how to Do more with Launchpad

Open Launchpad

Using a non–Apple keyboard, or a trackpad? Click the rocket icon in the Dock — if you removed it, drag Launchpad from the Applications folder into the left side of the Dock. On a trackpad, pinch a thumb and three fingers together.

Click and hold to move

Click and hold on any app icon and they’ll all start to jiggle. Drag an icon to reorder items, to the left or right screen edge to move to another page, or hold over another icon to add them to a folder.

Search for apps

Start typing an app’s name — you don’t have to click Launchpad’s search bar. Launchpad starts filtering the icons to show only matches (from all pages). See the app you want to open? Select it using the arrow keys, and press Return.

Remove certain apps

While the icons are jiggling, click the “X” at the top left of one to uninstall that app from your Mac. Some apps — those not from the Mac App Store — lack an “X”; refer to each one’s documentation for the proper steps to uninstall them.

Easier icon management

Have lots of apps? Arranging Launchpad can get old, fast. In Launchpad Manager ($7.99, bit.ly/mflpm), click one or more icons to select them. Use the Cut/Paste buttons to move to another page/folder.

Easier folder creation

Dragging icons into folders can also get tedious. Launchpad Manager’s paid version offers a shortcut that knocks Apple’s app launcher into shape quickly. Select multiple icons and click Group in the toolbar to put them in a folder.