How to Preview Files with Quick Look in macOS 13

Quick Look is a built-in macOS 13 Ventura feature that lets you instantly preview documents, images, audio, and video files without launching full applications. This guide covers how to activate Quick Look using keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures, how to preview multiple files simultaneously, and how to use built-in markup tools directly from the preview window.

Using the Spacebar Shortcut

The fastest way to use Quick Look in macOS 13 is via the keyboard:

  1. Open Finder or navigate to your Desktop.
  2. Click once on the file you want to inspect to highlight it.
  3. Press the Spacebar. A preview window will appear immediately.
  4. Press the Spacebar again or press the Esc key to dismiss the preview.

While the preview window is open, you can use the Arrow keys to jump to adjacent files in the folder; Quick Look will update dynamically to show each selected item.

Using the Force Click Trackpad Gesture

If you are using a MacBook trackpad or an Apple Magic Trackpad with Force Touch:

  1. Hover your cursor over the file icon or filename.
  2. Press down firmly until you feel a deeper secondary click.
  3. Release to view the file. Click anywhere outside the window or click the close button to exit.

Previewing Multiple Files at Once

To view several items together:

  1. Select multiple files in Finder by holding Command while clicking individual files, or by holding Shift to select a range.
  2. Press the Spacebar.
  3. Use the arrow icons in the top-left corner of the Quick Look window to cycle through the items.
  4. Click the Index Sheet icon (a grid of four squares) in the window header to see all selected files displayed as a grid of thumbnails. Click any thumbnail to jump directly to it.

Quick Actions and Markup

In macOS 13, Quick Look allows basic edits without opening dedicated software:

  • Markup: Click the pencil icon in the top toolbar to draw, sign, add text, or crop documents and images.
  • Rotate: Click the rotate icon to turn an image 90 degrees counterclockwise (hold Option to rotate clockwise).
  • Trimming: For video and audio files, click the Trim button in the top bar to cut unwanted portions directly within the preview window.
  • Open With: If you need to make extensive edits, click the Open with [App Name] button in the top-right corner to open the file in its default program.