If you were hoping macOS 27 Golden Gate would quietly bring Launchpad back, it doesn’t. Apple confirmed Golden Gate at WWDC 2026, shipping this fall, and the classic full-screen app grid is still gone, replaced by the same Apps/Spotlight-style view that took over in macOS 26 Tahoe.
Quick answer: no, Launchpad is not back in macOS 27
There’s no rocket-ship icon, no setting to restore the old grid, and no indication Apple is walking back the change. If the Launchpad grid mattered to your workflow, you’ll need a third-party replacement on Golden Gate the same way you did on Tahoe.
Why isn’t Launchpad coming back?
Apple hasn’t given a specific explanation, but the pattern across Tahoe and Golden Gate is clear. The company is investing in Spotlight, Siri, and systemwide intelligence as the way you find and open things on a Mac, not in maintaining a static visual grid that had barely changed since 2011. Two macOS releases in a row without it is a strong signal this is the permanent direction, not a temporary gap.
What you can do about it
The good news: nothing changed about how to fix this. The same replacement options that worked on Tahoe carry over to Golden Gate.
Option 1: Use AppGrid
AppGrid restores the Launchpad-style grid (pages, folders, and all) and can import your existing Launchpad layout so you’re not rebuilding from scratch. The core grid experience is free; Pro adds multi-select organization, AI-assisted rearrangement, sorting, and layout save/restore.
Download AppGrid free — works on macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Option 2: Use the Applications folder in the Dock
Right-click the Dock, Add Folder, choose your Applications folder, then display it as a Grid. Native, zero setup, but no custom pages, no folders, no saved layout.
Option 3: Use a keyboard launcher
If you’re open to a different workflow entirely, Raycast and Alfred let you type an app name and hit Enter. Fast, but a different mental model from grid-based launching.
Summary
| Confirmed | |
|---|---|
| Launchpad restored in macOS 27? | No |
| App launching model | Same Apps/Spotlight view as Tahoe |
| Best third-party grid replacement | AppGrid |
FAQs
Does macOS 27 Golden Gate bring back Launchpad?
No. Golden Gate keeps the Apps/Spotlight-style launcher introduced in macOS 26 Tahoe. There is no built-in way to restore the original Launchpad grid.
Will Apple ever bring Launchpad back?
Unlikely. Two consecutive releases (Tahoe and Golden Gate) without it, combined with Apple’s continued investment in Spotlight and Siri-driven app finding, points to this being a permanent direction rather than a temporary omission.
Does AppGrid work on macOS 27 Golden Gate?
Yes. AppGrid works on macOS 27 Golden Gate, alongside macOS 13 Ventura through macOS 26 Tahoe.