Best Alternatives to Launchpad in macOS Tahoe

With macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple tried to fix something that wasn’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 “Apps” overlay that feels half-baked, slower to navigate, and nowhere near as organized as the classic Launchpad experience.

If you’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.

This post covers the best Launchpad alternatives and workarounds on macOS 26.

1. Turn Off “Show iPhone Apps” in the Applications Overlay

In macOS 26 Tahoe, the new Apps overlay replaced the Launchpad. 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 Command (⌘) + Space, then Command (⌘) + 1.

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.

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’s how:

1. Open the Apps overlay by pressing Command (⌘) + Space, then Command+1.
2. Click the three-dot button at the top right corner.
   
3. Click Show iPhone Apps in the drop-down menu to filter out the iPhone apps.
   

This simple tweak brings it closer to the classic Launchpad experience, making it a more practical replacement for everyday use.

However, if you still prefer a dedicated, full-screen launcher that truly replicates Launchpad, the next option might suit you better.

2. Add the Applications Folder to the Dock

While turning off the “Show iPhone Apps” option solves the clutter problem, you still can’t 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.

Here’s how you can do this:

1. Open the Finder.
2. Grab the Applications folder in the sidebar, then drag and drop it onto the Dock to the right of the divider, next to the Trash icon.
   
3. Right-click the Applications icon, then select Grid under the “View content as” section.
   

3. Use Launchie

Launchie is one of the closest recreations of the classic Launchpad you’ll find for macOS 26. It brings back the familiar full-screen grid, complete with custom folders, drag-and-drop organization, and a global keyboard (Command (⌘) + K) shortcut for instant access.

The interface is clean, fast, and intentionally designed to look and feel like the Launchpad Apple unfortunately removed.

If you want a near-identical replacement with an almost nonexistent learning curve, Launchie is easily the best pick.

4. Use AppGrid Launcher

AppGrid 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.

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.

5. Use a Hot Corner to Open the New Apps Overlay

Now that you’ve cleaned up the Apps overlay to show only your Mac applications, you can make it even faster to access by assigning it to a Hot Corner. This lets you open the overlay instantly with a quick flick of the cursor, without using Spotlight or the Dock icon. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings and select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
2. Now, click the Hot Corners button, then choose a screen corner you want to use.
   
3. Select the Apps option in the menu that appears.
   

Bringing Back a Clean, Efficient App Launcher

Although Apple has removed the familiar Launchpad experience in macOS 26 Tahoe, you don’t 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.

Tried any of these methods on your Mac? Share your experience in the comments so others can discover what works best.