LaunchNext 2.4.2
LaunchNext 2.4.2 is a major visual, interaction, and reliability update for macOS 26 and newer.
This release introduces image backgrounds, Liquid Glass folders, smoother folder interactions, CJK transliteration search, Show in Layout, Folder Quick Launch, expanded window controls, improved input settings, and signed and notarized distribution.
For detailed usage guides, setup instructions, and feature walkthroughs, please visit the website and documentation.
🌐 Landing page: https://closex.org/launchnext/
📚 Docs: https://docs.closex.org/launchnext/
Signed and notarized distribution
Official LaunchNext 2.4.2 releases are signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple (thanks to my parents for covering the developer membership).
- macOS can verify the identity and integrity of the downloaded app
- Improved compatibility with Gatekeeper
- Hardened Runtime is enabled for release builds
- Existing preferences are migrated automatically when upgrading
- Release packages include SHA-256 checksums
Background and wallpaper customization
Image backgrounds
LaunchNext can now use an image as its background.
Available sources include:
Static Preview: shows a still preview of the current wallpaper without requiring Screen Recording permissionDesktop Wallpaper: captures the current desktop wallpaper frameCustom Image: uses an image selected by the user
Image backgrounds are disabled by default and can be enabled in Appearance settings.
Animated wallpapers can use a static preview, although it may differ from the current desktop frame. Capturing the exact current frame of some wallpapers may require macOS Screen Recording permission.
LaunchNext uses Screen Recording permission only to obtain the wallpaper image.
Wallpaper snapshots are stored locally on the Mac. They are not uploaded and are removed when wallpaper backgrounds are disabled.
Background styles
Image backgrounds support multiple visual styles.
BlurGlassNo effectfor a sharper, unfiltered image- Separate background mask colors for light and dark appearance
Adaptive visibility
LaunchNext automatically adjusts interface contrast based on the displayed background.
- App and folder labels switch between light and dark text
- Text shadows are added when needed
- Toolbar controls adapt to the wallpaper
- Page indicators remain visible on bright and dark backgrounds
Wallpaper refresh and reuse have also been improved across displays, Spaces, and repeated LaunchNext openings.
Liquid Glass folders
Folder icons now support a new Liquid Glass appearance when using the Core Animation renderer.
- Clear Liquid Glass folder surfaces
- High-quality folder previews
- Enabled by default
- Can be disabled in Settings to restore the original style
Folder opening and closing have also been redesigned.
- Smoother opening and closing transitions
- Animations can reverse naturally when interrupted
- Improved folder shadows and background depth
- Smoother glass handoff when closing a folder
Folder interaction improvements
Folder editing now provides more complete visual feedback.
- New animations for creating, merging, and dissolving folders
- Smoother icon reordering
- Improved drag previews and landing animations
- Reduced visual jumps after dropping an app
- Better placement when dissolving a folder
- More consistent keyboard and pointer interaction
Folder Quick Launch
Folders now include an optional quick launch mode.
- Right-click a folder to launch one of its apps directly
- Right-click an app inside a folder to pin or unpin it
- Pinned apps appear at the top of the quick launch menu
- Pins are stored as part of the layout
- Launch counts and usage history are not recorded
Folder Quick Launch requires the Core Animation renderer and is disabled by default.
Search improvements
CJK transliteration search
Search now supports Latin-character matching for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean app names.
- Search CJK app names using romanized input
- Chinese app names can also match transliteration initials
- Original app-name matches continue to receive priority
- Improved ordering when several results match
Show in Layout
Find where an app belongs directly from search results.
- Right-click a search result and choose
Show in Layout - Automatically navigate to the app’s page and open its folder if needed
- A brief animation helps you spot the app in its original position
Faster search indexing
Search indexes are now prepared in the background.
- Improves responsiveness with larger app libraries
- Reduces work performed while typing
- Keeps results synchronized when installed apps change
Scrolling and input controls
Scrolling and paging directions can now be configured separately.
- Reverse mouse wheel paging independently
- Reverse regular mouse wheel vertical scrolling independently
- Choose the vertical direction used by trackpads and Magic Mouse
- Paging reversal no longer changes normal vertical content scrolling
Gesture device handling has also been improved.
- Optional display of all detected input devices
- More detailed device information in Settings
- Improved automatic device selection
- Better distinction between trackpads, Touch Bar, and other input hardware
Compact window controls
Windowed mode now provides additional customization.
- Configure maximum window width and height
- Use automatic sizing or custom limits
- Keeps the window within the usable display area
- Optional window shadow control
- Preserves the existing window aspect ratio
The window open and close animation duration can also be adjusted from 0.10s to 0.50s.
Settings and performance
The Settings interface has been refined for a cleaner and more compact layout.
- Redesigned Performance page
- Clearer
Next EngineandLegacy Engineselection - More compact memory and cache information
- Improved background and image source controls
- Better organization of appearance options
- New settings are included in appearance backups
macOS 27 improvements
LaunchNext includes additional compatibility and visual improvements for macOS 27.
- Restored context menu icons
- Liquid Glass hover feedback for page indicators
- Improved Settings layout and glass effects
- Updated About, banner, and Settings artwork
- Improved wallpaper capture and preview handling
Everyday interaction improvements
Several everyday interactions have been refined.
- Click the empty header area to close LaunchNext
- More consistent context menus
- Dock reopen requests now work correctly during window animations
An optional developer setting can add Unblock App in Terminal… to app context menus. This removes the macOS quarantine attribute and should only be used with applications you trust.
Stability and polish
This release includes multiple reliability and performance improvements.
- More reliable wallpaper refresh across displays and Spaces
- Reduced unnecessary wallpaper captures
- Improved application install and removal detection
- Better synchronization when LaunchNext becomes visible again
- Improved memory and cache management
- Better backup and settings migration compatibility
Localization
- Added Traditional Chinese support across LaunchNext and its updater, including improved system language detection
- Updated Italian and translations for the new 2.4.2 features
Thanks to @Dino0005 for the Italian localization update and @CannonTang for contributions to the background image work.
ThinkTerm
🌐 Website: closex.org/thinkterm
By the way, I’ve spent the past four months building ThinkTerm, an open-source terminal multiplexer built around workspaces and designed to stay fast and lightweight. Built on WezTerm, it retains its fast, low-memory terminal core.
I started ThinkTerm to solve my own problem of keeping local and remote terminal work organized while managing multiple AI agents across projects and machines.
ThinkTerm runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows, with browser and TUI clients as well. iOS and Android support is currently in development. Some newer features are still experimental, so feedback is welcome. If that sounds useful to you, feel free to give it a try.
