Spotlight shortcuts
- 11 shortcuts
- 2 sections
- macOS System
- Verified against official docs
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Do these shortcuts work for you?
Spotlight shortcuts open the search window, move through the results, open a result, and narrow the search. Open or close the Spotlight window starts a search. The Filters section limits the results to one kind: Search Applications, Search Files, Search Actions or Search Clipboard.
Start with these
- Open or close the Spotlight window
- Open a result
- Open a search result in Quick Look
- Move to the next result
- Search Applications
- Search Files
Tips for Spotlight
- Open a search result in Quick Look Space previews a result without opening it.
- See a file in an app or the Finder ⌘R shows where a result is, instead of opening it.
- Open Finder with search field selected ⌥⌘Space starts the search in a Finder window.
General7
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open a result | |
| Open or close the Spotlight window | |
| Open a search result in Quick Look | |
| Open Finder with search field selected | |
| Move to the next result | |
| Move to the previous result | |
| See a file in an app or the Finder |
Filters4
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Search Files | |
| Search Actions | |
| Search Clipboard | |
| Search Applications |
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Related resources
More macOS System shortcuts
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many keyboard shortcuts does Spotlight have on macOS?
Spotlight has 11 keyboard shortcuts on macOS, organized into 2 sections: General, Filters. This page lists all of them with searchable, organized shortcut tables.
Which Spotlight shortcuts should I learn first?
Start with Open or close the Spotlight window (⌘Space), Open a result (Enter), Open a search result in Quick Look (Space), Move to the next result (Down), Search Applications (⌘1), Search Files (⌘2). The sections on this page list the rest.
Can I download Spotlight shortcuts as a PDF?
Yes. Click the download button at the top of this page to generate a printable PDF cheat sheet with all 11 Spotlight shortcuts. The PDF includes organized sections, keycap-style key labels, and space for your own notes.
Where is the official Spotlight keyboard shortcuts documentation?
The official Spotlight keyboard shortcuts documentation is available on their website. Every shortcut on this page is sourced from and verified against the official documentation to ensure accuracy.
Do these Spotlight shortcuts work on all Mac keyboards?
Yes. These shortcuts work on all Mac keyboards, including MacBook built-in keyboards and external Apple keyboards. The modifier keys are Command (⌘), Option (⌥), Control (⌃), and Shift (⇧). On keyboards without a Function row, some F-key shortcuts may require holding the Fn key.
Maintained by Vladik Didyk
Access Spotlight shortcuts from your menu bar
KeyShortcut detects the active app and shows its shortcuts instantly. Switch it on in Settings. No memorization needed.