Struggling with Finder or the Applications folder to open Mac apps? Looking for a slick and fast way instead to find and launch applications on your Mac? Look no further than Launchpad, which gathers programs for easy discovery and one-click opening. Find out here how to open Launchpad (or Spotlight Applications with Tahoe) on a Mac with trackpad, mouse and keyboard shortcut.
First, Ten Times Better Than Stainless Steel
The material ten times better at conducting heat than stainless steel is, of course, copper.
This superior conductivity makes copper (albeit typically not copper alone) the ideal element for pots and pans, and bains-marie. Not only does the heat reach the food faster, but it also spreads rapidly inside the cookware: pots warm up to the lid, and dreaded heat islands in pans are minimal.
Now, with the chocolate melting evenly and the mushrooms sizzling rapidly, let’s turn to opening applications rapidly. Even Launchpad itself will spring up almost instantly:
How to Open and Use Launchpad (or Spotlight Applications) on a Mac
Using Trackpad
Time needed: 1 minute
To switch to Launchpad fast with a trackpad gesture to open programs and apps on your Mac:
- Pinch with the thumb and three or four other fingers on the trackpad.
No pinching: See below for enabling the pinching gesture to open Launchpad.
- Click any application to launch it.
macOS Tahoe and later: Instead of Launchpad, Spotlight search will open with all your applications listed just like in Launchpad.
Inside folders: With Launchpad, click folders to open them.
Find applications: Start typing on the keyboard to find programs.
Their word: Apple includes information on finding apps in the macOS User Manual.
3… 2… 1… ready?
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Open Launchpad Using a Mouse
To go to Launchpad using just your mouse on a Mac:
- Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock.
No Launchpad icon: For macOS Sequoia and earlier, see below for adding Launchpad to your Dock.
No Spotlight icon: In macOS Tahoe and later, Spotlight Applications, which replaces Launchpad, cannot be added to the Dock as a separate icon.
- Use Launchpad to open apps; see above.
Change which apps open with macOS: How to Change Mac Startup Apps
Open Launchpad with a Mac Keyboard Shortcut
To open Launchpad on your Mac using the keyboard:
- Press the Launchpad key.
Here’s what it looks like: The Launchpad key shows two rows of three (landscape-oriented) rectangles; it doubles as the F4 key.
No Launchpad key: Without a special Launchpad key, you can set up a key combination to open Launchpad; see below.
Launchpad key does not work: If the Launchpad key does not work as expected, press Function together with the Launchpad key or Function F4.
macOS Tahoe and later: With macOS Tahoe 26 and later, you get to use an additional keyboard shortcut for opening applications; press Command Space followed by Command 1 to bring up Spotlight Applications. - Open the desired app with Launchpad.
How to Set up Opening Launchpad on your Mac
Enable Trackpad Pinching to Open Launchpad
To make pinching on a trackpad open Launchpad on your Mac:
- Open System Settings (or Preferences) on the Mac.
- Now open the Trackpad category.
- Go to the More Gestures tab.
- Enable the Launchpad gesture.
Add the Launchpad Icon to the Dock on Your Mac
To add an icon for Launchpad to your Mac’s Dock:
- Open the /Applications folder in Finder.
Mac keyboard shortcut: Press Command Shift A to go right to the folder. - Drag and drop the Launchpad application to any position in the Dock.
Set up a Keyboard Shortcut for Launchpad on a Mac
To designate your own Mac keyboard shortcut for opening Launchpad:
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences).
- Go to the Keyboard category.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts….
macOS Monterey: On macOS Monterey 12 and earlier, switch to the Shortcuts tab. - Select Launchpad & Dock on the left.
- Turn on Show Launchpad.
- Now press the desired key combination for opening Launchpad.
Example: Press F4 to make F4 the key for opening Launchpad.
How to Open Launchpad on a Mac (incl. a Shortcut): FAQ
Can I remove the Launchpad icon from the Dock?
Yes.
To remove Launchpad from your Mac’s Dock:
- Click and hold the Launchpad icon in the Dock.
- Drag the icon away from the Dock until it appears slightly dimmed and Remove shows above it.
- Release the mouse button.
Can I rearrange the icons on Launchpad?
Yes.
To put your favorite apps front and center, you can rearrange app icons on Mac Launchpad (and move less-used applications to folders or separate screens).
(Tested with macOS Tahoe 26.0, Sequoia 15.0–15.3, Sonoma 14.3, Ventura 13 and Monterey 12.5; first published September 2022, last updated December 2025)