What is the "Chrome Apps Launcher" extension, and how does it function?

The "Chrome Apps Launcher" extension is designed to replace the built-in app launcher that the Chrome team discontinued. It not only restores the original functionality but also enhances it with additional features. This extension offers a centralized, customizable panel where you can view and manage all your Chrome applications in one place. From the panel, you can launch apps, access their homepages, or navigate to their settings pages with ease. Additionally, it allows you to reorder applications using a drag-and-drop interface, enabling a personalized layout that prioritizes your most frequently used apps for a more efficient and tailored experience.

What's new in this version?

Please check the Logs section.

Can I open the default app launcher from the toolbar panel?

Right-click the toolbar button to access a menu displaying a curated selection of the most useful chrome:// pages.

How can I rearrange the order of displayed apps in the popup interface?

You can modify the app order in two ways. First, right-click the toolbar panel to open the default app launcher in a browser tab, where you can reorder the apps. The "Chrome Apps Launcher" extension will adopt this order unless it has been customized within the extension itself. Alternatively, you can directly reorder apps from the extension's panel by clicking and dragging an app to a new position. Any changes made in the panel are saved and will override the default app launcher's order.

Can I add shortcuts to Google products or other custom pages in the "Chrome Apps Launcher" extension?

Yes, most Google products have dedicated shortcut apps available in the Chrome Web Store. Simply search for the desired product and install its shortcut app, which acts as a bookmark to the web app. Once installed and visible in the default app launcher, these shortcuts will also appear in the "Chrome Apps Launcher" panel. Alternatively, to create a custom shortcut, navigate to the webpage you want to bookmark, right-click the toolbar button, and select "Create Shortcut for This Page." The extension will generate a new app shortcut for the active tab.

Which services are supported in the right-click context menu of the toolbar button?

The Chrome Apps Launcher extension now supports nearly all chrome:// internal pages accessible via the right-click context menu on the toolbar button, providing a comprehensive set of shortcuts to Chrome's internal tools and settings for enhanced usability. These internal pages are now categorized in the following groups:

• General
• User Interface & Pages
• Internals & Debug
• User & Sign-in
• Printing & Certificates
• Panels & Side Features
• Debugging Pages (Disabled in Stable)
• Crash & Test Commands

I have many applications on the list. Is there any simple way to select an item just by using the keyboard?

You can open the extension's interface with a custom shortcut. To set the shortcut, open "chrome://extensions/shortcuts" in a browser tab and configure one for this extension. When the popup gets opened, the extension focuses on the first visible item. Use the "Tab" key to move to the next selectable item. You can use the "Shift + Tab" combination to move backward. Also, there is a small number on top of each application. Press the number key to select the item without the need to navigate through all items. When the item is focused, press the "Enter" key to launch the application. This extension also supports keyboard navigation. Simply press the first character of the application name to change focus to the application item. If there are multiple items, press the key multiple times.