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Launchpad popping up at random - what's the solution?

les24preludes

les24preludes

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 6, 2011
119
5
This is a known issue - there are posts on the Internet but no obvious solution. Launchpad just pops up on the screen at random. We have 3 Macs and they all do it - Mac Mini 2012, Mac Pro 2010 and just got a M1 running Ventura clean install but that does it too. All 3 computers use remote connection to the router. I have a 4th Mac in another room, 2010 Sierra, wired to the router, and that one is OK. This is an infuriating problem and makes using the computers a nightmare. We've tried swapping displays, keyboards and mice but the issue persists.

This really HAS to be solved, but how?
 
You can't uninstall Launchpad - it's part of the OS. That link doesn't help - it's for trackpads or just removing Launchpad from the dock. Unfortunately this needs a much more cunning plan, but thanks for your input. If you have any more ideas?
 
So you're saying you don't have a touchpad gesture for opening Launchpad, you don't have a Hot Corner Shortcut set to Launchpad, you don't have a keyboard shortcut set for Launchpad and you don't have any third-party apps or utilities that involve Launchpad…and yet Launchpad starts on its own at random times?
 
All our Macs are desktop - no touchpad.
Haven't looked at Hot Corner yet
Not sure about shortcuts to Launchpad
The M1 was a fresh install, so nothing except the OS, plus we launched Safari and YouTube to test.
Keyboards are Apple Magic metal numeric. They come up in USB devices as 0x0250. But when you press the key immediately to the right of Left shift key it doesn't recognise either `~ or Z. The keyboards look like ISO with 3 keys to the left of the spacebar so we entered ISO, not ANSI.

Yes, Launchpad starts on its own at random times.
 
Is this a problem for which there is no known solution?

Nobody seems to have an answer that works.
 
les24preludes said:
Is this a problem for which there is no known solution?

Nobody seems to have an answer that works.
Click to expand...
I suspect hardware issue with the keyboards or keyboard config. To check which key the keyboard is sending Open Settings > Keyboard and locate the Text Input section. Press "Edit" button and turn on "Show Input menu in menu bar" option. These instructions are for Sequoia but I'm confident you can located and adapt them for your specific version of macOS

Use the Keyboard Viewer on Mac

On your Mac, use the Keyboard Viewer to see where characters in another language are located on your keyboard.
support.apple.com

Now, in the menu bar, select the Input icon (little keyboard) > Show Keyboard Viewer. When you type on your connected keyboard, each key you press should highlight in the Keyboard Viewer. This way you can experiment and see whether the Fn key for Launchpad is being activated by a different key(s) or key sequences when you type.
 
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Reactions: kitKAC and les24preludes
BrianBaughn said:
Did you ever check the settings I suggested? Last I heard was you hadn't.
Click to expand...
Believe me, I'm grateful for all help here and when I get back to things after the silly season I'll try all suggestions.

What I mean is that no solution to date has emerged on the Internet, and I've searched and searched. One post said that they'd gone through 40 hours with Apple Support and no solution had come of it.

We'll see if something can be done.....
 
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