Apple’s Highlight is sweet for extra than simply discovering issues

Liquid Glass was the biggest visual change Apple made to macOS final yr, but it surely was paired with a good quantity of latest apps and deeper integrations with the corporate’s different platforms, too. Not solely did macOS Tahoe add a Cellphone app to the Mac for the primary time, it additionally introduced the iPhone’s live-updating notifications, Reside Actions, to desktop and laptop computer computer systems. Essentially the most significant change Apple made was totally Mac-specific, nonetheless.

Spotlight, Apple’s system-wide search characteristic, has been round for many years at this level, however in macOS Tahoe, Apple confirmed the characteristic some love. Not solely is Highlight a instrument for search, however within the newest replace, it is also able to taking actions inside apps with out you having to open them. The replace has made it attainable for me to do much more on my MacBook Professional with out touching a trackpad or mouse, and with the fitting setup, it might do the identical for you.

Highlight can discover information and launch apps

Generally it is quicker to seek for the app you need

At its most elementary, Highlight is a method to search your Mac for information and purposes. You possibly can summon Highlight with a easy press of Command + House and begin typing out what you are searching for. I am removed from an “iPad Child,” however I grew up navigating computer systems with a mouse and a trackpad first and a keyboard second. Highlight makes that lots much less important, however it may additionally take some getting used to in case you’re not accustomed to typing for what you need. When you do get used to it, although, utilizing your laptop turns into much more intuitive.

Somewhat than opening a brand new Finder window, I have been typing to seek for what I am searching for with Highlight. Apple’s inner search engine does not all the time really feel as responsive or accommodating as an online search or some third-party instruments, but it surely’s at the least gotten me to what I want to this point. It additionally works effectively as a fundamental app launcher. Apple’s tried a number of alternative ways to make opening and rearranging apps so simple as it’s in iOS, however has now settled on an “Apps” icon within the dock, apps positioned within the dock or on the desktop, and Highlight as the primary locations you’ll be able to open an app. You simply seek for an app in Highlight, scroll down with the arrow keys and hit Enter to open the app.

Somewhat than always returning to my dock or the Finder file system, I’ve discovered this to be a satisfying method to get what I want with out slowing down or clicking away from what I am engaged on. And importantly, in macOS Tahoe, the performance of Highlight does not finish there.

Highlight can run Shortcuts and take actions in apps

Let Highlight streamline easy duties

Whereas looking for issues is nice, and has been a basic characteristic of macOS for many years, Highlight turns into really highly effective while you take it past search. The open textual content field is the enter paradigm that is in vogue proper now, and whereas Highlight is not as versatile as a basic AI assistant, it may do issues for you in the way in which an AI agent can. Simply do not anticipate any miracles.

Highlight can do math and easy unit conversions, a useful talent in case you do not wish to open the calculator app or search for an trade price. As of macOS 26 (Tahoe’s different title), although, Apple has additionally added a bunch of actions Highlight can take inside apps. The entire expertise is powered by the corporate’s App Intents framework, which lets builders outline helpful elements and options of an app, after which floor them inside different Apple options, like Siri, Highlight, or widgets. For instance, utilizing Highlight, I can ship a brand new message within the Messages app with out opening it. The identical goes for sending an electronic mail with the Mail app. You might additionally add a process to the Reminders app, or a word to the Notes app, with out having to succeed in for a mouse.

Apple lets every motion be assigned to fast keys, quick, two character mixtures that sign you wish to run an Motion (for instance “ft [the name of the person you want to call]” to begin a FaceTime name), and the corporate permits you to mix a number of actions with a Shortcut, which macOS gained support for in 2021. Not each app affords the precise Motion you may want, which is one other place the place Shortcuts make sense. I needed to create a Shortcut so as to add objects to a selected shared grocery checklist within the Reminders app, for instance, however Highlight’s capability to run Shortcuts might allow much more advanced workflows if you need it to.

Whereas the best-case situation would imply all these Actions are outlined upfront, and you do not have to spend time tinkering with Shortcuts, the truth that it is attainable is commendable in its personal proper. And there is a good probability Highlight already has entry to what you want. To drag up the total checklist of obtainable Actions in Highlight:

1. Press Command + House to open Highlight.
2. Press Command + 3 to view Actions.
3. Scroll by way of your out there Actions utilizing the arrow keys.
4. As soon as you discover an Motion you wish to run, press Enter.

Third-party options present Highlight’s potential — and shortcomings

You will nonetheless discover probably the most succesful instruments exterior of Apple’s personal apps

On macOS, Highlight is not the one possibility in the case of instruments that allow you to navigate your laptop by way of your keyboard and intelligent textual content inputs. A number of third-party choices, probably the most distinguished and fashionable most likely being Raycast, can change Highlight’s performance with one thing much more open-ended. Raycast and apps prefer it are nonetheless extra highly effective than Highlight by way of the variety of apps and companies they will hook up with. In addition they, at the least within the case of Raycast, embrace options Apple hasn’t explored but, like entry to AI fashions, and built-in performance like notes and focus timers that Apple makes a bit extra difficult to arrange.

There was an assumption when Apple first introduced its Highlight replace, that the corporate was successfully changing these third-party choices with its personal, however the actuality is lots higher. Apple nonetheless might drive an organization like Raycast out of enterprise by fully replicating its options at no cost, however at the least for now it is not. As an alternative, Highlight acts as an excellent free beginning place for anybody excited about making an attempt a brand new approach to make use of their laptop. It has a studying curve, however in case you grasp it, and tweak it to your wants, it might make every little thing higher.