How to Get Back Launchpad in macOS 26 Tahoe

Remember that satisfying four-finger pinch gesture that revealed all your apps in a beautiful grid? That’s Launchpad. And in macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple removed it. If you’re feeling lost without your beloved app organizer, you’re not alone. The good news is there’s still a way to bring it back.

What Happened to Launchpad?

In macOS 26, Apple replaced Launchpad with an upgraded Spotlight that integrates app launching into search. The new Spotlight is genuinely powerful. It includes clipboard history, Shortcuts integration, and even a mini version of Launchpad. You can open Spotlight using the Command (⌘) + Space shortcut and press Command (⌘) + 1 to view your app grid. However, it’s cramped and harder to navigate.

The familiar four-finger pinch gesture still exists, but it now inconsistently opens either Spotlight or a small overlay with your apps.

If you enjoy organizing your apps into folders or custom layouts, you’ll lose that ability too. And if Launchpad is part of your daily workflow, this change might feel like a step backward.

How to Restore Launchpad in macOS 26

This method works on macOS 26 beta (tested with beta 3). It may stop working in future versions, so proceed at your own risk. Make sure to back up your data before doing anything.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.

2. Type the following command and press Return:

sudo mkdir -p /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain

3. Enter your Mac password and hit Return.

Paste the command below and press Return:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/SpotlightUI.plist SpotlightPlus -dict Enabled -bool false

5. Restart your Mac.

Once your Mac restarts, pinch in with four or five fingers or click the Launchpad icon (now back in Applications). You’ll see the classic app grid again. The four-finger pinch gesture will also work like it did before.

But There’s an Obvious Catch

Restoring Launchpad disables all the new Spotlight features. You lose clipboard history, Shortcuts integration, and helpful icons for App Store, Files, Actions, and Clipboard in your search results.

In short, you’re trading macOS 26’s enhanced productivity features for visual app organization. Some users may prefer that. Others may feel it’s a step backward.

Want the New Spotlight Back?

Changed your mind? You can reverse everything and restore the new macOS 26 setup. Open Terminal and run this command:

sudo rm /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/SpotlightUI.plist

Then restart your Mac. The updated Spotlight will return, but Launchpad will be removed again. In simple terms, you can either have the new Spotlight with all its features or the original Launchpad—not both.

Spotlight or Launchpad: You Have to Choose

Some people never used Launchpad. But for others, it was a key part of the Mac experience, especially with gestures. Launchpad provided a visual, organized way to open apps without remembering their names. You could arrange apps, group them into folders, and customize the layout, just like on an iPhone or iPad.

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