New Spotlight in macOS 26: How Apple's new search works
New design, new functionality: Apple is revamping Spotlight. A clipboard manager is now also integrated. First experiences with the feature.
Spotlight under macOS 26: Everything new – and a little confusing at first.
(Image: Screenshot Mac & i)
Anyone trying out the public beta of macOS 26 alias Tahoe, which will hopefully be released soon (the easiest way to do this is using a virtual machine), will first have to get used to the new system. Apple has made changes in many areas of the operating system. This starts with the significantly rounder windows, various new transparent elements, changed icons and menu bars, and many other smaller and larger updates. If you press the typical Spotlight shortcut apple+space, you will be confronted with the new system search: Apple has completely redesigned and expanded – mainly for the better.
Launchpad says goodbye
Apple has done away with the Launchpad with the app overview, which was rarely used by many users. Although its icon is still available in the dock, the new app overview opens in Spotlight instead. Here you can find all installed applications as a grid or list, sorted by program type if desired. Of course, the system can also be searched by files (as before) and now also by actions (which Apple presets and which can also be shortcuts) and the clipboard. Because yes, Apple has built its own clipboard manager into macOS for the first time.
Videos by heise
Spotlight now tries to display areas that match a search term. If you enter "shortcuts," for example, not only does the app appear but also links to help texts, the system settings, and tips. Actions can also be assigned so-called quick keys. These can then be executed with just two letters. Actions can be influenced directly from Spotlight; for example, you can set the length of a timer before it starts.
Commands searched for and found
Apple also promises that the Spotlight results will be customized for the respective user and therefore more relevant – which should be reflected in the ranking, for example. Another new feature is the ability to control apps directly from Spotlight by searching for menu commands. For example, you can open the info or settings menu of the map app from the search without having to run the app.
The new Spotlight still has a few hiccups, such as sometimes not knowing how to change settings in existing actions using the keyboard. Overall, however, it is clear that Apple has made sensible improvements to the tool. Incidentally, there is no mention of the Siri voice assistant here, Spotlight manages without it, even though Apple uses various AI approaches to optimize the results. macOS 26 will be released in autumn. Apple is currently distributing a developer beta to registered developers. A public beta is due to be released this month.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(bsc)
