Introduction

It’s been almost a year since I started building LaunchNext, and the app now has 65,000+ downloads on GitHub alone. Thank you to everyone who has tried the app, shared feedback, or contributed along the way.

When I released LaunchNext 2.4.0, I felt that most of the features I originally wanted were finally in place. With 2.4.2, the focus shifts to how the app feels every day — opening folders, dragging apps, rearranging the grid, and making the launcher look at home on your Mac.

LaunchNext 2.4.2 is a major visual and interaction update. It brings smoother animations, Liquid Glass folders, and compatibility improvements for macOS 27. It also adds custom image backgrounds, smarter Chinese, Japanese, and Korean search, and releases signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple. LaunchNext remains a free, open source Launchpad replacement for macOS 26 and newer.

LaunchNext 2.4.2 with an image background and Liquid Glass folders

LaunchNext 2.4.2 feature overview with search, custom backgrounds, Folder Quick Launch, scrolling controls, and Apple notarization

What’s New in 2.4.2

Smoother Animations

Opening and closing folders now feels more fluid, including when you change your mind halfway through a transition. The animations have been redesigned to handle that reversal more naturally.

The same attention carries through to organizing apps. Creating, merging, dissolving, and rearranging folders now have better visual feedback. Drag previews and landing animations make it easier to follow where an app is going, with fewer jumps after you drop it.

For me, these interactions are a big part of what makes a Launchpad replacement feel right. You spend more time opening and moving things than looking at a feature list.

Liquid Glass Folders

Folders now have a Liquid Glass appearance, with sharper app previews when using the Core Animation renderer. Combined with the new opening and closing animations, they give the launcher a more cohesive feel.

Liquid Glass is enabled by default. If you prefer the previous appearance, you can turn it off in Settings.

macOS 27 Compatibility

LaunchNext 2.4.2 improves compatibility with macOS 27 while continuing to support macOS 26. Context menu icons are restored, page indicators get Liquid Glass hover feedback, and the Settings layout and glass effects have been refined.

Wallpaper capture and preview handling have also been improved. These are smaller details individually, but they matter when the launcher is something you open throughout the day.

Custom Image Backgrounds

You can now bring your desktop wallpaper into LaunchNext or choose a custom image. Pair it with Blur, Glass, or No effect to get the look you want. App labels, toolbar controls, and page indicators adapt to the background to stay readable.

Image backgrounds are optional and disabled by default. Static Preview works without Screen Recording permission; capturing the current frame of some wallpapers may require it. Wallpaper snapshots stay on your Mac, are never uploaded, and are removed when wallpaper backgrounds are disabled.

Smarter CJK Search and Show in Layout

Chinese, Japanese, and Korean app names can now be found using romanized input, including initials for Chinese names. You can search without switching input methods. Original app-name matches still take priority, and search indexes are prepared in the background to reduce work while you type.

Search also helps you find an app’s place in your layout. Right-click a result and choose Show in Layout. LaunchNext goes to the right page, opens the folder if needed, and briefly highlights the app’s original position.

This makes search useful for more than launching an app. It also gives you a quick way to find something you want to move or reorganize.

Folder Quick Launch

Right-click a folder to launch an app directly from its context menu. You can pin favorites to the top, keeping the apps you use most within easy reach.

Pins are saved with your layout, without recording launch counts or usage history. Folder Quick Launch requires the Core Animation renderer and is disabled by default.

More Improvements

There are also several smaller changes to customization and everyday use:

  • Separate direction controls for mouse wheel paging, vertical scrolling, trackpads, and Magic Mouse
  • Better gesture device detection and more detailed input device information
  • Custom maximum width and height for compact windows, optional shadows, and adjustable opening and closing animation duration
  • A cleaner Settings interface with clearer Next Engine and Legacy Engine selection
  • More reliable wallpaper refresh across displays and Spaces, with fewer unnecessary captures
  • Improved app installation and removal detection, memory management, and backup compatibility
  • Traditional Chinese support for the app and updater, plus updated Italian and other translations

Installation and Upgrades

Official releases are now signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, improving compatibility with Gatekeeper. Release builds also enable Hardened Runtime and include SHA-256 checksums. Existing preferences migrate automatically when upgrading.

  1. Download LaunchNext 2.4.2 from GitHub Releases.
  2. Move LaunchNext.app to your Applications folder.
  3. Launch the app.

What’s Next

I still want LaunchNext to be an app that is easy to open, easy to organize, and comfortable to use every day. This release puts more attention into those small interactions, and I’d like to hear how they work with your setup.

If something is missing or broken, open an issue.

Alongside LaunchNext, I’ve also been building ThinkTerm, an open source terminal multiplexer built on WezTerm and organized around workspaces. It grew out of managing local and remote terminal work across projects, machines, and multiple AI agents. Some newer features are still experimental, and feedback is welcome.

For the full update details, see the LaunchNext 2.4.2 announcement and release notes.