What Launchpad is and where to find it in Chrome
Launchpad is a grid of app shortcuts that appears when you open a new tab in Google Chrome. It shows icons for apps you have installed or pinned — Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, and others. Launchpad is built into Chrome and appears by default on every new tab page.
You see Launchpad when you click the plus sign to open a new tab, or when you open Chrome and it shows your home page. The grid sits below your search bar and any shortcuts you have pinned. Each icon is clickable and takes you directly to that app or website.
Launchpad is not a separate extension or tool you installed — it is part of Chrome itself. Removing apps from it does not uninstall them from your computer or your Google account. It only hides them from the grid on your new tab page.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click any app icon in Launchpad and select "Remove from Chrome" to hide it from the grid.
- Removing an app from Launchpad does not delete it from your computer or your Google account — it only hides the shortcut.
- You can add apps back to Launchpad later by visiting the Chrome Web Store and clicking "Add to Chrome" on any app page.
- If Launchpad itself does not appear on your new tab page, you may have disabled it in Chrome settings, and you can turn it back on.
How to remove a single app from Launchpad
Open Chrome and click the plus sign to create a new tab. You will see Launchpad below the search bar — a grid of colorful app icons. Find the app you want to remove.
Right-click directly on the app icon. A small menu will appear with two options: "Remove from Chrome" and "Open in new tab". Click "Remove from Chrome". The icon will disappear from Launchpad when ready.
That is all you need to do. The app is no longer visible in Launchpad, but it still exists in your Google account and on any device where you signed in with that account. You have only hidden the shortcut from view.
How to remove multiple apps at once
If you want to clean up Launchpad by removing several apps, you do not need to do them one at a time. Right-click each app icon and select "Remove from Chrome" as you go. Most people can remove five or six apps in less than a minute.
There is no bulk-remove option in Launchpad itself, so you will repeat the right-click step for each app. If you have many apps to remove, take your time — there is no penalty for removing them slowly.
What happens when you remove an app from Launchpad
When you remove an app from Launchpad, only the shortcut disappears. The app itself remains installed in your Google account. If you use Gmail, Google Drive, or any other Google service, removing it from Launchpad does not affect your account or your data.
If the app is a Chrome extension (a small tool that adds features to Chrome), removing it from Launchpad does not uninstall the extension. The extension continues to run in the background. To actually uninstall an extension, you would go to Chrome's extension menu instead.
You can always add the app back to Launchpad later. Visit the Chrome Web Store, find the app, and click "Add to Chrome". It will reappear in your Launchpad grid on the next new tab you open.
How to turn Launchpad back on if it disappeared
If Launchpad is not showing on your new tab page, you may have disabled it in Chrome settings. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome and select "Settings". On the left side, click "Appearance".
Look for a toggle labeled "Show apps shortcut" or "Show Launchpad". If it is turned off (the toggle will be gray), click it to turn it back on. Close the settings page and open a new tab — Launchpad should now appear below your search bar.
If you still do not see Launchpad after turning on the toggle, try closing Chrome completely and opening it again. Sometimes Chrome needs to restart to explore changes to the new tab page.
The difference between removing apps and uninstalling extensions
Launchpad shows shortcuts to apps and websites, but some of those shortcuts are actually Chrome extensions — small programs that add features to your browser. Removing an app from Launchpad does not uninstall an extension.
If you want to fully remove a Chrome extension, you need to go to the extension menu instead. Click the puzzle piece icon in the top right corner of Chrome (or the three dots, then "More tools", then "Extensions"). Find the extension you want to remove and click the trash icon next to it. That actually uninstalls it.
For regular apps like Gmail or Google Drive, removing them from Launchpad is enough — they are not extensions, and you do not need to uninstall them separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I remove an app from Launchpad, will I lose my data in that app?
No. Removing an app from Launchpad only hides the shortcut. Your data in Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, or any other Google service stays exactly where it is. You can still access those services by typing their web address or searching for them.
Can I rearrange the order of apps in Launchpad instead of removing them?
Chrome does not allow you to drag and drop apps to rearrange them in Launchpad. You can only remove apps or add them back. If you want a different layout, remove the apps you do not want to see and add back the ones you do.
Will removing an app from Launchpad remove it from other devices I use?
Yes. Launchpad is synced across all devices where you sign in with the same Google account. When you remove an app from Launchpad on one device, it disappears from Launchpad on all your other devices too. The app itself remains in your Google account.
What if I accidentally removed an app and want it back?
Open the Chrome Web Store and search for the app by name. Click the app page and select "Add to Chrome". It will reappear in your Launchpad grid the next time you open a new tab. You can also visit the app's website directly and look for an "Add to Chrome" button there.
Does removing apps from Launchpad make Chrome faster?
No. Launchpad is just a visual grid of shortcuts on your new tab page. Removing apps from it does not change how fast Chrome runs. If you want to speed up Chrome, focus on removing extensions you do not use or closing unused tabs instead.