Spotlight & Search Shortcut
Open search: ⌘Space (Spotlight) on Mac, press the ⊞ Windows key or Win+S on Windows.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open system search | ⌘Space | ⊞ (Windows key) or Win+S | |
| Search within current app | ⌘F | Ctrl+F | |
| Spotlight / Finder window search | ⌘⌥Space | Win+S | |
| Open launcher / run | ⌘Space | Win+R (Run) |
Find anything fast
On the Mac, ⌘Space opens Spotlight — type an app name, a file, a calculation or a web search. On Windows, tap the ⊞ Windows key (or Win+S) to open Search and start typing.
Finder vs app search
To search inside the current app or page instead, use ⌘F (Mac) or Ctrl+F (Windows). ⌘⌥Space opens a Finder search window on the Mac.
FAQ
What is the Spotlight shortcut on Mac?
Press ⌘Space to open Spotlight, then type to find apps, files, or do a quick calculation or web search.
How do I open search on Windows?
Tap the ⊞ Windows key or press Win+S, then start typing to search apps, settings and files.