LaunchNext, An open source Launchpad for MacOS 26
Introduction
A few days ago, Apple pushed another macOS 26 update. Honestly, I didn’t want to upgrade - I was a bit worried it would slow down my computer. But thinking that I’d have to upgrade sooner or later anyway, and procrastinating wouldn’t help, I clicked update.
The first thing I did after upgrading was look for my applications, and then I was completely lost: where did all my apps go? The new Launchpad interface felt incredibly awkward to use, nothing like the workflow I was used to.
With no other choice, I went to GitHub to try my luck and see if there were any alternative solutions. And I actually found something great: LaunchNow by @ggkevinnnn.
After using LaunchNow for a while, I found that this software has a really solid foundation. All the core features are well-built: app layout, folder management, search, keyboard navigation - the author clearly put real care into solving the problem. But as I kept using it, I felt like it was still missing quite a few features, and there were areas that could be optimized. I couldn’t wait any longer and decided to dive in and modify it myself.
When Apple’s own design choices force users to hunt for third-party alternatives, that’s already inconvenient enough. Users shouldn’t have to jump through additional hoops just to get their desktop working the way they want. That’s how LaunchNext came to be, a free and open source Launchpad for MacOS 26.
Project link: https://github.com/RoversX/LaunchNext
Screenshots
Here are some screenshots of LaunchNext in action:
What LaunchNext Delivers
✅ One-click import from system Launchpad - Directly reads your native Launchpad SQLite database (/private$(getconf DARWIN_USER_DIR)com.apple.dock.launchpad/db/db) to perfectly recreate your existing folders, app positions, and layout
✅ Classic Launchpad experience - Works exactly like the beloved original interface you remember
✅ Multi-language support - Full internationalization with English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, and Russian
✅ Hide icon labels - Clean, minimalist view when you don’t need app names cluttering your screen
✅ Custom icon sizes - Adjust icon dimensions to fit your personal preferences
✅ Smart folder management - Create and organize folders just like the good old days
✅ Instant search and keyboard navigation - Find apps quickly without mouse clicking
Installation & Setup
LaunchNow chose the GPL 3 license, and LaunchNext follows the same licensing terms to maintain compatibility and honor the original project’s open source philosophy.
Download & Install
- Download the latest release from GitHub
- Move LaunchNext.app to your Applications folder
- Launch the app
Security Note
⚠️ If macOS blocks the app, run this in Terminal:
1 | sudo xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/LaunchNext.app |
Why this is needed: I can’t afford Apple’s developer certificate ($99/year), so macOS blocks unsigned apps by default. This command removes the quarantine flag to let it run. Only use this command on apps you trust.
International Support
LaunchNext supports multiple languages and the list keeps growing:
- 🇺🇸 English
- 🇨🇳 中文 (Chinese)
- 🇯🇵 日本語 (Japanese)
- 🇰🇷 한국어 (Korean)
- 🇫🇷 Français (French)
- 🇪🇸 Español (Spanish)
- 🇩🇪 Deutsch (German)
- 🇷🇺 Русский (Russian)
- 🇮🇳 हिन्दी (Hindi)
- 🇻🇳 Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
More languages are being added continuously based on community requests.
The app automatically detects your system language and switches to the appropriate interface. All UI elements, menus, and tooltips are fully localized.
Open Source Community
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the open source community for all the help I’ve received over the past few days. From code reviews and bug reports to feature suggestions and moral support - the response has been incredible.
Special thanks to:
- @ggkevinnnn for creating the amazing LaunchNow - not only is the software excellent, but the author is incredibly kind, friendly, and always willing to help
- Everyone who tested early builds and provided feedback
- Contributors who helped with translations and documentation
- The broader macOS developer community for sharing knowledge and resources
This project wouldn’t exist without the collaborative spirit of open source. It’s amazing what we can build together when we share our work freely.
Note: LaunchNext is my personal open source project and operates independently from other projects or entities. This is purely a community-driven effort to improve the macOS app launching experience. You can find the source code and contribute at github.com/RoversX/LaunchNext.
