Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Use Launchpad for OS X to Organize your Apps

Mac's Launchpad allows you to organize and manage your installed applications just as you would on an iOS device. It also enables you to see apps that are currently downloading from the Mac App Store, and you can remove apps if you would like to do so.

How to Use Launchpad
Opening the Launchpad on OS X can be done using its icon on your Dock. If you cannot find it there, you can also launch it from the Applications folder. You may also have a keyboard option that you can use to open Launchpad, depending on which Mac or keyboard you have. For example, if you have a Macbook Pro, you can open up Launchpad by pressing [F4] on your keyboard.


Once Launchpad opens, you'll see a screen similar to an iPad's that will show you all of the apps that are currently installed on your machine. For those who are using a Trackpad to navigate Launchpad and swipe through various screens, just swipe to the left or right using your two fingers. In case you are using a mouse, click and drag left or right in order to change screens.

How to Rearrange Icons
The Springboard/Launchpad's basic concept is that an icon can be rearranged once they're jiggling. In order for you to make an app icon wiggle, simply hold down on one of them until they start wiggling. Then you can start dragging and rearranging the app icons according to your preferred locations. You can rearrange them on the same screen in different order or place them on a different one.


How to Create Folders in Launchpad
Creating a new folder in Launchpad can be done by clicking and holding any of the app icons, and once they start wiggling, drag and drop any icon on top of another. This will cause a new folder to be created. The name of the folder will be automatically set to the category of the two apps that you have grouped together. If you want to rename the folder, just click on it to open the folder, and then click on the title so that you can type in the new name.


Take note that creating folders in Launchpad will not affect the directory structure of your apps in the Applications folder -- so there's no need to worry about that. OS X also allows emojis in file names, so you can include emoji icons in your Launchpad folder names. Doing this enables you to quickly identify folders with the help of these emojis.

How to Delete Apps
Apple provided an option to delete apps from within OS X; however this method has two disadvantages. One, the uninstaller won't work for non-App Store apps, and second, it won't delete application preferences from your system.
With Launchpad, you can delete an application by simply clicking and holding an app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, click on the X icon in the upper-left corner of the icon you wish to delete. OS X will ask for your confirmation if you wish to proceed with the action, and then just respond by clicking on Delete to permanently remove the application from your Mac.

No comments:

Post a Comment