The fastest way to delete an app from Launchpad

Open Launchpad by clicking its icon in the Dock — it looks like a rocket ship on a grid. Find the app you want to remove, then click and hold on it until all the app icons start to jiggle and a small X appears in the corner of each one. Click the X on the app you want to delete. A confirmation window will ask if you want to remove it; click Remove. The app disappears from Launchpad when ready.

Not every app can be deleted this way. Apps that came built into macOS — like System Preferences, Finder, and Mail — do not have an X button and cannot be removed through Launchpad. You can only delete apps you installed yourself, or apps that Apple allows you to remove.

If you delete an app from Launchpad, it is also deleted from your Mac entirely. The app does not stay on your computer in another location. If you change your mind later, you will need to reinstall it from the App Store or from wherever you originally got it.

Key Takeaways

  • Click and hold any app icon in Launchpad until icons start to jiggle and X buttons appear.
  • Click the X on the app you want to remove, then confirm the deletion in the window that appears.
  • Built-in macOS apps like Mail and System Preferences cannot be deleted from Launchpad.
  • Deleting an app from Launchpad removes it from your entire Mac, not just from Launchpad.

Why you might not see an X button on some apps

System apps — the programs that come with macOS — are locked and cannot be removed through Launchpad. These include Finder, System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), Mail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and others. Apple does this to keep your Mac stable and to prevent you from accidentally removing something your system needs to run.

If you do not see an X button on an app even after you click and hold, that app is a system app and cannot be deleted from Launchpad. You can hide it from Launchpad instead by right-clicking the app icon and selecting "Remove from Launchpad" — but this only hides it, not deletes it. The app stays on your Mac.

Deleting apps a different way if Launchpad does not work

If Launchpad is not responding or you prefer another method, you can delete apps through the Finder. Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar on the left. Find the app you want to remove, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Then empty the Trash to permanently delete it.

This method works for any app you installed yourself. It also works for some third-party apps that Launchpad will not let you delete, though this is rare. The Finder method is more direct and does not require the jiggling animation.

What happens after you delete an app

Once you empty the Trash, the app is gone from your Mac. Any files you created with that app stay on your computer — deleting the app does not delete your documents. However, if you want to use that app again, you will need to reinstall it.

If the app came from the App Store, you can reinstall it for free by opening the App Store, clicking your profile picture in the top right, going to Purchased, finding the app, and clicking the read button. If you bought the app elsewhere or downloaded it from a website, you will need to go back to that source to get it again.

Organizing Launchpad without deleting apps

You do not have to delete an app to get it out of your way. While icons are jiggling in Launchpad, you can drag them into folders or move them to different pages. Click and drag an app icon onto another app icon to create a folder. Drag apps between pages by moving them to the edge of the screen.

You can also hide apps from Launchpad without deleting them. Right-click an app icon in Launchpad and select "Remove from Launchpad." The app stays on your Mac and in the Applications folder, but it no longer shows up in Launchpad. You can still open it through Spotlight (press Command + Space and type the app name) or through Finder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deletion if I already emptied the Trash?

No. Once you empty the Trash, the app is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you deleted it by mistake, you will need to reinstall it from the App Store or read it again from where you got it originally.

Does deleting an app from Launchpad delete my files made with that app?

No. Deleting the app removes only the program itself. Any documents, photos, or other files you created with that app stay on your Mac. You can still open those files with another app if you have one installed.

Why can't I delete built-in apps like Mail or Calendar?

Apple locks system apps to prevent accidental removal of programs your Mac needs to function properly. You can hide them from Launchpad by right-clicking and selecting "Remove from Launchpad," but they cannot be fully deleted.

What's the difference between removing an app from Launchpad and deleting it?

Removing from Launchpad hides the app from view but leaves it on your Mac. Deleting the app removes it entirely. Use "Remove from Launchpad" if you want to keep the app but do not want to see it; use the X button if you want to delete it completely.