{"id":"comparisons.apps-grid-vs-launchpad","url":"/faq/comparisons/apps-grid-vs-launchpad","category":{"id":"comparisons","title":"Comparisons & alternatives"},"subcategory":{"id":"built-in-macos","title":"macOS's own storage tools"},"question":"Is the Storage Studio apps grid a replacement for Launchpad?","alt_questions":["storage studio all apps vs launchpad","launchpad alternative mac storage studio","Why does Storage Studio have its own app grid?","can I open apps from storage studio instead of launchpad","control space apps grid vs launchpad"],"short_answer":"It works as a fast app launcher, but its real job is showing every app on your Mac and external drive with where each one lives, so you can move, offload or uninstall. Moved apps still appear in Launchpad too.","answer_markdown":"It can be used like one, but it exists for a different reason. The **All Apps** grid shows every app on your Mac **and on your external drive**, each with a small badge saying where it lives — so it doubles as the place you decide what to move, offload or uninstall.\n\nAs a launcher it's quick: the search box is focused when it opens, Return opens the top match, arrow keys move around, and a global shortcut (⌃Space by default) can summon it from anywhere. **Show in Dock** keeps an icon in the Dock that reopens it.\n\nApps you move with Storage Studio still appear in Launchpad, Spotlight and the Dock as before, so you don't have to switch. See [Apps](/manual/apps).","answer_html":"

It can be used like one, but it exists for a different reason. The All Apps grid shows every app on your Mac and on your external drive, each with a small badge saying where it lives — so it doubles as the place you decide what to move, offload or uninstall.

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As a launcher it's quick: the search box is focused when it opens, Return opens the top match, arrow keys move around, and a global shortcut (⌃Space by default) can summon it from anywhere. Show in Dock keeps an icon in the Dock that reopens it.

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Apps you move with Storage Studio still appear in Launchpad, Spotlight and the Dock as before, so you don't have to switch. See Apps.

","answer_text":"It can be used like one, but it exists for a different reason. The All Apps grid shows every app on your Mac and on your external drive, each with a small badge saying where it lives — so it doubles as the place you decide what to move, offload or uninstall.\n\nAs a launcher it's quick: the search box is focused when it opens, Return opens the top match, arrow keys move around, and a global shortcut (⌃Space by default) can summon it from anywhere. Show in Dock keeps an icon in the Dock that reopens it.\n\nApps you move with Storage Studio still appear in Launchpad, Spotlight and the Dock as before, so you don't have to switch. See Apps.","tags":["apps","launchpad","launcher"],"related":[{"id":"comparisons.moving-an-app-vs-reinstalling-it-later","question":"Should I move a big app I rarely use, or delete it and reinstall it later?","url":"/faq/comparisons/moving-an-app-vs-reinstalling-it-later"},{"id":"comparisons.offload-vs-iphone-offload-unused-apps","question":"Is Offload in Storage Studio like the iPhone's Offload Unused Apps?","url":"/faq/comparisons/offload-vs-iphone-offload-unused-apps"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Is the Storage Studio apps grid a replacement for Launchpad? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It works as a fast app launcher, but its real job is showing every app on your Mac and external drive with where each one lives, so you can move, offload or uninstall. Moved apps still appear in Launchpad too.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Comparisons & alternatives","path":"/faq/comparisons/"},{"name":"Is the Storage Studio apps grid a replacement for Launchpad?","path":"/faq/comparisons/apps-grid-vs-launchpad"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/apps-grid-vs-launchpad","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the Storage Studio apps grid a replacement for Launchpad?","alternateName":["storage studio all apps vs launchpad","launchpad alternative mac storage studio","Why does Storage Studio have its own app grid?","can I open apps from storage studio instead of launchpad","control space apps grid vs launchpad"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It can be used like one, but it exists for a different reason. The All Apps grid shows every app on your Mac and on your external drive, each with a small badge saying where it lives — so it doubles as the place you decide what to move, offload or uninstall.\n\nAs a launcher it's quick: the search box is focused when it opens, Return opens the top match, arrow keys move around, and a global shortcut (⌃Space by default) can summon it from anywhere. Show in Dock keeps an icon in the Dock that reopens it.\n\nApps you move with Storage Studio still appear in Launchpad, Spotlight and the Dock as before, so you don't have to switch. See Apps.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/apps-grid-vs-launchpad"}}]},"fragment":"
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Comparisons & alternatives · macOS's own storage tools

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Is the Storage Studio apps grid a replacement for Launchpad?

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Short answer: It works as a fast app launcher, but its real job is showing every app on your Mac and external drive with where each one lives, so you can move, offload or uninstall. Moved apps still appear in Launchpad too.

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It can be used like one, but it exists for a different reason. The All Apps grid shows every app on your Mac and on your external drive, each with a small badge saying where it lives — so it doubles as the place you decide what to move, offload or uninstall.

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As a launcher it's quick: the search box is focused when it opens, Return opens the top match, arrow keys move around, and a global shortcut (⌃Space by default) can summon it from anywhere. Show in Dock keeps an icon in the Dock that reopens it.

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Apps you move with Storage Studio still appear in Launchpad, Spotlight and the Dock as before, so you don't have to switch. See Apps.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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