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You do not need to repurchase. If you change your device, simply remove the old device during the activation process. You can also manage your devices in the Settings-About-Device Management interface.

Because of App Store review rules, third-party developers usually cannot publish a replica of a native system app, even when that original app no longer works in the latest system. LaunchOS closely restores the classic Launchpad experience, which is exactly why it is not a good fit for App Store distribution.
LaunchOS payments are processed by Paddle, which is also used by software companies such as MacPaw, the team behind CleanMyMac. Paddle protects your payment information. We only collect the email address needed for license management, such as sending, recovering, or resetting a leaked license.

Of course! LaunchOS offers both a Basic and a PRO plan. The Basic plan is completely free, while the PRO plan includes a 7-day free trial. After the trial ends, you can choose to activate it or continue using the Basic plan.

Yes. LaunchOS is signed with an Apple Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple. It does not require disabling SIP, modifying protected system files, or downgrading macOS. LaunchOS asks for macOS permissions only when you enable a feature that needs them, following the principle of least privilege. Always download it from the official LaunchOS website.

Download LaunchOS only from launchosapp.com or the official download links provided there. A genuine copy is signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, so macOS Gatekeeper should recognize it without asking you to bypass security protections. If macOS says the developer cannot be verified, the app is damaged, or asks you to use “Open Anyway” in Privacy & Security, do not assume the file is safe—delete it and download it again from the official website.
Advanced users can run spctl --assess --type execute --verbose=4 /Applications/LaunchOS.app. A valid official build should be accepted and report a notarized Developer ID source.

Accessibility permission is used only for optional launch methods such as the F4 key and trackpad gestures. Full Disk Access is used only when you choose the complete uninstall feature, so LaunchOS can find and remove an app’s related files. These permissions are requested only when you use the corresponding feature; basic app browsing and launching do not request them in advance.

Yes. LaunchOS is built around the parts of Launchpad people actually miss: a full-screen app grid, folders, drag-and-drop organization, visual browsing, spatial memory, and familiar ways to open it. It is not Apple’s original Launchpad, but it is designed to feel close to that workflow on macOS 26 Tahoe.

Yes. LaunchOS supports F4, custom keyboard shortcuts, gestures, hot corners, Dock access, and menu bar access, so you can choose the launch method that matches your old habit.

Yes. LaunchOS supports folders, so you can group work apps, design tools, utilities, games, or any other set of apps in a way that matches your own organization style.

Yes. LaunchOS supports importing your old Launchpad layout data, so you do not have to rebuild every page and folder manually after moving to macOS 26 Tahoe.

There is no System Settings switch that restores the original Apple Launchpad on macOS Tahoe. Launchpad has been replaced by the new Apps.app and Spotlight flow, but its interaction model is quite different from the classic Launchpad. If you want that workflow back without modifying system-level files, use a Launchpad alternative such as LaunchOS.

In macOS 26, Apple moved app browsing toward the new Apps.app and Spotlight search. Because Apps.app overlaps with Launchpad in purpose, Apple removed the classic Launchpad. This is simpler, and theoretically faster, for users who open apps by name, but it also removed the visual workflow many people relied on: a full-screen grid, custom folders, manual positions, and spatial memory. LaunchOS was built to solve that habit gap.

No. LaunchOS is not meant to replace Spotlight. Spotlight is still excellent when you know the exact app name and want to search quickly. LaunchOS restores the visual layer that Spotlight does not provide: browsing, folders, layout, and spatial memory.

It depends on what you need. AppGrid is not mainly trying to recreate the original Launchpad experience; it focuses more on app organization and management efficiency as a modern Launchpad-style app. LaunchOS focuses on restoring the classic Launchpad feeling on macOS 26 Tahoe, including F4, native-feeling gestures, drag sorting, and folder management.

If you want a search-first launcher, Spotlight, Raycast, or Alfred may be better. If you want the old Launchpad experience back, including a full-screen grid, folders, gestures, F4, hot corners, and layout import, LaunchOS is built for that use case. Based on user feedback, it is probably one of the best Launchpad alternatives available now.

The classic Launchpad experience was removed in macOS Tahoe. Apple now moves app browsing toward Apps.app and Spotlight, so you can still open apps, but the old full-screen grid, pages, folders, and manual layout are no longer built in. This disrupted users who relied on muscle memory and visual spatial memory. LaunchOS tries to solve that problem.

You are not missing a hidden setting. On macOS 26 Tahoe, the old Launchpad was not moved somewhere else; it was replaced by new app browsing and search flows. The old Dock icon was replaced, gestures now trigger Apps.app, and the full-screen grid is gone. If you want the lightest way to fix this, LaunchOS may be the answer: it is a Launchpad replacement that closely recreates the native Launchpad workflow and fits Tahoe’s Liquid Glass visual language.

In the current macOS 26 Tahoe experience, the classic Launchpad is no longer available as a normal built-in feature. Based on currently available information, there is no reliable sign that Apple will bring Launchpad back. More users are trying third-party apps such as LaunchOS, which offers a smooth experience that is very close to the native Launchpad.

macOS 26 replaced the classic Launchpad workflow with a newer Apps experience connected to Spotlight. You can also use Spotlight, the Dock, Finder’s Applications folder, Siri, and Shortcuts, but none of those fully recreate the old Launchpad layout.

For most users, the practical path is to use a Launchpad replacement instead of modifying macOS. Some methods rely on disabling SIP, but they can create problems with future system updates and stability, so they are not recommended. LaunchOS is likely one of the best ways to get Launchpad back: it supports the familiar grid, folders, custom sorting, visual organization, F4, gestures, hot corners, and direct import of native Launchpad layout data.