( BuhoLaunchpad 1.8.5 )
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BuhoLaunchpad
A third-party macOS utility from Dr.Buho that recreates Apple’s retired full-screen Launchpad grid so you can browse, search, and organize apps visually instead of relying on Spotlight or the Dock alone.
Typical Mac workflow
On macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple replaced the built-in Launchpad with Spotlight-centric app access. BuhoLaunchpad overlays the familiar paged icon grid: pinch with four or five fingers, use a hot corner, or invoke a keyboard shortcut to open it, then type to search, swipe between pages, and click to launch. Drag icons to rearrange them, drop apps into folders, and remove items from the grid without uninstalling the software.
Settings go beyond what Apple offered. You can set row and column counts, resize icons with a slider, hide apps you rarely open, add paths for Homebrew or external-drive installs, and choose whether Launchpad appears on the main display, the Dock display, or wherever the cursor sits. Custom wallpaper, blur strength, and adaptive label colors help the overlay match your desktop. One-click backup and restore preserves layouts across updates, and a migration tool can import arrangements from older macOS versions.
Licensing and version 1.8.5
The app is Apple-notarized, runs on macOS 15.0 or later on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (M1 through M5 per the vendor), and is distributed as a direct DMG download rather than through the Mac App Store. A 7-day trial unlocks full features; continued use requires a lifetime license sold via the vendor’s buy page (list pricing is commonly around $19.99 for one Mac, with periodic discounts). Version 1.8.5, released 2 July 2026, refines trackpad gesture recognition and fixes stability issues tied to gestures and system permissions.
