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 1.3.16 opens from the menu bar, Dock, global shortcut, hot corner, or a four/five-finger trackpad pinch. Trackpad gestures and per-app launch shortcuts are Pro features, available during the 14-day trial; only gestures require Accessibility permission.
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.
What is current in IconPane 1.3.16
IconPane 1.3.16 requires macOS 15.6 or later and is verified on macOS Tahoe. The same app grid can be opened from the menu bar, Dock, global shortcut, hot corner, or a four/five-finger trackpad pinch.
- Localized search: match local names, Pinyin or romaji, initials, and common spelling variants. Frequent apps can be prioritized by launch frequency and recency.
- Smart folders and workspaces: use three read-only rules: Recently used, Installed in the last 7 days, and Unused for 30 days. Save three layouts and switch with ⌃⌥⌘1–3.
- Daily controls: customize app search sources, hide apps, compact pages, choose the overlay display and Dock visibility, and rely on automatic app-list refresh.
- macOS 26 polish: the search bar and folders use Liquid Glass on macOS 26 while the grid remains available on macOS 15.6+.
Trackpad gestures and per-app launch shortcuts are Pro features and can be tried for 14 days. Only trackpad gestures require Accessibility permission.