Launchpad Not Working on macOS Tahoe or Earlier? How to Fix It

Mac Launchpad is a built-in feature that gives you a clean, organized view of all the apps installed on your Mac, much like the familiar home screen on an iPhone or iPad. With Launchpad, you can quickly find and open apps, group them into folders for better organization, and even uninstall apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. For many Mac users, Launchpad is an essential tool for everyday navigation.

However, when Launchpad stops working, it can be frustrating and disruptive, especially if you rely on it instead of Finder or Spotlight to launch applications. In this article, we will explore the common causes of Launchpad issues and share effective solutions to fix them.

Why Is My Launchpad Not Working?

Launchpad issues can happen for different reasons, depending on what you are experiencing and the version of macOS you are running. Here’s a simple checklist to help you figure out what might be going wrong.

Possible reasons for Launchpad not working on Mac

• Starting with macOS 11 Big Sur, the F4 key is no longer the default shortcut for Launchpad.
• A damaged Dock preference file can prevent Launchpad from opening or functioning correctly.
• Unknown macOS system errors may interfere with Launchpad’s normal behavior.
• Temporary glitches or bugs within the Launchpad app itself can cause it to freeze or not respond.
• In macOS Tahoe 26, the Launchpad app has been removed entirely.

Tip

Outdated or corrupted cached data is often the culprit behind unusual app or system performance. Before diving into more complex fixes for Launchpad not working, try clearing the cache in both Launchpad and your system to see if that resolves the issue.

1. Download and install BuhoCleaner free Mac cleaner.
2. Run the scan for Flash Clean.
3. Click Remove to clean up the files selected intelligently by the tool.

Launchpad Won't Open on MacBook

While there are multiple ways to launch Launchpad on your Mac, most users stick to only one or two methods. If your preferred method won't open Mac Launchpad, try an alternative way to access it or use a more advanced troubleshooting method.

Launchpad Is Not Opening with the F4 Shortcut Key

Keyboard shortcuts are the quickest way to access features on a Mac. By default, Launchpad opens with F4 or Fn + F4. If these Launchpad shortcuts don’t work, check your macOS version by going to the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac. On macOS Big Sur and later, the F4 key is now assigned to Spotlight Search instead of Launchpad.

If you want quick access to Launchpad without using mouse clicks, you can set up a Hot Corner. Once configured, moving your cursor to a designated corner of the screen will instantly open Launchpad.

How to set up a Hot Corner for Launchpad:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Go to Desktop & Dock, then scroll to the bottom and click Hot Corners.

   

3. Pick a corner you want to use, click the dropdown menu, and select Launchpad.

   

4. Click Done, then move your cursor to the chosen corner to instantly display Launchpad.

Launchpad Won't Open by Clicking the Icon in the Dock

By default, the Launchpad app is pinned to your Mac’s Dock. The most common way to open it is by clicking its icon in the Dock. On MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, you can also use a five-finger pinch gesture on the trackpad. If Launchpad is not opening, it usually indicates an issue or bug with the system or Dock, which needs your immediate attention.

Fix 1. Restart your Mac

When your Mac experiences performance issues, a restart should be your first troubleshooting step. Restarting refreshes the system and can get rid of temporary glitches or conflicts that may interfere with Launchpad’s functionality.

Fix 2. Delete Dock's plist file

If the issue of Launchpad not working still persists, a corrupted Dock preferences file may be the cause, affecting both Launchpad and other Dock-related functions. Removing this file often resolves minor issues, as macOS will regenerate a clean version when the Dock restarts.

How to remove the Dock plist file to fix Launchpad not responding:

1. Open the Finder. From the Finder menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder.

   

2. Copy and paste the following location to the Go to Folder box and click Go.

   ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist

3. Drag the com.apple.dock.plist file to the Trash and empty your Mac trash.

   

4. Restart your Mac, then click on the Launchpad icon on your Dock.

Fix 3. Use Terminal to relaunch Dock

If the Launchpad continues not working when you click its icon, use a Terminal command to force quit all Dock processes. This method will reset the Dock.

Here is how:

1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
2. In Terminal, type this command: killall Dock and press Return.

   

3. Quit Terminal and restart your Mac.

Launchpad Is Stuck When Opening an App

Normally, you can open an app by clicking its icon in Launchpad. But if the app won’t open and Launchpad freezes or won’t close, the issue may lie within Launchpad itself.

You can fix it with the following steps:

1. Open Finder and click Go in the Finder menu.
2. Hold the Option key and choose Library in the drop-down menu.

   

3. Open the Application Support folder and then the Dock folder.
4. Locate the files ending with .db, including one named desktoppicture.db and one or more files starting with a dashed set of capital letters and numbers and ending in .db.

   

5. Move them into the Trash and clear the trash can.
6. Restart your Mac and see if Launchpad is responding.

Launchpad Disappeared After macOS 26 Update

The upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe introduces several changes, and according to the macOS 29 Tahoe beta, one of them is the removal of the Launchpad app. Instead, the Applications folder now takes Launchpad’s place, allowing you to access your apps directly without opening Finder.

However, this change has disappointed many users who rely on Launchpad, especially those who love the features that allow users to see all their apps in one place with large icons and organize them into custom folders. Without Launchpad, your alternative for quickly opening apps is Spotlight if the app isn't pinned to the Dock.

Here is how to open an app using Spotlight Search:

1. Press Command - Spacebar together on your Mac to bring up Spotlight Search, or click the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar.
2. Type the name of the application, then click it in the search results to open it.

Conclusion

As you can see, Launchpad not working is typically a minor issue that can be fixed without advanced technical skills. From restarting your Mac to refreshing the Dock or resetting Launchpad, most solutions are simple and quick to apply.

In the meantime, there are plenty of alternative ways to open apps, such as using Finder, Spotlight Search, or even setting up a Hot Corner that works just as smoothly as Launchpad. However, if you plan to upgrade to macOS 26, be prepared to adjust your habits, as Launchpad is being phased out in favor of Spotlight Search.

To keep your Mac running smoothly overall, we recommend using tools like BuhoCleaner. It helps you quickly remove junk files that may cause performance issues for both your system and certain apps. It can also free up storage space on your Mac, which you will definitely need down the road.