’t—plan your cursor travel accordingly.



Third-party stand-ins exist. Utilities that recreate a Launchpad-style grid (with rows/columns and optional folders) can fill the gap until Apple iterates.




What Apple could fix fast



Remember the last size, add folders and custom ordering, improve mouse/gesture behavior, and ensure reliable indexing for non-App-Store software. Even without bringing back classic Launchpad, these would address most day-one complaints.



Bottom line



If you lived in Launchpad, Tahoe’s Apps panel feels like a step backward—less organization, more friction. If you already launch via Dock or Spotlight, you’ll adapt quickly. Power users want Apple to keep the lighter look but restore the old control: persistent sizing, folders, and true customization.