Yesterday I installed Google Chrome again for ages because I... an instruction Wanted to take screenshots. After installing the latest Chrome version, I noticed that the Launchpad (app overview of the Apple Mac) suddenly had three pages instead of two. And lo and behold: on the third page there were links to Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, documents, presentations and spreadsheets. But how can you delete these Google services from Launchpad? Here you will find the answer to this question!
Chapter in this post:
Your account's own Applications folder houses Google shortcuts
While looking for a solution, I came across various solutions that showed me that the problem has been occurring for several versions of the Chrome browser. Depending on the operating system on the Apple Mac, there seemed to be different storage locations in the past. In current macOS versions such as Ventura and Sonoma, you can determine the Applications folder of the account you are using.
The path is:
/Users/„UserName“/Applications/Chrome Apps.localized
Or in short form:
~/Applications/Chrome Apps.localized
To get to this folder, you can e.g. For example, open the Finder, open the Macintosh HD, open the Users folder and your account folder and then open the Applications folder.
Or you open the Finder, select “Go to” in the menu bar, then click “Go to folder…” and enter the second path mentioned above, which you then confirm with the Enter key.
Instructions: Delete Google services from Launchpad
Whichever route you choose, you will eventually come to the folder in which the service shortcuts installed with the Chrome browser are located. You can now put all of these in the trash and then empty it. This means that these page references stored as a web app also disappear from the launchpad.
If you don't want to move them individually to the trash, you can also go one folder level higher (~/Applications) and simply delete the entire "Google Apps" folder and then empty the trash. Once this is done, the symbols and any new pages created for them disappear from the Mac's launchpad.
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[On vacation] After graduating from high school, Johannes completed training as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which led to his independence. He has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others, for several years now. His articles include product introductions, news, instructions, video games, consoles and much more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.
The fact that Google is including this “stuff” in there is a real disgrace. It doesn't work at all.
I've been Chrome-free for two years now and have another reason to stop loading this browser on my systems.
From champion to opponent. I've supported Chrome, ChromeOS and Pixel for a long time. About all forums and communities in Google+. I discussed so many arguments against using Google services that I finally had to admit: It's a really stupid idea, with every click, with every search, through the use of the company's software and hardware, at all times and constantly to a company whose main source of income is to target you.
And now, as described here, they are so intrusive that you must again strongly advise against using anything from Google.