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How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac

You can typically start Launchpad by pressing F4 on your keyboard, or your can create a custom shortcut. You can also do a three-finger pinch on a touchpad, or assign Launchpad to a Hot Corner on your screen. Press .. This is the default...

Method 1 of 4:

Using the F4 Key

  1. images 1 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 1 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Press .F4. This is the default shortcut for Launchpad on most newer Macs.
    1. If this doesn't work try, Fn+F4.[1]
Method 2 of 4:

Using Trackpad Gestures

  1. images 2 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 2 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Place three fingers in the top-right corner of the trackpad.
  2. images 3 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 3 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Place your thumb in the bottom-left corner.
  3. images 4 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 4 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Pinch your thumb and three fingers together. Make sure all four digits make contact with the trackpad as you pinch.[2]
  4. images 5 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 5 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Enable the gesture if it was disabled. You can enable this gesture from the System Preferences menu:
    1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
    2. Click the Trackpad option.
    3. Click the More Gestures tab.
    4. Check the Launchpad box.
Method 3 of 4:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

  1. images 6 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 6 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Apple menu. You can set your own shortcut to open the Launchpad as well. Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  2. images 7 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 7 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click System Preferences. If the main System Preferences menu does not appear, click Show All. This button has a grid with 12 dots on it.
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    Images 8 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click Keyboard. This is in the second section.
  4. images 9 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 9 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Shortcuts tab.
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    Images 10 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Launchpad & Dock option.
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    Images 11 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Show Launchpad box to enable it.
  7. images 12 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 12 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Press the key or combination you want to use.
  8. images 13 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 13 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Press your new shortcut to open Launchpad.
Method 4 of 4:

Using Hot Corners

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    Images 14 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Apple menu. You can turn on the Hot Corners feature, which will allow you to start Launchpad by moving your mouse into a corner of your screen.
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    Images 15 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click System Preferences.
  3. images 16 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 16 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click Desktop & Screen Saver. This is in the first row of options.
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    Images 17 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the Screen Saver tab.
  5. images 18 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 18 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click Hot Corners. This button is in the lower-right corner.
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    Images 19 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click the menu for the corner you want to activate. Each menu corresponds to one of your screen corners.
  7. images 20 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 20 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Click Launchpad.
  8. images 21 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Images 21 of How to Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
    Move your mouse to the corner to open Launchpad. Launchpad will pen when your cursor is in the corner.
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