---
title: "launchApplication(_:)"
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "appkit/nsworkspace/launchapplication(_:)"
---

# launchApplication(_:)

Launches the specified app.

## Declaration

```swift
func launchApplication(_ appName: String) -> Bool
```

## Parameters

- `appName`: The name of the app to open.

## Return Value

Return Value true if the app was successfully launched or was already running; otherwise, false.

## Discussion

Discussion The appName parameter need not be specified with a full path and, in the case of an app wrapper, may be specified with or without the .app extension, as described in Use of .app Extension. Before this method begins, it posts an willLaunchApplicationNotification to the NSWorkspace object’s notification center. When the operation is complete, it posts an didLaunchApplicationNotification. It is safe to call this method from any thread in your app in macOS 10.6 and later.

## See Also

### Methods

- [open(_:options:configuration:)](appkit/nsworkspace/open(_:options:configuration:).md)
- [open(_:withApplicationAt:options:configuration:)](appkit/nsworkspace/open(_:withapplicationat:options:configuration:).md)
- [openFile(_:)](appkit/nsworkspace/openfile(_:).md)
- [openFile(_:withApplication:)](appkit/nsworkspace/openfile(_:withapplication:).md)
- [openFile(_:withApplication:andDeactivate:)](appkit/nsworkspace/openfile(_:withapplication:anddeactivate:).md)
- [openFile(_:from:at:in:)](appkit/nsworkspace/openfile(_:from:at:in:).md)
- [launchApplication(_:showIcon:autolaunch:)](appkit/nsworkspace/launchapplication(_:showicon:autolaunch:).md)
- [launchApplication(at:options:configuration:)](appkit/nsworkspace/launchapplication(at:options:configuration:).md)
- [performFileOperation(_:source:destination:files:tag:)](appkit/nsworkspace/performfileoperation(_:source:destination:files:tag:).md)
- [fullPath(forApplication:)](appkit/nsworkspace/fullpath(forapplication:).md)
- [absolutePathForApplication(withBundleIdentifier:)](appkit/nsworkspace/absolutepathforapplication(withbundleidentifier:).md)
- [launchApplication(withBundleIdentifier:options:additionalEventParamDescriptor:launchIdentifier:)](appkit/nsworkspace/launchapplication(withbundleidentifier:options:additionaleventparamdescriptor:launchidentifier:).md)
- [open(_:withAppBundleIdentifier:options:additionalEventParamDescriptor:launchIdentifiers:)](appkit/nsworkspace/open(_:withappbundleidentifier:options:additionaleventparamdescriptor:launchidentifiers:).md)
- [mountedRemovableMedia()](appkit/nsworkspace/mountedremovablemedia().md)
- [mountedLocalVolumePaths()](appkit/nsworkspace/mountedlocalvolumepaths().md)