Apps menu changed on the Dock with macOS 26

I agree with you 100%.

After updating to macOS Tahoe 26, I’m also very disappointed with the new “Apps” menu. It mixes iPhone/iPad apps with Mac apps in a messy way, and there’s no option to keep them separated or return to the classic Launchpad style.

Another issue: screenshots now have a delay and you can’t drag them right away like before — which really breaks the workflow.

Honestly, the old Launchpad was much clearer and more productive. This new design feels like a step backwards.

nycgarbage wrote:

I was having the same frustrations and just saw a circle with three dots in the top right of the App search window. There you can choose "Grid". Makes a big difference for a visual person who doesn't always remember app names that I haven't used in a while.

Based on the screenshot the OP used, they appear to already have it set to Grid.

teshawofdahoum wrote:

So, Luis, you suggest we replace one click with how many clicks and types?

Formerly Launchpad could be launched from the Dock - step #1

Then,  clink on the application of choice - step # 2 

Currently ⌘ + spacebar - step # 1 

Currently ⌘ + 1 brings up Applications  - step # 2 

Currently, click on the application of choice - step # 3 

Yes, in this setup,  there is exactly 1 extra step 

When 1 person gets traction on this issue of Launchpad being removed in Tahoe , then it becomes a hot topic

It is sort of like the first lemming that jumps off the cliff and all the others follow , without thinking this through.

Sicarius66 wrote:

En fait, on est habitué avec Apple à avoir le choix, ex : plein de personnalisation ajouté dans MacOS 26, mais on vous force à adopter le nouveau menu des applications.

Ce serait cool qu'on est le choix là aussi, surtout qu'il y a mon sens une double utilisation du Spotlight.

Pratique avant, meilleur maintenant avec "⌘ + &" on trouvait nos applications direct avec Spotlight, j'ai toujours utilisé "🔍 + saf" pour ouvrir Safari, pour reprendre l'exemple cité précédemment.

Encore plus génial pour la recherche de fichier et l'exécution de raccourcis.

L'ancien menu des applications (façon iOS) me permettait de trier mes apps par famille(et mon dieu qu'on s'y retrouve mieux !), et j'avais un "fourre-tout" où je mettais toute les app du genre CHESS !!! Ces app inutile qu'on ne peut pas supprimer...

Alors pourquoi instaurer un Spotlight bis pour les application uniquement quand on ajoute dans le même mise à jour le génialissime "⌘ + &" ???

C'est une deuxièmes recherche rapide intelligente en réalité, pas un menu pour applications...

Deux chemins pour l'exact même résultat.

Ce n'est que mon avis bien sûr ! ☮️

French - Communauté d’assistance Apple officielle

Communauté d’assistance Apple officielle

IdrisSeabright wrote:

I wonder if the people who like LaunchPad have more applications than the people who don't? One of the complaints I've seen is that they don't remember the names of all of the apps on their computer. I admit, I don't remember absolutely everything I have installed but I do know the names of the things I regularly use. On rare occasions, I open the Applications folder and scan through it for something. But not more than every couple of months.

There are times I think this too, regarding that many applications that memory fails them

Then it begs the question, how much is enough and how much is actually needed

Nay, the mantra I can not remember is exactly that, a mantra to possible fulfill the desired effects

Your suggest to open the Applications folder seems a viable option to me

IdrisSeabright wrote:

And, I don't have to waste my time putting things in folders and hoping that I remember which ones.

I do organize apps in folders such as Games, Graphics, Internet, Media, Office, etc. Never used Launchpad and not using Apps. I use XMenu to navigate but adding the Applications folder to the Dock then clicking on it works almost as well.

Hello 80s=best_music,

I know it's not exactly the same as launchpad folders, but an alternative to the old launchpad could be to organize your software with tags, or folders in the Finder view. I hope that helps a little.

Toby196 wrote:

I too was extremely frustrated that Apple has done away with Launchpad, but I soon found several substitutes (i.e. free 3rd-Party apps) that, IMHO, range from "just as good as Launchpad" all the way to "even better than Launchpad". The three I have tried are (in the order I tested them out):

Thank you very much for posting this detailed review of the options. I hope it does help other people.

That's great for those who don't use many apps or don't have involved workflow processes.

For those of us who use a lot of apps, remembering - and typing a portion of - each app title is not the "Apple Experience" they sold. Typing a portion of the apps name isn't 100% seccessful and searching by type or purpose fails more often than not. The added step of "finding" an app via scrolling, searching, typing... those are added steps that weren't needed prior to an update, so what exactly was the benefit of the update for the user?

More, to force this abrupt change without communication or explanation is bad business. Whatever their intention or plans for integrating into future products, this Launcher update was a huge step backwards for the UX/UI.

s1yngc0rpx wrote:

For those of us who use a lot of apps, remembering - and typing a portion of - each app title is not the "Apple Experience" they sold. Typing a portion of the apps name isn't 100% seccessful and searching by type or purpose fails more often than not.

It's 100% successful for me. And I have a lot of apps.

The added step of "finding" an app via scrolling, searching, typing... those are added steps that weren't needed prior to an update, so what exactly was the benefit of the update for the user?

People have given lots of options in this thread. I think the best post to read is the one by Toby196. They give an excellent review of some of the availablle third-party options.

More, to force this abrupt change without communication or explanation is bad business. Whatever their intention or plans for integrating into future products, this Launcher update was a huge step backwards for the UX/UI.

Apple has access to more user data that any of us can possibly imagine. They have a very good idea of what percentage of people used LaunchPad and what percentage didn't. They also did extensive beta testing prior to the release of Tahoe. Apple adds and removes features every year, usually without much announcement of what they're removing. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's used their products for more than a couple of years. Removing LaunchPad is not going to hurt their business. While it was much beloved by some people, that number of people seems comparatively small. I understand that doesn't make the change any less pleasant if you were one of the people who used it.

Going forward, I suggest that, if you are change-averse, you wait a couple of months before updating. Look here on the forums, read websites like 9to5Mac or others that write about Macs. Find out what has changed and decide if you can live with it.

RicardoUK wrote:

Please allow the 'Apps' windows to be resizable. Why restrict this is beyond me. Give the use the choice.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

En fait, on est habitué avec Apple à avoir le choix, ex : plein de personnalisation ajouté dans MacOS 26, mais on vous force à adopter le nouveau menu des applications.

Ce serait cool qu'on est le choix là aussi, surtout qu'il y a mon sens une double utilisation du Spotlight.

Pratique avant, meilleur maintenant avec "⌘ + &" on trouvait nos applications direct avec Spotlight, j'ai toujours utilisé "🔍 + saf" pour ouvrir Safari, pour reprendre l'exemple cité précédemment.

Encore plus génial pour la recherche de fichier et l'exécution de raccourcis.

L'ancien menu des applications (façon iOS) me permettait de trier mes apps par famille(et mon dieu qu'on s'y retrouve mieux !), et j'avais un "fourre-tout" où je mettais toute les app du genre CHESS !!! Ces app inutile qu'on ne peut pas supprimer...

Alors pourquoi instaurer un Spotlight bis pour les application uniquement quand on ajoute dans le même mise à jour le génialissime "⌘ + &" ???

C'est une deuxièmes recherche rapide intelligente en réalité, pas un menu pour applications...

Deux chemins pour l'exact même résultat.

Ce n'est que mon avis bien sûr ! ☮️

I know that I have way too many apps on my iPhone, including many I have no idea about and don't remember downloading unless I launch them and look at them. I periodically make a stab at winnowing them down to something more reasonable but I usually get bored by the time I reach the Cs.

To compare notes re iPhone

I have less Third Party Apps on 1 iPhone than I do on the combined number to third party applications on 3 Apple machines with Tahoe

Yes, with the every speeding of Time , the memory has not yet become totally full ( subject to number of coffees I have had ) lol

Grrrr. I navigate and find apps by icons, not always by their names! I have dozens of software musical instruments and they were organized within manufacturer/company launchpad folders. Now I need to recall the app names or type some letters to view them using this App menu? Who thinks constant scrolling or typing letters to view apps is sustainable? Can someone tell me how this is an improvement?