One of the stranger things about moving to macOS 27 is that a familiar part of the Mac just seems to vanish. You click the old Launchpad icon, look for the full-screen grid of apps and suddenly wonder whether the update has broken something.
It has not. Launchpad is no longer the app launcher Apple wants you to use. macOS 27 pushes you toward Spotlight and its Apps view instead. It takes a minute to get used to, especially if you organised Launchpad folders for years, but there is a quicker way to get around once you set it up properly.
So, where did Launchpad go?
The old, dedicated Launchpad screen is gone in macOS 27. The practical replacement is inside Spotlight, which is now meant to be the starting point for finding apps, files, settings and actions.
If you only want to open an app, press Command + Space, type a few letters of its name and hit Return. That is the fastest route, and honestly it is usually quicker than scrolling through a grid.
If you liked Launchpad because it showed everything visually, open Spotlight and switch to the Apps view. It gives you an app-first browsing experience without needing to open Finder and dig through the Applications folder.
How to find all your apps in macOS 27
- Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type the name of the app you want, such as Safari, Notes or Photoshop.
- Press Return when the app appears at the top of the results.
- For a broader browse, use the Apps view in Spotlight instead of searching for one name.
This also makes it easier to launch an app you installed months ago and forgot about. You do not need to remember which Launchpad folder it lived in. Type a few letters and move on.
Want a proper app grid? Use the Applications folder in Finder
Spotlight is faster, but it is not quite the same as the old Launchpad. If you want to see a simple visual list of everything installed on your Mac, open Finder and choose Applications from the sidebar.
I would drag the Applications folder to the right side of the Dock. That gives you a one-click menu of your apps whenever you need it, without turning your Dock into a mess. It is not as pretty as Launchpad, but it gets the job done.
You can also keep the few apps you use every day in the Dock, then rely on Spotlight for everything else. That is probably the cleanest setup after updating.
What happens to old Launchpad shortcuts?
A keyboard shortcut, mouse button or trackpad gesture that used to open Launchpad will not bring back the old screen. Change it to open Spotlight, or map it to the Applications folder if that is closer to how you work.
For most people, the better habit is simple: use Command + Space. It feels slower for the first day or two, then it becomes one of those Mac shortcuts you use without thinking.
A simple setup I would use after upgrading
- Keep Safari, Messages, Mail, Notes and your main work apps in the Dock.
- Use Command + Space for anything you do not open every day.
- Drag Applications to the Dock if you miss browsing a list of apps.
- Do not install a third-party launcher immediately. Give the new setup a few days first.
The last point matters. A replacement launcher can be useful if you really need folders, a large app grid or a specific gesture. But most people will be fine with Spotlight once they stop looking for the old Launchpad button.
Final word
Launchpad has not moved to a hidden menu. Apple has simply moved on from it. In macOS 27, Spotlight is the default way to find and open apps, while Finder’s Applications folder is the fallback when you want to browse properly.
If you are still getting used to the update, read our macOS 27 Golden Gate update guide for compatible Macs, the headline features and the safest way to install it.
