How To Restore Launchpad on macOS 26 Tahoe

That’s Launchpad. And in macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple kind of did a switcheroo and yanked it out. If you’re used to your app grid and now feeling a bit lost, you’re not alone. The good news — some tricks still let you bring it back, but it’s a bit of a workaround, and honestly, it’s kinda annoying. Still, if Launchpad was your go-to, it’s worth trying before giving up entirely.

How to Restore Launchpad in macOS 26

This is only tested with the macOS 26 beta (specifically beta 3).No promises it’ll stay working once Apple rolls out updates. Also, backup first—because of course, tweaking system files always has risks. On a side note, this might stop working after Apple patches it out, so don’t be surprised if it suddenly breaks after an update.

Here’s what to do:

Open Terminal from Utilities

Go to Applications > Utilities and launch Terminal.

Make the necessary directory

Type: sudo mkdir -p /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain
Hit Enter. You’ll have to put in your admin password because it needs root privileges. Not sure why it works, but sometimes this command doesn’t do much on its own—just easier to run it first.

Enable Launchpad again

Paste this command: sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/SpotlightUI.plist SpotlightPlus -dict Enabled -bool false
Press Enter. Again, your password might flash in—just type it and hit return.

Restart your Mac

Hit that friendly power button or go to Apple menu > Restart. When it boots back up, you should see the familiar Launchpad icon in your Applications folder, and your four-finger pinch gesture might even behave again.

On some setups, this fix might not work the first time. Usually, a reboot triggers it to stick, but sometimes it takes a couple of tries. Also, it’s kind of weird how Apple did this—this tweak disables the new, flashy Spotlight UI features, and it’s like stepping back into the macOS 25 days, but with fewer options.

But There’s a Catch

Restoring Launchpad totally disables the new Spotlight features — so you lose clipboard history, shortcuts, and some of those cool quick access icons. Essentially, you’re swapping out a more modern, integrated experience for a classic, visual app launcher. For some, that’s worth it; for others, it’s basically a step backwards in productivity. It’s kind of a trade-off, really.

Want the New Spotlight Back?

Realize you prefer the shiny new Spotlight instead? No problem. To undo this whole mess, just run in Terminal:

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

Reboot, and the updated Spotlight will reappear—but Launchpad will be gone again. Because Apple kind of designed it so you can’t have both—either the classic Launchpad or the shiny new Spotlight, pick your poison.

Spotlight or Launchpad — you’ve gotta pick

Most who never used Launchpad don’t care, but for those who relied on it—especially the gestures—this change feels like a loss. Launchpad made it super easy to find and organize apps visually, just like on iPhone or iPad. Now, it’s either one or the other, and honestly, it’s kind of annoying that Apple made this choice in the first place.

Big disclaimer: Expect this to be a fragile fix. Future macOS updates might break it, or Apple could patch it out completely. Keep in mind this is kinda a hack, not an official feature.
If you’re comfortable with Terminal and don’t mind risking a little chaos, it’s worth a shot. Just remember to back up beforehand—because messing with system files is never clean or safe in the strictest sense.
And yeah, on some setups, it’s a hit or miss — sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn’t. Patience is key.

Summary

Enabling Launchpad again involves Terminal commands and a reboot
It disables the latest Spotlight features
Reversing it is just removing a system preference file
Don’t expect this to be a permanent fix—future updates might nuke it

Wrap-up

This whole thing is kinda messy, but if Launchpad was part of your workflow and you’re willing to tinker a bit, it’s possible to get it back with some Terminal magic. Just be aware that Apple’s moving in a different direction with Spotlight, and switching between the two isn’t technically “supported, ” so your mileage may vary. Anyway, hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fingers crossed it helps.