Launchy
- Android app
- Yes
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Android, Linux, Mac, Windows
Summary
Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for opening programs, files, folders, and websites with a few keystrokes. It indexes start-menu programs and can search directories and file types that users choose. The launcher stays in the background until its hotkey is pressed: Alt+Space by default, or Control+Space on Linux. Users can customize its appearance with skins and extend it with plugins for web searches, calculations, custom commands, and bookmark access. The listed plugin examples also include PuTTY sessions, task switching, and system power controls; these plugins are made by other developers, and Launchy does not guarantee their behavior. Portable mode stores configuration files in the directory where Launchy runs, so it can be used from a USB stick. Its bundled Calcy calculator handles addition, division, subtraction, multiplication, and parentheses. Launchy is listed for Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. The plan is free to download, with no fixed price; the recommended value is $10 USD and the listing suggests considering a $3 contribution.
Who it is for
Launchy may suit people who want keyboard-based access to programs, files, folders, or websites. Its portable mode may be useful for those who want to run it from a USB stick.
What is good
- Searches programs, files, folders, and websites.
- Users can add directories and file types to index.
- Customizable skins and a plugin architecture.
- Portable mode stores settings alongside the app.
- Free to download with no fixed price.
What to know first
- Launchy does not guarantee third-party plugin behavior.
- Bundled calculator supports only basic listed operations.
- Plugin development currently requires Visual Studio 2005.
Verdict
Launchy offers keyboard-based launching, customization, and portable use at no fixed download price. Note the limits of the bundled calculator and the stated caveat about third-party plugins.
Launchy plans and pricing
All plansCompared on app launcher software
- Free plan
- Yeslaunchy.net
- Supported platforms
- cross-platformlaunchy.net
- File search
- Yeslaunchy.net
- Command launching
- Yeslaunchy.net
- Workflow support
- Yeslaunchy.net
- Plugin support
- Yeslaunchy.net
Facts
- Purpose
- Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for replacing the start menu, desktop icons and file manager.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Search and launch
- It indexes start-menu programs and launches documents, project files, folders and bookmarks with a few keystrokes.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Supported targets
- Launchy can open files, folders, websites and programs using smart search.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Background mode
- Launchy stays hidden in the background until its hotkey is pressed.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Hotkeys
- The default hotkey is Alt+Space, with Control+Space used in Linux.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Catalog
- Users can add directories and specify file types such as MP3, JPG or all files for indexing.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Skins
- Launchy supports customizable skins and provides a gallery for additional skins.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Plugins
- Launchy has a plugin architecture with plugins for web searches, Firefox bookmarks, calculations, custom commands and more.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The official plugin list includes PuTTY sessions, Todoist, Windows Live Messenger, system power controls and task switching.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Plugin limitation
- The listed plugins are a non-exhaustive sample made by other developers, and Launchy provides no guarantee about their functionality or behavior.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Plugin development
- Developing binary-compatible plugins currently requires Visual Studio 2005.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Plugin API
- Launchy plugins are Win32 DLLs written in C++ with Unicode support and static linking of necessary libraries.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Portable mode
- Portable mode stores configuration files in the directory Launchy runs from, allowing use from a USB stick.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Calculator limit
- The bundled Calcy calculator supports only addition, division, subtraction, multiplication and parentheses.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- The help page directs users to the distributed Readme.pdf and Launchy forums for support.launchy.net · 30 Sept 2026
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Sources
- launchy.net· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/Readme.pdf· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/help.php· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/skins.php· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/plugins.php· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/api/· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/help.php· checked 30 Sept 2026
- launchy.net/download.php· checked 30 Sept 2026