How to Use Spotlight Quick Actions in macOS 13

macOS 13 Ventura significantly enhances Spotlight by allowing you to perform Quick Actions directly from the search interface. Rather than simply functioning as an app launcher or file locator, Spotlight now enables you to trigger system utilities, run custom automation workflows, toggle settings, and interact with files without opening separate applications. This guide explains which Quick Actions are available in macOS 13 and how to execute them directly from search results.

Supported Spotlight Quick Actions in macOS 13

With macOS 13, Spotlight recognizes actionable commands and integrates seamlessly with built-in macOS tools:

Timers and Alarms: Type "start a 15 minute timer" or "set an alarm for 7 AM" to create and start timers immediately via the Clock app integration.
Shortcuts Integration: Type the exact name of any workflow created in the Shortcuts app (such as "Resize Image" or "Make PDF") and press Return to run the action instantly from Spotlight.
Focus Modes: Type "Do Not Disturb," "Work Focus," or the name of any custom Focus to toggle it on or off directly.
Music Recognition: Type "Shazam" to have your Mac listen to and identify songs playing nearby or through your system audio.
Enhanced Quick Look: Press the Spacebar over any search result to open a rich preview. For images and documents, macOS 13 provides interactive Quick Actions inside the preview window, allowing you to crop, rotate, or markup files without launching Preview.

How to Execute Quick Actions in Spotlight

Press Command + Space to open the Spotlight search bar.
Type the command, task, or shortcut you wish to perform (for example, Start a 20 minute timer or Turn on Do Not Disturb).
Use the arrow keys to navigate down to the matching action icon in the results list.
Press Return to execute the command immediately.