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How to Use Spotlight Search on a Mac

Instead of digging through folders for a file you can't quite remember saving, Spotlight lets you find and open almost anything on your Mac in seconds.

  1. Open Spotlight with Command+Space

    Press the shortcut and a search bar appears in the center of your screen.

  2. Type what you're looking for

    Type an app name, file name, math expression, or even a word you want defined, and results appear as you type.

  3. Select a result to act on it immediately

    Use the arrow keys to move through results and press Return β€” Spotlight will launch the app, open the file, or run a web search depending on what you picked.

  4. Use it as a calculator or unit converter

    Type an expression like "23*15" or a conversion like "10 km to miles" directly into the search bar to get an instant answer.

  5. Why this matters

    You can find and open a file or app you can't quite place, without ever having to dig through folders manually.

When you can't remember where you saved something

Instead of manually digging through folder after folder for a file or app you can't quite place, Spotlight lets you jump straight to it with a single search and open it immediately.

It searches more than just files

Spotlight doesn't only index files and apps β€” it also searches Mail messages, Notes, Calendar events, and Contacts, so a single search bar can often surface information faster than opening each app individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Spotlight also search emails and notes?

Yes β€” Spotlight searches most of the information stored on your Mac, not just files, including Mail, Notes, Calendar events, and Contacts.

Can I keep certain folders out of Spotlight search results?

Yes β€” go to System Settings > Spotlight > Privacy and add any folders or disks you want excluded from search results.