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The only problem with the Mac's GUI interface is that it may take some digging to find the file or application you want to use. But Apple has a fix for that: Spotlight, and it's the easiest way to open anything on your Mac.

Press command-space and start typing. You can launch applications, documents, even emails, with a few keystrokes. Command-option-space launches a Finder window for searching.

But there are a few little known shortcuts that make Spotlight even more useful.

• Use the kind: keyword to narrow down your search:
• kind:audio
• kind:folders
• kind:app
• kind:email
• To find the location of a file, select it on the list then hit the Command key. The full directory will show up in the status bar. Command-R opens the file location (not the file)
• You can look up definitions by typing a word
• Type
• Use it as a calculator
• Type 2 + 2
• Convert units
• Search for movie showtimes, weather, and places near me
• Type movies
• Type weather
• Type drugstores
• Search for flight information by entering the airline and flight number
• United 30
• Or a stock price
• aapl
• Search for contact information by typing a name

To limit the searches Spotlight can make, check the Spotlight system preferences. You can also change the key command.

If you like what spotlight can do, there's a third-party app, Alfred, that does even more!

https://www.alfredapp.com/

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac

Host: Leo Laporte

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