Westside Schools

1. On your Mac, click the Spotlight icon  in the upper-right corner of the menu bar, or press Command-Space bar.

   If it’s your first time using Spotlight, a description is shown in the Spotlight window and the search field says Spotlight Search.

2. In the search field, type what you’re looking for—results appear as you type.

   • Find files on your Mac by typing what you’re looking for in the same way you’d say it. For example, you could search by typing “california photos” or “emails from kelly.”

   • Find things on the web using Spotlight Suggestions and in the iTunes Store, the App Store, and Apple Books. For example, you can search for weather, sports, websites, stocks, flight status, celebrities, music, movies, books, and more.

• Open an item: Double-click an item in the results list on the left. Or select the item, then press the Return key.

• Use a preview: Click items or links in the preview on the right. For example, to hear a song in your music playlist, click the Play button next to the song.

• Show the location of a file on your Mac: Select the file in the results list, then press and hold the Command key to show the file’s location at the bottom of the preview.

• Copy an item: Drag a file from the results list to the desktop or a Finder window.

• See files recently used in an app: Enter the app’s name (don’t press the Return key unless you want to open the app). To open a file, double-click it in the preview.

• Make a desktop shortcut to an item: Drag the item from the results list to the desktop; just click it on the desktop to open the item in the appropriate app, such as Safari.

• See all results from your Mac in the Finder: Scroll to the bottom of the results list, then double-click Show all in Finder. You can narrow the results in the Finder.

During downtime, or if you reach the time limit set for apps in Screen Time preferences, app icons are dimmed and an hourglass icon  is shown. See Schedule downtime.

• Convert currencies: Enter an amount to see the equivalent in other common currencies. For example, enter $100, £100, or ¥100. Or enter something like “300 krone in dollars.”

• Convert temperatures: Enter a temperature like 98.8F or 32C. Or enter something like “340K in F.”

• Convert measurements: Enter a measurement like 25 lb, 54 yards, or 23 stone. Or enter something like “32 ft to meters.”

• Get a calculation: Enter a mathematical expression, such as 956*23.94.

• Get a definition: Enter a word or phrase, then click the result in the Definition section.