Find what you need with Spotlight on Mac
Spotlight is the fastest way to find anything on your Mac—your apps, files, emails, messages, and more. To open Spotlight, press Command-Space bar and start typing. Results appear instantly, with the best match at the top. When you turn on Siri AI (Beta),* Spotlight becomes the place where you start a conversation with Siri: ask for personal context, get broad world knowledge, or take actions across your app, all from the same place.
To open a result, press Return, or use the arrow keys to navigate the list. You can also reposition or resize the Spotlight window by dragging it.
Use Spotlight search results Open, preview, locate files, calculate, convert, and look up words. | Quick Actions in depth Take action on contacts, files, and websites without leaving Spotlight. |
Use Spotlight search results
Finding a result is just the beginning. As soon as Spotlight shows you a match, you can do a lot with it—open it, preview it, act on it, or use it without ever reaching for the mouse.
Open items To open a result, press Return or double-click it. Press the Up Arrow to recall a previous search. | Locate a file To locate a file in the Finder, select the result and hold Command. |
Quick Look To preview a file without opening it, press Space bar on any result—works for documents, images, PDFs, and videos. | Quick Actions To reveal Quick Actions, select a result and press Tab. The available actions depend on what’s selected. |
Calculate Type any math expression—15% of 85, 120 × 1.08, √144—and the answer appears instantly in the search field. | Convert units Convert temperature, distance, weight, currency, and more—try 32°F in Celsius, 5 miles in km, or €200 in USD. |
Look up words Type any word to see its definition right in Spotlight, without opening Dictionary. | Clipboard history Search text and files you’ve previously copied to the clipboard and quickly find something you copied earlier. |
Ask Siri With Siri AI, you can ask Siri a question right from Spotlight. Enter a question or make a request, then press Return. |
Want to learn more?
Notification Center Get all of your notifications from apps like Messages and Mail, in one place. | Control Center Quickly change settings like screen brightness, connect to Wi-Fi, and turn on Do Not Disturb. | Siri Ask Siri questions and take action. |
Or if you’re ready for something new, check out how you can customize your wallpaper on your desktop to add a personal touch. Then, get familiar with Safari (the built-in browser on your Mac) by searching the web, take a screenshot using a keyboard shortcut, or download a new app to your Mac.