How to Edit Launchpad on Mac

Launchpad is an easy way to access all the applications installed on your MacBook or iMac. But over time, Launchpad may become cluttered, making it a chore to find the apps you’re looking for. We’ll go through all the steps to help you learn how to delete applications from Launchpad, how to add an app to Launchpad on Mac, and more.

Related: How to Force Quit on a Mac

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What Is Launchpad on Mac

Launchpad is an application launcher that shows all the apps you have downloaded to your Mac. It is native to your Mac, meaning Apple designed it for your computer to help you organize your desktop. While the Dock is a great feature and adding app icons to your desktop is always a nice option to get to the apps you love the most, Launchpad is a way to see and organize all your apps that can be closed away, almost like shutting a drawer. This helps keep your desktop orderly and uncluttered while also keeping your apps in an easily accessible place.

what is the launchpad on mac

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Where Is the Launchpad on Mac

The Launchpad is usually located on the Mac Dock at the bottom of your desktop display. However, it may have gotten moved somewhere else over time. You can always find the Launchpad this way:

  1. Open Finder.

    how to find the launchpad on mac
  2. Select Applications in the side navigation.

    how to open launchpad on mac
  3. Scroll until you find the Launchpad app icon.

    How to add launchpad to dock

How to Add Launchpad to Dock

If your Launchpad app icon has seemingly disappeared from your Mac Dock, don’t panic. It’s a relatively simple fix if you’d like to show the Launchpad on your Dock.

  1. Open Finder.

    Open finder to edit launchpad
  2. Select Applications in the side navigation.

    add and remove apps from launchpad
  3. Scroll until you find the Launchpad app icon.

    Add launchpad to dock
  4. Click and drag the Launchpad icon to your Dock. The other apps will shift to make room.

    Add launchpad to dock on Mac

How to Organize Launchpad on Mac

Changing the order of the apps within the Launchpad is very similar to rearranging the apps on your iPhone or iPad.

  1. To do so, click and hold the app you want to move with the mouse.

    Rearrange apps on launchpad
  2. Now, you can drag the app to a new location.

    edit apps on launchpad

How to Delete Apps from Launchpad

Some apps you can delete directly from Launchpad. To do this:

  1. Click and hold the app you want to delete. 
  2. Sometimes, a small white “x” will pop up in the corner. Click the “x” and confirm Delete to remove the app from Launchpad.

    Delete apps from the launchpad

Other times, you need to go into your Applications folder to remove an app from the Launchpad.

  1. Open Finder.

    Open finder
  2. Select Applications in the side navigation.

    Delete an app from the launchpad
  3. Scroll until you find the app you want to delete. 
  4. Click and drag the app to the Trashcan

    drag app to trashcan to delete from launchpad

How to Add App to Launchpad

Adding an app to your Launchpad is as simple as downloading an app from the App Store or a third-party download. Launchpad reflects the applications in your Applications folder.

How to Exit Launchpad

Once you have opened Launchpad, it can be a bit confusing to figure out how to close it. It’s actually super simple and can be done a few different ways.

  1. Once Launchpad is open, click anywhere that isn’t an app and the Launchpad will close.

    How to exit launchpad
  2. Press ESC on your keyboard and Launchpad will close.

    escape from launchpad
  3. Click on any of the apps in the Dock, and Launchpad will close in order to open that app.

    close launchpad
The Mac Launchpad is a really great staple feature and, if you put a bit of time into organizing it to your taste, you can really make the most of this convenient feature. Stick around to learn more about how to make the most of other features on your Apple computer like the Mac Dock
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Author Details

Rachel Needell's picture

Author Details

Rachel Needell

Rachel Needell is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, and a poet and author. With 10-plus years of experience working with Apple devices, she specializes in all-things iPad and is a Notes App expert, having worked on both the 2023 iPad Guide and the Notes App Guide. You can usually find her writing in the Daily Tip newsletter as one of our senior Tip writers. Rachel received her Master’s degree in English Literature in 2021 and her most recent work appears in the Winter ’21 edition of New Note Poetry. When she’s not obsessing about Apple products, you can find her voraciously reading fantasy books with her cat in Asheville, North Carolina.