{"id":75442,"date":"2018-03-13T08:12:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T15:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/?p=75442"},"modified":"2018-03-13T08:12:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T15:12:30","slug":"spotlight-secrets-15-ways-to-use-spotlight-on-your-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/spotlight-secrets-15-ways-to-use-spotlight-on-your-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight Secrets: 15 Ways to Use Spotlight on Your Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Spotlight<\/p>\n

Spotlight came to the Mac in 2005, primarily as a revamped means of searching your files. Its features have expanded since then \u2013 and chances are you aren\u2019t aware of everything Spotlight\u00a0can do.<\/p>\n

This guide showcases 15 things you can use Spotlight for on your Mac. First, though, a brief refresher on how Spotlight works.<\/p>\n

Get started with Spotlight<\/h3>\n

Click the Spotlight icon in the menu bar, or use the shortcut Cmd+Space<\/strong>. The Spotlight window will appear.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Start typing and matching results\u00a0appear, updating as you adjust your search term.\u00a0Click any single result to select it, or use the\u00a0up\/down arrow keys to navigate the results list. Cmd+up\/down arrow jumps the selection between categories. The categories that are shown can be managed in System Preferences<\/strong> > Spotlight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Return<\/strong> opens the current selection in the most appropriate app. Select Show all in Finder\u2026<\/strong> for a complete list of matching results, and also to begin construction of a smart folder<\/a> based on your search. Escape<\/strong> clears the search field.<\/p>\n

The Spotlight window itself can be dragged to reposition it, and lengthened by dragging its top or bottom edge. A long click on the menu bar icon resets these attributes.<\/p>\n

Now for what you can do when the Spotlight window\u00a0is\u00a0open \u2014\u00a0here are 15 ways to use Spotlight on your Mac.<\/p>\n

1. Launch apps<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Typically, apps are the first thing Spotlight displays (under Top Hits<\/strong>), selecting one by default. So to open (or bring to the front) Safari, press Cmd+Space<\/strong>, type SA<\/strong>, and then hit Return<\/strong>. Infuse that into your muscle memory, and you\u2019ll greatly speed up app launching. You can get at\u00a0specific System Preferences panes similarly rapidly.<\/p>\n

2. Search by keyword<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Anything accessible to your Mac can be quickly found\u00a0using Spotlight (unless a volume\u2019s been marked as private in System Preferences > Spotlight), but\u00a0this can make for cluttered results. You can focus on specifics\u00a0by\u00a0using the likes of kind:<\/strong> and date:<\/strong>\u00a0when searching, the latter of which accepts ranges.<\/p>\n

3. Search using\u00a0natural language<\/h3>\n

\"Search<\/p>\n

If you like computing to be a bit more human, experiment with natural-language searches. Spotlight understands the likes of Presentations from last week<\/strong>, Emails from Derek<\/strong>, or\u00a0Apps from last month<\/strong> (to list recently installed apps). A\u00a0file can be\u00a0dragged to another app\u00a0from the Spotlight window. Alternatively, hold Cmd<\/strong> to see its current location.<\/p>\n

4. View contact details<\/h3>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

If you need to quickly check someone\u2019s phone number or address, use Spotlight rather than opening up Contacts. Type and select a\u00a0name\u00a0to see\u00a0phone numbers, email addresses, and so on. Details can be selected and copied to paste elsewhere, or clicked to trigger an action, such as starting a phone call.<\/p>\n

5. Find calendar events<\/h3>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Similarly, you needn\u2019t open Calendar to get at the details of an upcoming event. Type the name of an event or reminder, and select it. You\u2019ll see the information that exists\u00a0in Calendar, including added links that when clicked open in Safari.<\/p>\n

6. Access dictionary definitions<\/h3>\n

\"Access<\/p>\n

Spotlight won\u2019t help you on your spelling, unlike Dictionary, which can correct misspellings like \u2018expresion\u2019 to \u2018expression\u2019. But type define<\/strong> followed by a word \u2013\u00a0or type a word and then use the shortcut Cmd+L<\/strong> \u2013 and you\u2019ll be able to read its dictionary definition, without opening the Dictionary app.<\/p>\n

7. Make calculations<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Rather than fishing around for a calculator \u2013 real or app-based \u2013\u00a0do your sums in Spotlight. When the answer appears, Cmd+C<\/strong> copies it to the clipboard. Spotlight can also perform conversions. Type 86F<\/strong> and you\u2019ll discover that\u2019s 30\u00b0C (and 303.5 kelvins). Weights and distances are dealt with similarly efficiently.<\/p>\n

8. Get the weather<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Type weather<\/strong> and Spotlight will display your local conditions, a prediction for the coming six hours, and an outlook for the next ten days. (Note the weather result item may take a few seconds to appear.) If the weather\u2019s horrible where you are, add a location to your search term, and then daydream about the sun shining\u00a0elsewhere on the planet.<\/p>\n

9. Check out sports scores<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

If you follow a major sport \u2013 or team \u2013 use Spotlight to find out how everyone\u2019s doing. Terms like NFL scores<\/strong> or Lakers schedule<\/strong>\u00a0respectively\u00a0return\u00a0recent scores and upcoming matches. Sometimes, typing\u00a0a location is\u00a0enough \u2013 Manchester<\/strong> by default often\u00a0brings up Manchester United\u2019s page. (Sorry, City fans.)<\/p>\n

10. Peruse stocks<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

If you hold shares and want to see how things are going, type the stock\u2019s ticker symbol (for example, AAPL<\/strong> for Apple). Spotlight will give you all the gory details in graph and numerical form, along with a link to Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n

11. Calculate exchange rates<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Type a currency value you\u2019d like converted, using currency symbols or abbreviations \u2013 $100<\/strong> or 100USD<\/strong> (without a space) will do. Spotlight will instantly convert it to several other major currencies. For a specific conversion, use the form\u00a0nn<\/em>XXX to YYY, such as 53EUR to USD<\/strong> (or \u20ac53 to $<\/strong> if you prefer using symbols for currencies that have them).<\/p>\n

12. Watch flight progress<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll usually need the specific flight number to get anything out of Spotlight\u2019s flight tracker. But punch one\u00a0in, select the flight in\u00a0the Flights<\/strong> category, and you\u2019ll see a live map, gate information, departure and arrival times, and even the status of baggage reclaim, if known.<\/p>\n

13. Listen to music<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

You can search for online video using Spotlight, but the user experience is poor, and so you\u2019re better off heading to YouTube. For music, though, Spotlight can be handy. Type in an album or song title, and you can listen to iTunes\u00a0previews \u2013\u00a0just hover over a track\u2019s name and click the play button.<\/p>\n

14. Find local movie showtimes<\/h3>\n

\"Find<\/p>\n

Type showtimes<\/strong> and select Now Showing in Theaters<\/strong> (Cinemas<\/strong><\/em> in some locations)\u00a0for an idea of what\u2019s on. Type the name of a movie\u00a0and Spotlight will list nearby locations where you can see it, along with showtimes. You\u2019ll also\u00a0get\u00a0trailer links, a\u00a0rating, and a \u2018helpful\u2019 iTunes pre-order link, if one exists.<\/p>\n

15. Get directions<\/h3>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Apple Maps isn\u2019t entirely robust regarding points of interest searches, but major businesses are generally easily found. Type Apple Store<\/strong> as a search term, and local branches will be listed\u00a0under the Maps<\/strong> header. Brands are a good bet for\u00a0other POIs \u2013 try\u00a0Starbucks<\/strong> rather than coffee house<\/strong>, for example, when you need some caffeine.<\/p>\n

How often do you use Spotlight on your Mac? Know of a nifty Spotlight trick\u00a0we didn’t mention? Have something to say about this story? Share your comments below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you use Spotlight on your Mac? Chances are you aren\u2019t aware of everything Spotlight can do. This guide showcases 15 things you can use Spotlight for on your Mac.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":76516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[174,285],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n