Apple - How to remove an icon from launchpad that does not appear in the Finder?
If you are using Yosemite here is the surgical approach to remove only what you want to, instead of wiping out all of Launchpad.
Open up your Terminal app of choice, then use the following command:
sqlite3 $(find /private/var/folders \( -name com.apple.dock.launchpad -a -user $USER \) 2> /dev/null)/db/db "DELETE FROM apps WHERE title='APP_NAME_CASE_SENSITIVE';" && killall Dock
to remove an application from the Launchpad.
By default, Launchpad shows you all the apps installed on your Mac.
To remove a Mac App Store app that appears in Launchpad
Follow these steps while you are logged in with an administrator account:
- Enter Launchpad.
- Click and hold on an icon until you see all icons jiggle.
- Click the "x" button in the upper-left of the Mac App Store app icon you want to delete.
Note: If you do not see an "x" button, either the app is not from the Mac App Store or you are logged in as a standard user.
- Click "Delete" in the confirmation dialog to delete the app.
Tip: If you want to reinstall a deleted app, open Mac App Store, click the Purchases icon, then click on the "Install" button for the app.
This post is a shameless copy from: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4673
Check your Downloads folder
As you are talking about an installer, this might be located in your Downloads folder. If so, you need to remove it there.
Another way to delete an app from the launchpad:
- start your app from the launchpad
- right click you app in the Dock
- choose for 'options' -> 'Show in Finder'
- now you can also delete it
Drag the icon or icons to the dock, then right click the icon on dock, select "option" - "show in finder", system will open a window to show you where the app located, then you can just threw it/them to the Trash.