Launchie
Launchie is a macOS app launcher that restores a visual app grid with search, folders, and custom organization for opening apps quickly.
What is Launchie?
Launchie is a native macOS app launcher designed to help users browse, organize, and open installed apps from a visual grid. It is made by Nick Friedrich and focuses on replacing the classic Launchpad-style experience with folders, drag-and-drop organization, and faster search. Users can sort apps, rearrange them to match their workflow, and open the launcher with a keyboard shortcut for quick access. The app is aimed at Mac users who want a cleaner, more controllable way to access applications than a simple alphabetical list. Launchie is especially relevant on newer macOS versions where users want a more traditional fullscreen launcher layout back. It is a lightweight desktop utility rather than a web service, so its main workflow happens directly on the Mac.
Key features
- Browse installed apps in a visual launcher grid
- Search for apps and launch them quickly
- Organize apps into folders and rearrange them with drag and drop
- Open the launcher with a keyboard shortcut
- Customize layout options such as window size, grid columns, and icon sizing
- Sort apps by name, age, or usage
- Hide selected apps from the launcher view
Review app leftovers with diCleaner
Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Safe
Launchie is a legitimate Mac utility for finding and opening apps. Access to your Applications folders is normal for an app launcher because it needs to read installed apps in order to display them. Removing it will only affect your ability to use Launchie’s custom launcher, folders, and layout settings; it will not remove the apps that Launchie lists.
Recommendation: Keep Launchie if you use it to organize and launch apps more quickly on your Mac. If you no longer use its custom launcher interface, you can remove it without affecting the installed apps it helps you open.
Common paths
/Applications/Launchie.app
Preference paths
~/Library/Preferences/de.nick-friedrich.Launchie.plist
Share your experience
Be the first to share your experience.