How to use Quick Look on a Mac

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Quick Look shows what is inside a file in a moment: a photo, a PDF, a video, a document. It saves opening an app just to check that you have the right file.

The pictures are diagrams of the keys to press.

Step by step

1. Select the file

   Click it once in a Finder window or on the desktop. You can select several files. Quick Look also works on attachments in Mail and Messages.

   Done

2. Press the Space bar

   The preview window opens. If you selected several files, the last one you selected is shown first.

   Done

3. Look through several files

   Press the Right Arrow or Left Arrow key, or click the arrows near the top left of the window. To see all the files as a grid, press Command and Return.

   Done

4. Make it larger

   Drag a corner of the window, or click the full screen button in the top left. Command and the plus key zooms in. Command and the minus key zooms out.

   Done

5. Make a quick change

   The buttons at the top let you rotate a picture, mark it up with the Markup button, or shorten a video or sound file with the Trim button. Click Done to keep the change.

   Done

6. Open or share the file

   Click the Open with button to open it in its usual app, or click the Share button to send it.

   Done

7. Close the preview

   Press the Space bar again or click the Close button.

   Done

Good to know

The Rotate button turns a picture to the left. Hold the Option key and it turns to the right instead.

With several files in full screen, the Play button shows them as a slideshow.

In a photo, Control-click the picture and choose Copy Subject to copy the main subject without its background.

In short: Select a file and press Space. Arrow keys for the next file. Space again to close.