How to use Spotlight search on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Spotlight is the fastest way to open anything on a Mac. Most experienced users never look for an app in a folder. They press two keys and type the first letters.

The pictures are diagrams of the keys to press.

Step by step

1. Press Command + Space

   A search field appears in the middle of the screen. You can also click the magnifying glass in the menu bar.

   Done

2. Type what you are looking for

   Type the first letters of an app, a file name, or words from inside a document. Results update as you type.

   Done

3. Press Return to open the top result

   Use the arrow keys to move to another result. Hold Command while pressing Return to show the file in Finder instead of opening it.

   Done

4. Use it as a calculator and converter

   Type 18*24, 50 usd in eur, or 5 feet in cm. The answer appears straight away.

   Done

5. Narrow the results

   Type kind:pdf or kind:image after your search words to see only that type of file.

   Done

Good to know

To exclude private folders from search, open System Settings, Spotlight and add them under Search Privacy.

If Spotlight cannot find files that exist, it may need to rebuild its index: add your disk to the Search Privacy list, then remove it again.

Recent macOS versions can also run actions from Spotlight, such as sending a message or starting a shortcut.

In short: Command + Space, type, Return.