Removing apps from Launchpad is a one-step process
Open Launchpad by clicking its icon in the Dock or by pinching inward with four fingers on your trackpad. Find the app you want to remove, then click and hold on its icon until a small X appears in the corner. Click the X, and the app disappears from Launchpad when ready. The app itself stays on your Mac — you are only removing it from Launchpad's display.
Launchpad is a grid view of your installed applications, similar to an app drawer on an iPhone. It does not store the actual programs; it just shows them. Deleting from Launchpad is purely visual — it hides the app from that particular view without uninstalling it from your computer.
Key Takeaways
- Click and hold any app icon in Launchpad until an X appears, then click the X to remove it from the grid.
- Removing an app from Launchpad does not uninstall it from your Mac — the program stays on your computer.
- Some built-in Apple apps like Finder and System Preferences cannot be removed from Launchpad.
- You can restore a removed app to Launchpad by opening Launchpad again and scrolling to find it, or by reinstalling it.
Apps that cannot be removed from Launchpad
Apple's built-in applications — Finder, System Preferences, App Store, and a few others — have X buttons that do not work. When you click and hold these icons, the X appears but clicking it does nothing. This is intentional; Apple locks these core apps in place so you cannot accidentally hide them.
If you want to stop seeing a built-in app in Launchpad, your only option is to move it to a folder within Launchpad itself. Click and hold the app, then drag it onto another app icon. Launchpad will create a folder and place both apps inside. You can name the folder anything you want, and the app will be grouped away rather than deleted.
Restoring an app you removed from Launchpad
If you remove an app from Launchpad and change your mind, you can bring it back. Open Launchpad and scroll through all the pages — the app is still there, just hidden from your initial view. Scroll to the last page or use the dots at the bottom to navigate, and you will find it. Click and hold it again, and the X will reappear so you can add it back to the main grid.
Alternatively, if you cannot find the app by scrolling, open the App Store, search for the app by name, and reinstall it. This will restore it to Launchpad and to your Applications folder. You will not lose any data or settings associated with the app.
The difference between Launchpad and the Applications folder
Launchpad is a visual launcher — a convenient way to see and open your apps in a grid. The Applications folder is where your actual app files live on your hard drive. Removing an app from Launchpad only changes what you see in that grid; it does not touch the Applications folder or uninstall anything.
If you want to actually uninstall an app and remove it from your Mac entirely, you need to delete it from the Applications folder or use an uninstaller. Right-click the app in Applications, select Move to Trash, and empty the Trash. That removes the program from your computer. Launchpad will then stop showing it because it no longer exists.
Why apps reappear in Launchpad after installation
When you install a new app on your Mac, it automatically appears in Launchpad. This happens because Launchpad scans your Applications folder and displays whatever it finds there. If you remove an app from Launchpad, install a new version of it, or read it again, it will show up in Launchpad again by default.
You can remove it again using the same method — click and hold, then click the X. Launchpad will remember that you removed it and will not show it unless you reinstall the app or restore it manually.
Organizing Launchpad with folders instead of deleting
Rather than removing apps from Launchpad entirely, you can organize them into folders to reduce clutter. Click and hold any app icon, then drag it onto another app icon. Launchpad creates a folder and places both apps inside. You can drag more apps into the folder, and you can name it anything — "Utilities," "Games," "Work," or whatever makes sense to you.
This approach keeps your apps accessible without hiding them completely. You can still open them by clicking the folder, then clicking the app inside. If you later want to move an app back out of the folder, click and hold it inside the folder and drag it to an empty space on the Launchpad grid.
Clearing Launchpad completely and starting fresh
If you want to reset Launchpad to show only the apps you actually use, you will need to remove each one individually — there is no bulk delete or reset button. Click and hold each app you do not want to see, click the X, and repeat until only your essential apps remain. This takes time if you have many apps, but it gives you a clean, personalized Launchpad.
Keep in mind that removing apps from Launchpad does not free up storage space on your Mac. The apps still exist in your Applications folder and take up the same amount of disk space. If you want to actually free up storage, you need to uninstall the apps themselves, not just hide them from Launchpad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing an app from Launchpad delete it from my Mac?
No. Removing an app from Launchpad only hides it from that grid view. The app remains installed on your Mac and takes up the same storage space. To actually uninstall an app, you must delete it from the Applications folder or use an uninstaller.
Can I remove built-in Apple apps from Launchpad?
No. Built-in apps like Finder, System Preferences, and App Store cannot be removed from Launchpad — the X button will not work on them. You can organize them into folders instead to keep them out of sight.
How do I get an app back if I removed it from Launchpad?
Scroll through all pages of Launchpad to find it — removed apps are still there, just hidden from the main view. Click and hold it to restore it to the grid. If you cannot find it, reinstall the app from the App Store.
What happens if I empty the Trash after removing an app from Launchpad?
If you moved the app to Trash and emptied it, the app is uninstalled from your Mac. Launchpad will stop showing it because it no longer exists. You would need to reinstall it to use it again.
Can I remove multiple apps from Launchpad at once?
No. You must remove each app individually by clicking and holding it, then clicking the X. There is no multi-select or batch delete feature in Launchpad.