Google removes Chrome App Launcher from operating systems except Chrome OS

Google has decided to discontinue the App Launcher for operating systems other than Chrome OS. The software will no longer be activated by default when users install a Chrome app and existing installations will be removed in July.

The decision to remove the App Launcher from Windows, Mac OS, and Linux was made because, according to Google, users prefer to launch Chrome apps from within the browser itself. The decision is also in line with Google’s policy to keep the browser “simple and streamlined.” For example, Google previously removed the Notification Center introduced in 2013 for the same reason.

According to Google, existing versions of the App Launcher will be removed in July. Users, where a version is present, will be informed of this fact by means of a notification. In Google’s own Chrome OS, the App Launcher is retained.

The App Launcher made it possible to launch Chrome apps outside the browser via an icon in the taskbar. The apps will still be available through the shortcut in the browser.

The Chrome App Launcher