LaunchNext

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📥 Download

Download here - Get the latest release

🌐 Website: closex.org/launchnext
📚 Docs: docs.closex.org/launchnext

⭐ Consider starring LaunchNext and especially LaunchNow!

MacOS Tahoe removed launchpad,and it's so hard to use, it's doesn't use your Bio GPU, please apple, at least give people an option to switch back. Before that, here is LaunchNext

Built upon LaunchNow by ggkevinnnn - huge thanks to the original project!❤️

LaunchNow has chosen the GPL 3 license. LaunchNext follows the same licensing terms.

Install with Homebrew 🍺

brew install --cask RoversX/homebrew-tap/launchnext

LaunchNext includes its own updater. The Homebrew cask is mainly for installation and manual upgrades.

⚠️ If macOS blocks the app, run this in Terminal:

sudo xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/LaunchNext.app

Why: I can't afford Apple's developer certificate ($99/year), so macOS blocks unsigned apps. This command removes the quarantine flag to let it run. Only use this command on apps you trust.

Code Signing Status

After tremendous effort, starting with LaunchNext 2.4.2, releases are signed and notarized by Apple. I'm trying this out for now—the membership only lasts a year, and keeping it active isn't cheap, so I may not renew it. If that happens, future releases will go back to unsigned/ad-hoc builds, which may not be a bad idea.

Building from source? See Configure local code signing.

What LaunchNext Delivers

• ✅ One-click import from old 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
• ✅ Multi-language support - full internationalization with English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and more
• ✅ Hide icon labels - clean, minimalist view when you don't need app names
• ✅ Custom icon sizes - adjust icon dimensions to fit your preferences
• ✅ Smart folder management - create and organize folders just like before
• ✅ Fuzzy search and keyboard navigation - find apps quickly, even with partial or imperfect input
• ✅ CLI / TUI support - inspect and operate your layout from the terminal
• ✅ Hot Corner and native gesture support - open LaunchNext with corners, trackpad gestures, and 4 / 5 finger options
• ✅ Drag apps directly to the Dock - available in Next Engine + Core Animation
• ✅ Core Animation folders - folder content supports paged and vertical scroll layouts
• ✅ Better context menus - Show in Finder, Copy App Path, Rename Folder, and configured uninstall actions
• ✅ Update tab with Markdown release notes - richer in-app update experience
• ✅ Backup, controller, and voice support improvements - better reliability and accessibility

What We Lost in macOS Tahoe

• ❌ No custom app organization
• ❌ No user-created folders
• ❌ No drag-and-drop customization
• ❌ No visual app management
• ❌ Forced categorical grouping

Data Storage

Application data is safely stored in:

~/Library/Application Support/LaunchNext/Data.store

Native Launchpad Integration

Reads directly from the system Launchpad database:

/private$(getconf DARWIN_USER_DIR)com.apple.dock.launchpad/db/db

Installation

Requirements

• macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later
• Apple Silicon or Intel processor
• Xcode 26 (for building from source)

Build from Source

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/RoversX/LaunchNext.git
   cd LaunchNext
   

2. Open in Xcode

   open LaunchNext.xcodeproj
   

3. Configure local code signing

   • A paid Apple Developer membership is not required to build or contribute to LaunchNext.
   • Select the LaunchNext target, open Signing & Capabilities, set Team to None, and select Sign to Run Locally as the signing certificate.
   • Keep Hardened Runtime enabled.
   • Xcode may mark the project file as modified after changing these local settings. Do not include signing-only changes in a pull request.

   Xcode local signing settings for LaunchNext	Signed and notarized LaunchNext release

4. Build and run

   • To launch the app with ⌘+R, select My Mac as the run destination—not Any Mac.
   • Any Mac (arm64, x86_64) is intended for generic builds and archives; it cannot launch the app for debugging.
   • Press ⌘+B if you only want to build.

Command Line Build

Regular Build:

xcodebuild -project LaunchNext.xcodeproj -scheme LaunchNext -configuration Release

Universal Binary Build (Intel + Apple Silicon):

xcodebuild -project LaunchNext.xcodeproj -scheme LaunchNext -configuration Release ARCHS="arm64 x86_64" ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH=NO clean build

Usage

Getting Started

1. First Launch: LaunchNext automatically scans all installed applications
2. Select: Click to select apps, double-click to launch
3. Search: Type to instantly filter applications
4. Organize: Drag apps to create folders and custom layouts
5. Automate: Enable CLI in Settings if you want terminal workflows

Import Your Launchpad

1. Open Settings (gear icon)
2. Click "Import Launchpad"
3. Your existing layout and folders are automatically imported

Display Modes

• Compact: Floating window with rounded corners
• Fullscreen: Full-screen mode for maximum visibility
• Legacy Engine and Next Engine + Core Animation are available in Settings
• LaunchNext can keep separate settings for fullscreen and compact
• Optional fullscreen menu bar hiding is available; macOS also hides the Dock when this is enabled

Advanced Features

Search and Folder Experience

• Fuzzy Search: Match apps with partial names, abbreviations, and imperfect input
• Configurable Search Delay: Tune search debounce timing in Settings
• Folder Layout Modes: Choose between Launchpad-like paged folders and vertical scrolling folders
• Core Animation Folder Rendering: Smoother folder interaction for larger folders

Smart Background Interaction

• Intelligent click detection prevents accidental dismissal
• Context-aware gesture handling
• Search field protection

Performance Optimization

• Icon Caching: Intelligent image caching for smooth scrolling
• Lazy Loading: Efficient memory usage
• Background Scanning: Non-blocking app discovery

Automation and Activation

• CLI / TUI: Manage LaunchNext from the terminal
• Hot Corner: Open LaunchNext from a configurable screen corner
• Experimental native gestures: 4 / 5 finger pinch and tap actions, including external trackpad device selection
• Dock drag: Drag apps directly into the macOS Dock in Next Engine + Core Animation

App Management

• Context menu actions: Show apps in Finder, copy app paths, rename folders, and use a configured uninstall tool

Update and Backup Tools

• Update tab: Check for updates and read Markdown release notes inside Settings
• Backup tools: Create and restore backups more safely
• Notification update: Modern notification API support

Multi-Display Support

• Automatic screen detection
• Per-display positioning
• Seamless multi-monitor workflows

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Q: App won't start? A: Ensure macOS 26.0+ and check system permissions.

Q: Which engine should I use? A: Next Engine + Core Animation is recommended for the best experience. Legacy Engine is still available if you need the older compatibility path.

Q: Why doesn't the CLI command exist yet? A: Enable the command line interface in Settings first. LaunchNext can install and remove the managed launchnext command for you.

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

Development Guidelines

• Follow Swift style conventions
• Add meaningful comments for complex logic
• Test on multiple macOS versions
• Maintain backward compatibility

Documentation

• Folder Liquid Glass — design constraints behind the Core Animation grid's glass folder icons, what is verified, and what still needs main-app acceptance.
• Grid diagnostics — manual probes for the grid and glass overlay, with their commands and coverage limits.

Unit tests live in LaunchNextTests and run with:

xcodebuild test -scheme LaunchNext -destination 'platform=macOS'

The Future of App Management

As Apple moves away from customizable interfaces, LaunchNext represents a push toward user control and personalization. I still hope Apple brings Launchpad back.

LaunchNext isn't just a Launchpad replacement—it's a statement that user choice matters.

---

LaunchNext - Reclaim Your App Launcher 🚀

Built for macOS users who refuse to compromise on customization.

Development Tools

• Claude Code

• Cursor

• OpenAI Codex CLI

• Perplexity

• Google

• Experimental gesture support is built on OpenMultitouchSupport and the fork by KrishKrosh.❤️