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Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-LevittOriginal
2025-03-03 09:46:10963browse

Launchpad for Mac is a convenient way to access applications on your Mac, which lists your applications, allows you to group them into folders and delete them if needed. When the application icon page is full, it creates a new page that you can access by swiping. By default, Launchpad is located in the lower left corner of the Mac Dock, so you can launch each app easily and quickly as you like.

However, sometimes Apple users complain that Launchpad on Mac is not working properly, which is obviously very annoying. If you have had this situation, or just want to avoid it, read on to learn about the best solution.

Why is your Launchpad not working properly on your Mac?

Several common reasons for problems with Launchpad:

  • It has a temporary conflict with Dock.
  • The shortcut key you are using is unresponsive.
  • The Launchpad is damaged.
  • System error has corrupted Launchpad.

These problems can lead to the following adverse consequences:

  • The deleted application icon remains on the page.
  • The
  • icon does not follow the device structure you created.

How to fix the issue where Launchpad on MacBook is not working properly

To reset Launchpad and fix any issues, hold down the Option key and select Resource Library > Application Support > Dock. Now, find all the files ending in .db and delete them. Finally, Empty the Trash and Restart your Mac.

If you are experiencing more serious problems with Launchpad, such as unresponsiveness or too slow, follow the simple prompts below.

    Restart your Mac
  1. Delete Launchpad settings file
  2. Remove Launchpad from Dock and add again
  3. Reset Launchpad on Mac
  4. Update macOS
1. Restart your Mac

Restarting your Mac is the easiest, but sometimes the most effective way to solve the Launchpad problem. It takes only a few minutes to complete. To use this method:

    Find the
  1. Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
  2. Click
  3. Restart option and wait for the Mac to restart.

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

2. Delete Launchpad settings file

The Launchpad settings file is similar to a cached file stored on a Mac. Over time, they can damage the performance of the device. However, you can easily overcome this by clearing them. To delete the Launchpad settings file:

  1. Open the top menu bar on the Mac home screen > select to go to the tab.
  2. Click
  3. to go to folder .
  4. Type
  5. ~/Library in the search bar.
  6. Click
  7. Enter.
  8. Go to the
  9. Resource Library window and press Application Support folder.
  10. Select
  11. Dock folder.
  12. Select files ending in "db" and delete them.
  13. Close the window and
  14. Empty the wastebasket.
  15. RestartYour Mac.

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

3. Remove Launchpad from Dock and add

In some cases, Launchpad may have temporary conflicts with the Dock, which means it cannot be opened. To resolve this issue, uninstall Launchpad from the Dock and add it again. The method is as follows:

    Drag
  1. Launchpad from the Dock.
  2. In the
  3. Findor> application , search and select Launchpad.
  4. Move it back to the Dock.
  5. After opening, check if Launchpad is running.

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

4. Reset Launchpad on Mac

Another way to make Launchpad work properly again is to reset it. This is helpful when Launchpads are broken and cannot be opened, you can't see the Launchpad app, or they "hang" when trying to access them.

The following are two ways to reset your Mac's Launchpad:

    By Finder
  • Using the terminal
By Finder

When resetting Launchpad, remember to back up your Mac's data. Then try the following:

  1. In the top From the Finder menu , click to go to .
  2. Press and hold down the Option key and select Library > Application Support > Dock.
  3. Select files ending in "db" and delete them.
  4. Clear Your wastebasket.
  5. RestartYour Mac.
Using the terminal

Advanced Mac users can use the terminal to reset the Launchpad. When selecting this solution, remember that this application may cause system-level changes to your Mac, so be extra careful when following its instructions and do the following:

    Open
  1. Spotlight search > Enter Terminal > Click EnterEnter. In the terminal window, type the following command (no period at the end!):
  2. "rm"~/Library/ApplicationSupport/Dock/*.db ; killall Dock
  3. . Click
  4. Enter
  5. .
  6. Close the
  7. terminal and restart your Mac.

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?5. Update macOS

System issues on Mac can interfere with the maintenance of specific applications. Remember to update your Mac as new versions will always fix bugs and bring software improvements. The method is as follows:

In the
    Apple menu
  1. , select System settings . Open on the left
  2. General
  3. . Click
  4. Software Update
  5. on the right. If there is an update available, please
  6. Installation
  7. .
  8. Open
  9. Launchpad and check its maintenance.

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?

Launchpad Not Working on Mac: Why & How to Fix It?Conclusion

If Launchpad on Mac doesn't work properly, try the above solution. They are simple, clear and effective. You don't need to be an advanced user or understand all the pitfalls of macOS. Just follow the instructions and hope this will ensure you can enjoy your MacBook experience again.

For more professional help, use

MacKeeper's premium services, which are designed to save you time when solving any Mac-related issues. Remember that you can use them in your MacKeeper app, which is an additional advantage.

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