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How to put Launchpad back in the Dock on macOS 26 and 27

Launchpad missing from your Dock? How to add it back on macOS 15 and earlier, what the Apps icon in the macOS 26 and 27 Dock is, and how to put LaunchHome in the Dock so one click opens a full-screen Launchpad

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Why Launchpad is missing from the Dock

Starting with macOS 26 there is no Launchpad app anymore, and its spot in the Dock went to Apps. Clicking it opens the app list in Spotlight, which can search and filter by category but has no pages or custom folders.

So on macOS 26 and 27, “putting Launchpad back in the Dock” really means putting a Launchpad replacement there.

Sources: Apple, Mac User Guide: View and open apps on Mac

macOS 15 and earlier: add Launchpad back

Launchpad still exists on these versions — only its icon was dragged away:

  1. Open the Applications folder in the Finder and find Launchpad.
  2. Drag it to the left side of the Dock, before the separator where apps live.
  3. Or open Launchpad, Control-click its icon in the Dock and choose Options › Keep in Dock.

macOS 26 and 27: put LaunchHome in the Dock

Once LaunchHome is installed, do this and a click on its Dock icon opens the full-screen Launchpad — click again to close it:

Sources: Apple, Mac User Guide: Use the Dock on Mac

  1. Open Applications in the Finder and drag LaunchHome to the Dock, left of the separator.
  2. Or open LaunchHome, Control-click its icon in the Dock and choose Options › Keep in Dock.
  3. Optional: if you no longer need the system Apps icon, drag it out of the Dock until Remove appears. Only the Dock icon is removed; you can add it back anytime.
  4. Optional: to keep favorite apps in the Dock, drag them straight from the grid onto the Dock, or Control-click and choose Add to Dock.

A few Dock-related settings

By default LaunchHome takes over the whole screen and hides the Dock, like the original Launchpad. To keep the Dock visible while it’s open, turn on Keep the Dock visible in settings.

Dragging an app from the grid onto the Trash in the Dock moves it to the Trash.

Don’t want an icon in the Dock at all? Open it with F4, a trackpad pinch or a hot corner instead — see Launchpad keyboard shortcuts and gestures.

Another option: an Applications stack

Without installing anything, you can drag Applications from the Finder sidebar to the right side of the Dock, Control-click it and set it to view content as a Grid. One click pops up all your apps.

The downsides: it isn’t full screen, there are no folders or custom order, and you’ll scroll a lot once you have many apps.

FAQ

What is Apps in the macOS 26 Dock?

It opens the app browser in Spotlight, which replaced Launchpad. It can search, filter by category and switch between grid and list, but it has no pages and no custom folders.

Does removing an icon from the Dock delete the app?

No. Dock icons are only aliases; the app stays in your Applications folder.

What happens when I click LaunchHome in the Dock?

It opens the full-screen Launchpad, and clicking again closes it — the same as pressing F4.

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