Search
The search field is focused when the panel opens. Start typing immediately; the highest-ranked result is ready for Return.
Applications
Section titled “Applications”Apps in standard macOS locations and inside your selected search folder are
searchable. Each .app bundle appears as one launchable result, and newly
installed applications become searchable without a restart.
Files and folders
Section titled “Files and folders”Search covers filenames and folder paths under the selected folder. The default is your home folder.
- Press Return to open the selected item.
- Press ⌘ R or ⌘ Return to reveal it in Finder.
- Press ⌘ Y to toggle Quick Look for a file.
- Drag a result into another application.
When filename matches are sparse, supported text content can also be searched. See Indexing for supported content, live updates, and exclusions.
Path-like queries keep an exact, existing match at the top of the results. You
can type a path relative to the selected search folder, such as code/minion,
or use ~/code while your home folder is in scope. Absolute paths work when
they are inside the selected folder.
Add a trailing slash, as in ~/code/, to show directories only. Paths outside
the selected folder or locations macOS does not let Floodlight read are not
available.
System Settings
Section titled “System Settings”Search settings by their visible name or a familiar keyword. For example,
bluetooth, wallpaper, or login items can open the relevant System Settings
pane directly.
Floodlight settings
Section titled “Floodlight settings”Search for Floodlight settings, permissions, shortcut, or search scope
to open the same settings window available from the menu-bar flashlight.
Calculator
Section titled “Calculator”Type an arithmetic expression such as:
(128 * 3.5) + 20%Press Return to copy the result.
Web fallback
Section titled “Web fallback”Every non-empty query includes a final web-search action. It stays below local results and opens in the default browser.
Ranking
Section titled “Ranking”Ranking learns from local recency and frequency data. A result you repeatedly select for the same query receives a boost the next time. That data remains on the Mac.
Not currently searchable
Section titled “Not currently searchable”Floodlight does not currently search Mail, Messages, Photos, or Contacts. Those sources need dedicated integrations and separate permissions; Full Disk Access alone does not add them to results.