Launchpad Series · 02 / Product experience
Want the Old Launchpad Feel on New macOS? Try IconPane
IconPane is for Mac users who liked the old Launchpad because it was visual, predictable, and personal. It adds that app grid back as an independent launcher.
What IconPane is for
New macOS versions still have app launch and search features. IconPane does not try to argue otherwise. It focuses on the people who prefer seeing a complete app grid and arranging it by hand.
The goal is simple: open a panel, scan icons, type when useful, and keep your own layout.
Browse by icon, search by name
Some tasks begin with a name. Others begin with a memory of an icon. IconPane supports both: a visual app grid for browsing and local search when you already know what you want.
The workflow feels closer to the old Launchpad than to a pure command palette.
Organize apps your way
You can rearrange icons, use pages, and create folders so your Mac app library matches how you think about your work.
That layout becomes more useful over time because the app positions stay connected to your own habits.
Entry points for daily use
IconPane can be opened from the menu bar and Dock. Trackpad gestures are Pro features, available during the trial, and require Accessibility permission before they can detect the gesture.
This lets you keep the launcher close without changing the rest of your Mac workflow.
How to decide if it fits
Install IconPane, place a handful of frequently used apps where your hand expects them, and use it for normal work for a day.
If visual browsing and manual order help you move faster, it fits. If you already live entirely in Spotlight, Dock, or another launcher, you may not need another app.