Spotlight search has been a component in Mac’s OS X operating systems for ages now. By simply pushing Command + Spacebar, Mac users can pull up a search function that peruses the system for files, programs, and more. The new version of Spotlight, available with the Yosemite update, has made the search function even more powerful. Here’s how to use it.
Step 1
As mentioned above, you can access Spotlight search from anywhere on your Mac. Simply use the key combination of the Command key and the Spacebar. Using Spotlight in this fashion will search every folder on your computer and will even add some results from the web (a Wikipedia page, perhaps).
Step 2
You can also search for files in a specific folder. To do this, open the folder you have in mind, and press Control + Command + Spacebar. This action launches a special version of Spotlight which will do a more focused search. It is particularly fast and effective if you are looking for a single song in your music folder or for a specific word file in your Documents folder.
Step 3
In addition to just finding your documents, files, programs, and preferences, Spotlight can do some other cool things too, like currency or measurement conversions. For instance, if you type in “5 kilometers to miles”, your Spotlight search will give you the conversion (3.1 miles) instantly. This information is stored in Yosemite, and you don’t even need an internet connection to use it.
Recap
The Spotlight search in Yosemite is one of the most powerful tools in a Mac user’s arsenal. No matter what you are looking for, you can simply hit a key combination and find it in seconds!
Step 1
As mentioned above, you can access Spotlight search from anywhere on your Mac. Simply use the key combination of the Command key and the Spacebar. Using Spotlight in this fashion will search every folder on your computer and will even add some results from the web (a Wikipedia page, perhaps).
Step 2
You can also search for files in a specific folder. To do this, open the folder you have in mind, and press Control + Command + Spacebar. This action launches a special version of Spotlight which will do a more focused search. It is particularly fast and effective if you are looking for a single song in your music folder or for a specific word file in your Documents folder.
Step 3
In addition to just finding your documents, files, programs, and preferences, Spotlight can do some other cool things too, like currency or measurement conversions. For instance, if you type in “5 kilometers to miles”, your Spotlight search will give you the conversion (3.1 miles) instantly. This information is stored in Yosemite, and you don’t even need an internet connection to use it.
Recap
The Spotlight search in Yosemite is one of the most powerful tools in a Mac user’s arsenal. No matter what you are looking for, you can simply hit a key combination and find it in seconds!
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