How to remove empty Launchpad folders that won't disappear on their own

launchpad

For quite some time, what Apple called Launchpad or application launcher. It is nothing more than a place where we can organize the applications that we have installed in such a way that When we want to start any of them we don't have to enter the Finder and then go to the applications folder.

The style with which the applications can be organized within the Launchpad is similar to that of the Apple iOS mobile device system. We can order them in a grid four applications high by seven wide and on as many screens as we want. Also, and that's what this article is about, we can create folders to further organize those applications.

To create a folder, simply drag one application on top of the other and give the set a name. However, it seems that if we undo the union again, that is, remove the applications from that folder and leave it empty, what the system should do is delete the empty folder, but it seems that a bugs makes it stay there forever. 

After doing some research on the net, we have learned that this problem is due to the fact that the database from which the Launchpad collects the information to display it would be corrupt. These databases are of the SQlite 3 type and could be edited with specific applications, being very rare that we can find the problem with the naked eye, it is better to regenerate that file using one of the following options using two commands for the Terminal.

The first one forces the Launchpad to return to its default settings, and if you look at the command, you will see that the first part, up to the semicolon, what it does is reset to the Launchpad and later close the Dock and restart with a new restored Launchpad, yes, we will have to reorganize everything what exists inside it since all the folders that we had would disappear.

defaults write com.apple.dock ResetLaunchPad -bool true; killall Dock

If after running the above command the empty folders are still there, what we have to do is completely delete those databases so that new ones are completely created again, for which we will use this command:

rm ~/Library/Application\ Support/Dock/*.db; killall Dock

So now you know, if you've had these annoying empty folders on your Launchpad for a long time, you already have two ways to try to get your system clean. What better today Sunday than to take advantage and give your system a little wax to make your Mac look better.


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  1.   Antonio Alba Rosado (@AlbaRosado) said

    Thank you very much, I think the finder brings more than one bug… .In the same way you could indicate the way to eliminate the applications that you have installed but when you want to get rid of them, the elimination cross does not appear. Thank you and your tutorials help me a lot.

  2.   fidel garcia said

    I have another solution, I had the same problem and the only thing I did is restart the mac and drag any app and remove it and now, it was eliminated, it worked for me

  3.   Omar C. said

    It worked perfect for me!… I just discovered this site today and I really like the content. Thank you!

  4.   Lucia said

    What Fidel Garcia says is the easiest thing !!!! you repeat and put any app inside the folder, take it out again and CHAN CHAN! hehehe

  5.   Olga said

    Thanks, I've been looking for hours to solve the problem and what you say was the only thing that helped me. He erased what he wanted as if by magic. Thank you very much.

  6.   Keyboards said

    We are going to have it organized, first I have to disorganize everything and then get back to order. Well then I keep the empty folders.

  7.   itax said

    Graciaaaaas !!!!!

  8.   Juan Antonio said

    Excellent publication… Thank you very much for the tip!

    regards