diff --git a/apps/client/src/layouts/desktop_layout.tsx b/apps/client/src/layouts/desktop_layout.tsx
index 479a163f2..50dc05d99 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/layouts/desktop_layout.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/layouts/desktop_layout.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import FlexContainer from "../widgets/containers/flex_container.js";
 import FloatingButtons from "../widgets/FloatingButtons.jsx";
 import GlobalMenu from "../widgets/buttons/global_menu.jsx";
 import HighlightsListWidget from "../widgets/highlights_list.js";
-import LauncherContainer from "../widgets/containers/launcher_container.js";
 import LeftPaneContainer from "../widgets/containers/left_pane_container.js";
 import LeftPaneToggle from "../widgets/buttons/left_pane_toggle.js";
 import MovePaneButton from "../widgets/buttons/move_pane_button.js";
@@ -44,6 +43,7 @@ import WatchedFileUpdateStatusWidget from "../widgets/watched_file_update_status
 import NoteDetail from "../widgets/NoteDetail.jsx";
 import PromotedAttributes from "../widgets/PromotedAttributes.jsx";
 import SpacerWidget from "../widgets/launch_bar/SpacerWidget.jsx";
+import LauncherContainer from "../widgets/launch_bar/LauncherContainer.jsx";
 
 export default class DesktopLayout {
 
@@ -184,14 +184,14 @@ export default class DesktopLayout {
             launcherPane = new FlexContainer("row")
                 .css("height", "53px")
                 .class("horizontal")
-                .child(new LauncherContainer(true))
+                .child(<LauncherContainer isHorizontalLayout={true} />)
                 .child(<GlobalMenu isHorizontalLayout={true} />);
         } else {
             launcherPane = new FlexContainer("column")
                 .css("width", "53px")
                 .class("vertical")
                 .child(<GlobalMenu isHorizontalLayout={false} />)
-                .child(new LauncherContainer(false))
+                .child(<LauncherContainer isHorizontalLayout={false} />)
                 .child(<LeftPaneToggle isHorizontalLayout={false} />);
         }
 
diff --git a/apps/client/src/layouts/mobile_layout.tsx b/apps/client/src/layouts/mobile_layout.tsx
index 0c2b3e7ea..99c460024 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/layouts/mobile_layout.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/layouts/mobile_layout.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import FilePropertiesTab from "../widgets/ribbon/FilePropertiesTab.jsx";
 import FlexContainer from "../widgets/containers/flex_container.js";
 import FloatingButtons from "../widgets/FloatingButtons.jsx";
 import GlobalMenuWidget from "../widgets/buttons/global_menu.js";
-import LauncherContainer from "../widgets/containers/launcher_container.js";
 import MobileDetailMenu from "../widgets/mobile_widgets/mobile_detail_menu.js";
 import NoteList from "../widgets/collections/NoteList.jsx";
 import NoteTitleWidget from "../widgets/note_title.js";
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ import NoteDetail from "../widgets/NoteDetail.jsx";
 import MobileEditorToolbar from "../widgets/type_widgets/text/mobile_editor_toolbar.jsx";
 import PromotedAttributes from "../widgets/PromotedAttributes.jsx";
 import SplitNoteContainer from "../widgets/containers/split_note_container.js";
+import LauncherContainer from "../widgets/launch_bar/LauncherContainer.jsx";
 
 const MOBILE_CSS = `
 <style>
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ export default class MobileLayout {
                     .child(new FlexContainer("row")
                         .class("horizontal")
                         .css("height", "53px")
-                        .child(new LauncherContainer(true))
+                        .child(<LauncherContainer isHorizontalLayout />)
                         .child(<GlobalMenuWidget isHorizontalLayout />)
                         .id("launcher-pane"))
             )
diff --git a/apps/client/src/services/utils.ts b/apps/client/src/services/utils.ts
index e6da60ae5..5630b2b0c 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/services/utils.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/services/utils.ts
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ export function isIOS() {
     return /iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(navigator.userAgent);
 }
 
-function isDesktop() {
+export function isDesktop() {
     return (
         window.glob?.device === "desktop" ||
         // window.glob.device is not available in setup
diff --git a/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher.tsx b/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 93820296d..000000000
--- a/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,198 +0,0 @@
-import BasicWidget, { wrapReactWidgets } from "../basic_widget.js";
-import utils, { isMobile } from "../../services/utils.js";
-import type FNote from "../../entities/fnote.js";
-import BookmarkButtons from "../launch_bar/BookmarkButtons.jsx";
-import SpacerWidget from "../launch_bar/SpacerWidget.jsx";
-import HistoryNavigationButton from "../launch_bar/HistoryNavigation.jsx";
-import AiChatButton from "../launch_bar/AiChatButton.jsx";
-import ProtectedSessionStatusWidget from "../launch_bar/ProtectedSessionStatusWidget.jsx";
-import { VNode } from "preact";
-import { CommandButton, CustomNoteLauncher, NoteLauncher } from "../launch_bar/GenericButtons.jsx";
-import date_notes from "../../services/date_notes.js";
-import { useLegacyWidget, useNoteContext, useNoteRelation, useNoteRelationTarget } from "../react/hooks.jsx";
-import QuickSearchWidget from "../quick_search.js";
-import { ParentComponent } from "../react/react_utils.jsx";
-import { useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "preact/hooks";
-import { LaunchBarActionButton, useLauncherIconAndTitle } from "../launch_bar/launch_bar_widgets.jsx";
-import CalendarWidget from "../launch_bar/CalendarWidget.jsx";
-import SyncStatus from "../launch_bar/SyncStatus.jsx";
-
-interface InnerWidget extends BasicWidget {
-    settings?: {
-        titlePlacement: "bottom";
-    };
-}
-
-export default class LauncherWidget extends BasicWidget {
-    private innerWidget!: InnerWidget;
-    private isHorizontalLayout: boolean;
-
-    constructor(isHorizontalLayout: boolean) {
-        super();
-
-        this.isHorizontalLayout = isHorizontalLayout;
-    }
-
-    isEnabled() {
-        return this.innerWidget.isEnabled();
-    }
-
-    doRender() {
-        this.$widget = this.innerWidget.render();
-    }
-
-    async initLauncher(note: FNote) {
-        if (note.type !== "launcher") {
-            throw new Error(`Note '${note.noteId}' '${note.title}' is not a launcher even though it's in the launcher subtree`);
-        }
-
-        if (!utils.isDesktop() && note.isLabelTruthy("desktopOnly")) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        const launcherType = note.getLabelValue("launcherType");
-
-        if (glob.TRILIUM_SAFE_MODE && launcherType === "customWidget") {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        let widget: BasicWidget | VNode;
-        if (launcherType === "command") {
-            widget = wrapReactWidgets<BasicWidget>([ <CommandButton launcherNote={note} /> ])[0];
-        } else if (launcherType === "note") {
-            widget = wrapReactWidgets<BasicWidget>([ <NoteLauncher launcherNote={note} /> ])[0];
-        } else if (launcherType === "script") {
-            widget = wrapReactWidgets<BasicWidget>([ <ScriptLauncher launcherNote={note} /> ])[0];
-        } else if (launcherType === "customWidget") {
-            widget = wrapReactWidgets<BasicWidget>([ <CustomWidget launcherNote={note} /> ])[0];
-        } else if (launcherType === "builtinWidget") {
-            widget = wrapReactWidgets<BasicWidget>([ this.initBuiltinWidget(note) ])[0];
-        } else {
-            throw new Error(`Unrecognized launcher type '${launcherType}' for launcher '${note.noteId}' title '${note.title}'`);
-        }
-
-        if (!widget) {
-            throw new Error(`Unknown initialization error for note '${note.noteId}', title '${note.title}'`);
-        }
-
-        this.child(widget);
-        this.innerWidget = widget as InnerWidget;
-        if (this.isHorizontalLayout && this.innerWidget.settings) {
-            this.innerWidget.settings.titlePlacement = "bottom";
-        }
-
-        return true;
-    }
-
-    async initCustomWidget(note: FNote) {
-        const widget = await note.getRelationTarget("widget");
-
-        if (widget) {
-            return await widget.executeScript();
-        } else {
-            throw new Error(`Custom widget of launcher '${note.noteId}' '${note.title}' is not defined.`);
-        }
-    }
-
-    initBuiltinWidget(note: FNote) {
-        const builtinWidget = note.getLabelValue("builtinWidget");
-        switch (builtinWidget) {
-            case "calendar":
-                return <CalendarWidget launcherNote={note} />
-            case "spacer":
-                // || has to be inside since 0 is a valid value
-                const baseSize = parseInt(note.getLabelValue("baseSize") || "40");
-                const growthFactor = parseInt(note.getLabelValue("growthFactor") || "100");
-
-                return <SpacerWidget baseSize={baseSize} growthFactor={growthFactor} />;
-            case "bookmarks":
-                return <BookmarkButtons isHorizontalLayout={this.isHorizontalLayout} />;
-            case "protectedSession":
-                return <ProtectedSessionStatusWidget />;
-            case "syncStatus":
-                return <SyncStatus />;
-            case "backInHistoryButton":
-                return <HistoryNavigationButton launcherNote={note} command="backInNoteHistory" />
-            case "forwardInHistoryButton":
-                return <HistoryNavigationButton launcherNote={note} command="forwardInNoteHistory" />
-            case "todayInJournal":
-                return <TodayLauncher launcherNote={note} />
-            case "quickSearch":
-                return <QuickSearchLauncherWidget isHorizontalLayout={this.isHorizontalLayout} />
-            case "aiChatLauncher":
-                return <AiChatButton launcherNote={note} />
-            default:
-                throw new Error(`Unrecognized builtin widget ${builtinWidget} for launcher ${note.noteId} "${note.title}"`);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-function ScriptLauncher({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
-    const { icon, title } = useLauncherIconAndTitle(launcherNote);
-    return (
-        <LaunchBarActionButton
-            icon={icon}
-            text={title}
-            onClick={async () => {
-                if (launcherNote.isLabelTruthy("scriptInLauncherContent")) {
-                    await launcherNote.executeScript();
-                } else {
-                    const script = await launcherNote.getRelationTarget("script");
-                    if (script) {
-                        await script.executeScript();
-                    }
-                }
-            }}
-        />
-    )
-}
-
-function TodayLauncher({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
-    return (
-        <CustomNoteLauncher
-            launcherNote={launcherNote}
-            getTargetNoteId={async () => {
-                const todayNote = await date_notes.getTodayNote();
-                return todayNote?.noteId ?? null;
-            }}
-        />
-    );
-}
-
-function QuickSearchLauncherWidget({ isHorizontalLayout }: { isHorizontalLayout: boolean }) {
-    const widget = useMemo(() => new QuickSearchWidget(), []);
-    const parentComponent = useContext(ParentComponent) as BasicWidget | null;
-    const isEnabled = isHorizontalLayout && !isMobile();
-    parentComponent?.contentSized();
-
-    return (
-        <div>
-            {isEnabled && <LegacyWidgetRenderer widget={widget} />}
-        </div>
-    )
-}
-
-function CustomWidget({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
-    const [ widgetNote ] = useNoteRelationTarget(launcherNote, "widget");
-    const [ widget, setWidget ] = useState<BasicWidget>();
-    const parentComponent = useContext(ParentComponent) as BasicWidget | null;
-    parentComponent?.contentSized();
-
-    useEffect(() => {
-        widgetNote?.executeScript().then(setWidget);
-    }, [ widgetNote ]);
-
-    return (
-        <div>
-            {widget && <LegacyWidgetRenderer widget={widget} />}
-        </div>
-    )
-}
-
-function LegacyWidgetRenderer({ widget }: { widget: BasicWidget }) {
-    const { noteContext } = useNoteContext();
-    const [ widgetEl ] = useLegacyWidget(() => widget, {
-        noteContext
-    });
-    return widgetEl;
-}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher_container.ts b/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher_container.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index f684d4e6b..000000000
--- a/apps/client/src/widgets/containers/launcher_container.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,78 +0,0 @@
-import FlexContainer from "./flex_container.js";
-import froca from "../../services/froca.js";
-import appContext, { type EventData } from "../../components/app_context.js";
-import LauncherWidget from "./launcher.js";
-import utils from "../../services/utils.js";
-
-export default class LauncherContainer extends FlexContainer<LauncherWidget> {
-    private isHorizontalLayout: boolean;
-
-    constructor(isHorizontalLayout: boolean) {
-        super(isHorizontalLayout ? "row" : "column");
-
-        this.id("launcher-container");
-        this.filling();
-        this.isHorizontalLayout = isHorizontalLayout;
-
-        this.load();
-    }
-
-    async load() {
-        await froca.initializedPromise;
-
-        const visibleLaunchersRootId = utils.isMobile() ? "_lbMobileVisibleLaunchers" : "_lbVisibleLaunchers";
-        const visibleLaunchersRoot = await froca.getNote(visibleLaunchersRootId, true);
-
-        if (!visibleLaunchersRoot) {
-            console.log("Visible launchers root note doesn't exist.");
-
-            return;
-        }
-
-        const newChildren: LauncherWidget[] = [];
-
-        for (const launcherNote of await visibleLaunchersRoot.getChildNotes()) {
-            try {
-                const launcherWidget = new LauncherWidget(this.isHorizontalLayout);
-                const success = await launcherWidget.initLauncher(launcherNote);
-
-                if (success) {
-                    newChildren.push(launcherWidget);
-                }
-            } catch (e) {
-                console.error(e);
-            }
-        }
-
-        this.children = [];
-        this.child(...newChildren);
-
-        this.$widget.empty();
-        this.renderChildren();
-
-        await this.handleEventInChildren("initialRenderComplete", {});
-
-        const activeContext = appContext.tabManager.getActiveContext();
-
-        if (activeContext) {
-            await this.handleEvent("setNoteContext", {
-                noteContext: activeContext
-            });
-
-            if (activeContext.notePath) {
-                await this.handleEvent("noteSwitched", {
-                    noteContext: activeContext,
-                    notePath: activeContext.notePath
-                });
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    entitiesReloadedEvent({ loadResults }: EventData<"entitiesReloaded">) {
-        if (loadResults.getBranchRows().find((branch) => branch.parentNoteId && froca.getNoteFromCache(branch.parentNoteId)?.isLaunchBarConfig())) {
-            // changes in note placement require reload of all launchers, all other changes are handled by individual
-            // launchers
-            this.load();
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherContainer.tsx b/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherContainer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a6a5d8a68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherContainer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+import { useLayoutEffect, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import FNote from "../../entities/fnote";
+import froca from "../../services/froca";
+import { isDesktop, isMobile } from "../../services/utils";
+import CalendarWidget from "./CalendarWidget";
+import SpacerWidget from "./SpacerWidget";
+import BookmarkButtons from "./BookmarkButtons";
+import ProtectedSessionStatusWidget from "./ProtectedSessionStatusWidget";
+import SyncStatus from "./SyncStatus";
+import HistoryNavigationButton from "./HistoryNavigation";
+import { CustomWidget, QuickSearchLauncherWidget, ScriptLauncher, TodayLauncher } from "./LauncherDefinitions";
+import AiChatButton from "./AiChatButton";
+import { CommandButton, NoteLauncher } from "./GenericButtons";
+import { useTriliumEvent } from "../react/hooks";
+
+export default function LauncherContainer({ isHorizontalLayout }: { isHorizontalLayout: boolean }) {
+    const childNotes = useLauncherChildNotes();
+
+    return (
+        <div
+            id="launcher-container"
+            style={{
+                display: "flex",
+                flexGrow: 1,
+                flexDirection: isHorizontalLayout ? "row" : "column"
+            }}
+        >
+            {childNotes?.map(childNote => {
+                if (childNote.type !== "launcher") {
+                    throw new Error(`Note '${childNote.noteId}' '${childNote.title}' is not a launcher even though it's in the launcher subtree`);
+                }
+
+                if (!isDesktop() && childNote.isLabelTruthy("desktopOnly")) {
+                    return false;
+                }
+
+                return <Launcher key={childNote.noteId} note={childNote} isHorizontalLayout={isHorizontalLayout} />
+            })}
+        </div>
+    )
+}
+
+function Launcher({ note, isHorizontalLayout }: { note: FNote, isHorizontalLayout: boolean }) {
+    const launcherType = note.getLabelValue("launcherType");
+    if (glob.TRILIUM_SAFE_MODE && launcherType === "customWidget") return;
+
+    switch (launcherType) {
+        case "command":
+            return <CommandButton launcherNote={note} />;
+        case "note":
+            return <NoteLauncher launcherNote={note} />;
+        case "script":
+            return <ScriptLauncher launcherNote={note} />;
+        case "customWidget":
+            return <CustomWidget launcherNote={note} />;
+        case "builtinWidget":
+            return initBuiltinWidget(note, isHorizontalLayout);
+        default:
+            throw new Error(`Unrecognized launcher type '${launcherType}' for launcher '${note.noteId}' title '${note.title}'`);
+    }
+}
+
+function initBuiltinWidget(note: FNote, isHorizontalLayout: boolean) {
+    const builtinWidget = note.getLabelValue("builtinWidget");
+    switch (builtinWidget) {
+        case "calendar":
+            return <CalendarWidget launcherNote={note} />
+        case "spacer":
+            // || has to be inside since 0 is a valid value
+            const baseSize = parseInt(note.getLabelValue("baseSize") || "40");
+            const growthFactor = parseInt(note.getLabelValue("growthFactor") || "100");
+
+            return <SpacerWidget baseSize={baseSize} growthFactor={growthFactor} />;
+        case "bookmarks":
+            return <BookmarkButtons isHorizontalLayout={isHorizontalLayout} />;
+        case "protectedSession":
+            return <ProtectedSessionStatusWidget />;
+        case "syncStatus":
+            return <SyncStatus />;
+        case "backInHistoryButton":
+            return <HistoryNavigationButton launcherNote={note} command="backInNoteHistory" />
+        case "forwardInHistoryButton":
+            return <HistoryNavigationButton launcherNote={note} command="forwardInNoteHistory" />
+        case "todayInJournal":
+            return <TodayLauncher launcherNote={note} />
+        case "quickSearch":
+            return <QuickSearchLauncherWidget isHorizontalLayout={isHorizontalLayout} />
+        case "aiChatLauncher":
+            return <AiChatButton launcherNote={note} />
+        default:
+            throw new Error(`Unrecognized builtin widget ${builtinWidget} for launcher ${note.noteId} "${note.title}"`);
+    }
+}
+
+function useLauncherChildNotes() {
+    const [ visibleLaunchersRoot, setVisibleLaunchersRoot ] = useState<FNote | undefined | null>();
+    const [ childNotes, setChildNotes ] = useState<FNote[]>();
+
+    // Load the root note.
+    useLayoutEffect(() => {
+        const visibleLaunchersRootId = isMobile() ? "_lbMobileVisibleLaunchers" : "_lbVisibleLaunchers";
+        froca.getNote(visibleLaunchersRootId, true).then(setVisibleLaunchersRoot);
+    }, []);
+
+    // Load the children.
+    function refresh() {
+        if (!visibleLaunchersRoot) return;
+        visibleLaunchersRoot.getChildNotes().then(setChildNotes);
+    }
+    useLayoutEffect(refresh, [ visibleLaunchersRoot ]);
+
+    // React to position changes.
+    useTriliumEvent("entitiesReloaded", ({loadResults}) => {
+        if (loadResults.getBranchRows().find((branch) => branch.parentNoteId && froca.getNoteFromCache(branch.parentNoteId)?.isLaunchBarConfig())) {
+            refresh();
+        }
+    });
+
+    return childNotes;
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherDefinitions.tsx b/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherDefinitions.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..504d4b46a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/widgets/launch_bar/LauncherDefinitions.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useLegacyWidget, useNoteContext, useNoteRelationTarget } from "../react/hooks";
+import { ParentComponent } from "../react/react_utils";
+import BasicWidget from "../basic_widget";
+import FNote from "../../entities/fnote";
+import QuickSearchWidget from "../quick_search";
+import { isMobile } from "../../services/utils";
+import date_notes from "../../services/date_notes";
+import { CustomNoteLauncher } from "./GenericButtons";
+import { LaunchBarActionButton, useLauncherIconAndTitle } from "./launch_bar_widgets";
+
+export function ScriptLauncher({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
+    const { icon, title } = useLauncherIconAndTitle(launcherNote);
+    return (
+        <LaunchBarActionButton
+            icon={icon}
+            text={title}
+            onClick={async () => {
+                if (launcherNote.isLabelTruthy("scriptInLauncherContent")) {
+                    await launcherNote.executeScript();
+                } else {
+                    const script = await launcherNote.getRelationTarget("script");
+                    if (script) {
+                        await script.executeScript();
+                    }
+                }
+            }}
+        />
+    )
+}
+
+export function TodayLauncher({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
+    return (
+        <CustomNoteLauncher
+            launcherNote={launcherNote}
+            getTargetNoteId={async () => {
+                const todayNote = await date_notes.getTodayNote();
+                return todayNote?.noteId ?? null;
+            }}
+        />
+    );
+}
+
+export function QuickSearchLauncherWidget({ isHorizontalLayout }: { isHorizontalLayout: boolean }) {
+    const widget = useMemo(() => new QuickSearchWidget(), []);
+    const parentComponent = useContext(ParentComponent) as BasicWidget | null;
+    const isEnabled = isHorizontalLayout && !isMobile();
+    parentComponent?.contentSized();
+
+    return (
+        <div>
+            {isEnabled && <LegacyWidgetRenderer widget={widget} />}
+        </div>
+    )
+}
+
+export function CustomWidget({ launcherNote }: { launcherNote: FNote }) {
+    const [ widgetNote ] = useNoteRelationTarget(launcherNote, "widget");
+    const [ widget, setWidget ] = useState<BasicWidget>();
+    const parentComponent = useContext(ParentComponent) as BasicWidget | null;
+    parentComponent?.contentSized();
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        widgetNote?.executeScript().then(setWidget);
+    }, [ widgetNote ]);
+
+    return (
+        <div>
+            {widget && <LegacyWidgetRenderer widget={widget} />}
+        </div>
+    )
+}
+
+export function LegacyWidgetRenderer({ widget }: { widget: BasicWidget }) {
+    const { noteContext } = useNoteContext();
+    const [ widgetEl ] = useLegacyWidget(() => widget, {
+        noteContext
+    });
+    return widgetEl;
+}