The fastest way to delete an app in Launchpad
Open Launchpad by clicking its icon in the Dock — it looks like a grid of colorful squares. Once Launchpad opens, find the app you want to delete and hold your cursor over it. A small X button will appear in the top-left corner of the app's icon. Click that X, and the app will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click "Delete" in the popup window, and the app is removed from your Mac.
This method works for most apps you downloaded from the App Store or installed yourself. Some built-in apps that came with macOS — like Mail, Calendar, or Finder — do not have an X button and cannot be deleted this way. If you do not see an X button when you hover over an app, that app is either built into macOS or protected from deletion through Launchpad.
Key Takeaways
- Open Launchpad from your Dock, find the app, hover over it, and click the X button that appears in the top-left corner.
- Built-in macOS apps like Mail and Finder do not show an X button and cannot be deleted through Launchpad.
- Deleting an app through Launchpad removes it from your Mac entirely, not just from Launchpad itself.
- If an app does not have an X button, you can delete it using Finder or the Applications folder instead.
What happens when you delete an app through Launchpad
When you click the X and confirm deletion, macOS removes the entire app from your computer — not just from Launchpad. The app's main folder and its files are sent to the Trash. If you change your mind, you can open the Trash, find the app, and drag it back to your Mac before you empty the Trash permanently.
Some apps leave behind small files called preference files or cache files in hidden folders on your Mac, even after you delete the main app. These leftover files take up very little space and do not affect your Mac's performance. If you want to remove them completely, you would need to use a file manager app or the Finder's hidden file view — Launchpad does not clean these up automatically.
When Launchpad deletion does not work
If you hover over an app in Launchpad and no X button appears, the app is either built into macOS or locked against deletion. You cannot delete these apps through Launchpad, but you have other options. You can use the Finder app instead: open Finder, click "Applications" in the sidebar, find the app you want to remove, and drag it to the Trash.
Some third-party apps also prevent deletion through Launchpad even though they are not built-in. In these cases, the Finder method usually works. If an app still will not delete, it may be running in the background. Quit the app completely by clicking its name in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then selecting "Quit [App Name]," and try deleting it again.
Organizing Launchpad before you delete
If you have many apps in Launchpad and want to clean up before deleting, you can create folders to group similar apps together. Click and hold an app icon, then drag it onto another app icon to create a folder. You can name the folder and move apps in and out as needed. This does not delete anything — it just makes Launchpad easier to navigate.
You can also swipe left and right through Launchpad pages to see all your apps. Some people find it easier to organize first, see which apps they actually use, and then delete the ones they do not need. This approach helps you avoid deleting something by accident.
Recovering a deleted app
If you delete an app and realize you need it back, check your Trash first. Open Trash from the Dock, find the app, right-click it, and select "Put Back." The app returns to its original location on your Mac. This works as long as you have not emptied the Trash yet.
If you have already emptied the Trash, you can download the app again from the App Store if it came from there, or from the developer's website if you installed it separately. Apps you purchased from the App Store can be downloaded again at no cost — your purchase history is tied to your Apple ID, not to the app being on your Mac.
Deleting apps from the Dock versus Launchpad
Launchpad and the Dock are two different places. Deleting an app from the Dock does not delete the app itself — it only removes the shortcut from the Dock. The app stays on your Mac. To actually remove an app, you must delete it through Launchpad, Finder, or another method. You can tell the difference: right-clicking an app in the Dock shows "Remove from Dock" (which keeps the app), while Launchpad shows "Delete App" (which removes it entirely).
If you want to remove an app from the Dock without deleting it, right-click the app icon in the Dock and select "Remove from Dock." The app stays on your Mac and you can still open it through Launchpad, Finder, or Spotlight search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a deletion after I empty the Trash?
No, once you empty the Trash, the app is permanently deleted from your Mac. However, if the app came from the App Store, you can download it again using your Apple ID. If you installed it from a website, you would need to download the installer again from the developer's website.
Why do some apps not have an X button in Launchpad?
Built-in macOS apps like Mail, Calendar, Finder, and Safari do not have X buttons because they are part of the operating system and cannot be deleted through Launchpad. You can use Finder to delete some of them, but macOS may reinstall them in future updates. Use the Finder method if you want to remove a built-in app.
Does deleting an app through Launchpad free up storage space?
Yes, deleting an app removes its main files from your Mac and frees up the storage space it was using. However, small preference and cache files may remain in hidden folders. These typically use very little space, but if you want to remove them completely, you would need to use a file manager app.
What if an app is running when I try to delete it?
Quit the app first by clicking its name in the menu bar at the top of the screen and selecting "Quit [App Name]." Then try deleting it through Launchpad. Some apps will not delete while they are running in the background.