How to Remove Apps from Launchpad

Whether you remove apps from Launchpad or use Finder for this, we bet your main aim is to declutter your Mac and reclaim some storage. But it’s important to make sure an app is fully deleted, with all its leftovers scattered in random places. We recommend using MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller, an easy and effective tool to safely get rid of unneeded apps in a couple of clicks.

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How to Remove Apps from Launchpad
Written by   Aya Masango
Updated: May 03, 2025

There are two methods to remove apps from your Mac’s Launchpad: removing them in Launchpad and the Applications folder. To delete apps within the Launchpad, click and hold the icon until the app icons start to jiggle, and hit the X that appears in the corner of the app icon.

 

Mac’s Launchpad is a convenient tool that allows you to view, open, and manage all your apps in one place, especially when the Launchpad is in the Dock. When you feel that the Launchpad looks cluttered or is filled with apps you no longer use, you can easily delete those apps in a few clicks.

A note from our experts: 

 

When you decide to declutter your Launchpad or any other part of your Mac, Mac Keeper’s Smart Uninstaller is the best solution. Our app safely removes unneeded apps and their leftovers.

 

Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download MacKeeper on your Mac.
  2. Select Smart Uninstaller in the sidebar.
  3. Click Start Scan and wait a few moments while MacKeeper finds apps to delete.
  4. Click Applications and select the apps you want to delete from the list.
  5. Select the rest of the categories, not forgetting Leftovers, and check the necessary boxes.
  6. Finally, click Remove Selected.
To remove apps. Use MacKeeper's Smart Uninstaller. Launch MacKeeper and select Smart Uninstaller from the left, and click Start Scan.
Step 1. MacKeeper > Smart Uninstaller > Start Scan
MacKeeper's Smart Uninstaller is scanning the Mac device to find apps to delete. This process may take a few minutes.
Step 2. Starting the MacKeeper Smart Uninstaller scan
Click on the relevant category, like Applications and Leftovers, then go down the list and select the appropriate item you want to delete in the Launchpad. Click Remove Selected.
Step 3. Select applications to delete > Remove Selected
Click Remove in a drop-down window to confirm your Decision and finish the process.
Step 4. Click Remove to confirm your decision

Now we’ll show you how to remove apps from your Mac’s Launchpad to declutter your computer.

What is the Mac Launchpad?

The Launchpad on Mac is a built-in, central macOS tool that allows you to view, open, or “launch” all your apps. When Launchpad is in the Dock, you can access apps quicker than you can in the Applications folder. And whatever you do in the Launchpad reflects in the Applications folder.

 

The Launchpad displays app icons in a grid format, similar to your iPhone screen. When you download apps, they appear on the Launchpad. And when you delete them, they’re removed from it. Because of this, Launchpad may look different from time to time.

 

Below are the Launchpad’s main functions:

  • Viewing apps
  • Deleting apps
  • Moving app icons
  • Grouping apps

When you want to get rid of apps on Mac Launchpad, you have two options. The method you use depends on whether you downloaded a particular app from the App Store or the Internet.

How to remove internet apps from Launchpad

Internet apps can’t be deleted directly from the Launchpad. Instead, you must delete them in the Applications folder:

  1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock and select Applications.
  2. Find the app you want to delete and drag it to the Trash can in the bottom-right corner of the Dock.
The first step in deleting an internet app on a Mac is opening Finder in the Dock.
Step 1. Opening Finder in the Dock
Select the app you want to delete in Finder and drag it to Trash to delete it from the Launchpad.
Step 2. Choose the app you want to delete

How to get rid of App Store apps from Launchpad

The quickest method to remove apps from the Launchpad is to delete them within the Launchpad itself.

  1. Open the Launchpad and find the app you want to delete.
  2. Click and hold the app icon until the icons jiggle, click the X in the corner of the icon, and click Delete.
To delete an internet app on a Mac, open the Launchpad, click and hold the app, and select the X that appears.
You can only delete App Store apps in the Launchpad.

A nuance to know: 

 

Do you want to learn how to delete apps on a Mac? The process is the same: when you delete apps from the Launchpad, they’re deleted from your Mac, too, along with associated data. Deleting apps from the Launchpad doesn’t hide them; it deletes them completely. That’s why you should be sure you want to get rid of an app before deleting it in Launchpad.

How to delete apps on Mac that won't delete from Launchpad

If an app doesn’t have an X icon in the previous step, you can delete it in Finder:

  1. Open the app in the Launchpad to make it appear in the Dock.
  2. Right-click on the app in the Dock and choose Options > Show in Finder.
  3. Drag the app to the Trash.
The Launchpad is opened on a Mac and Spotify is outlined in red to be opened. Once opened, it will appear in the Dock, so that it can be deleted.
Step 1. Opening Spotify from the Launchpad
The Show in Finder option is highlighted on the Spotify app menu in the Dock so that Spotify can be deleted from the Launchpad.
Step 2. Selecting Show in Finder for Spotify

If you’ve ever wondered how to remove apps from Dock on Mac, there’s your answer.

 

Another option is safely deleting apps with MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller. Using this tool ensures you remove those pesky files that tend to get left behind when you manually uninstall apps from the Launchpad.

 

In other words, MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller does a better job than you could ever do in less time. Additionally, it frees up some much-needed space and optimizes your Mac to give you an overall smoother experience.

Remove apps safely from Mac’s Launchpad

While Mac’s Launchpad isn’t a groundbreaking tool, it generally makes accessing apps much easier and is handy for managing them. That includes deleting the apps you no longer need.

 

Use the tips in our article to quickly and conveniently remove unwanted apps from your Mac's Launchpad. Delete them directly from within the Launchpad or indirectly from the Applications folder. Remember that the apps that can’t be deleted in the Launchpad can also be deleted by showing them in Finder first. All these are simple solutions for making your Mac cleaner and free of clutter.

 

There’s also a safer, more effective way to delete apps from the Launchpad. Use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller to thoroughly delete apps from your MacBook’s Launchpad, along with their leftover files, all at once.

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