Launchpad icons: can’t delete, question marks, duplicates and icon size
The most common Launchpad icon problems — no delete button, question-mark icons, duplicates and icon size — and how to fix each one on the old Launchpad and on macOS 26 and 27
First, which macOS are you on?
macOS 15 and earlier have the built-in Launchpad, and most icon problems come from its database.
macOS 26 and 27 have no Launchpad. The system arranges the Apps view for you, and you can’t delete or move icons there. If you use a third-party Launchpad such as LaunchHome, follow the steps for it below.
Icons you can’t delete
On the old Launchpad, hold Option or press and hold an icon until the icons jiggle. Only apps from the Mac App Store get a delete button. Apps installed any other way have to be dragged to the Trash from the Applications folder in the Finder.
Apps such as Mail, Music and Notes are required by macOS, so Apple doesn’t let you delete them at all.
In LaunchHome, Control-click an icon for three choices: Hide only takes it off the grid and leaves the app installed; Move to Trash Only deletes the app; Uninstall Completely (Remove Leftovers) (Pro) also moves its leftover files in ~/Library to the Trash. System apps don’t offer delete options. See How to completely uninstall apps on Mac.
Question-mark icons
A question mark in the Dock usually means the app was deleted or moved but its Dock icon stayed behind. Drag it out of the Dock until Remove appears and let go. Only the Dock alias is removed.
Question-mark or blank icons in the old Launchpad also usually mean the app was deleted or moved while Launchpad’s database still lists it. Resetting Launchpad makes it scan again; see Reset and back up your Launchpad layout.
When you uninstall with LaunchHome, it checks that the app is really gone and then removes its Dock icon for you, so no question mark is left behind.
Duplicate icons
An app that shows up twice usually exists twice on your Mac — for example one copy in Applications and another in the Applications folder in your home folder, or an old version somewhere else. Search for it in the Finder, delete the extra copy, then reset Launchpad.
LaunchHome scans the Applications and Utilities folders and the Applications folder in your home folder. Apps sitting in Downloads, on the Desktop or anywhere else won’t appear unless you add that folder as an app source folder (Pro).
Changing icon size
The old Launchpad has no icon size setting in System Settings.
In LaunchHome, icon size follows the grid: click the ⋯ button next to the search field and set Rows (3–8) and Columns (4–10) under Grid. Fewer rows and columns mean bigger icons (Pro). You can also turn on Hide App Names in settings for a cleaner grid (Pro).
Tidy up while you’re at it
Drop one icon on another to make a folder, click the folder title to rename it, and drag icons straight out of a folder.
Too many apps to sort by hand? The first time LaunchHome opens it files your apps into folders by category. To do it again later, use Organize System Apps or Organize All Apps on the Organize tab in settings (Pro).
To bring back apps you hid: Settings › Organize › Layout Maintenance › Show Removed Apps.
FAQ
Why don’t some apps in Launchpad have a delete button?
The old Launchpad only shows a delete button for apps from the Mac App Store. Other apps have to be dragged to the Trash in the Finder, and built-in system apps can’t be deleted.
Does hiding an app in Launchpad delete it?
No. Hide in LaunchHome only takes it off the grid. The app stays in Applications, and Show Removed Apps brings it back anytime.
There’s a question mark in my Dock after deleting an app. What now?
Drag the question-mark icon out of the Dock until Remove appears and let go. Dock icons are only aliases, so no files are affected.