How to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and Alfred - Science and Nerds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/24\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and Alfred - Science and Nerds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Source: Most Mac users find Spotlight, Apple\u2019s built-in tool for searching through apps and files, to suit their needs just fine. But power users who want to have near total control over their computer (as well as access to shortcuts and tools) have often looked for other alternatives. Lately, an app called Raycast has been […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/24\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Science and Nerds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-06-24T14:38:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-06-24T14:38:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred_62b5cc51875d5.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"629\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/24\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/24\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred\/\",\"name\":\"How to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and Alfred - 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Most Mac users find Spotlight, Apple\u2019s built-in tool for searching through apps and files, to suit their needs just fine. But power users who want to have near total control over their computer (as well as access to shortcuts and tools) have often looked for other alternatives. Lately, an app called Raycast<\/a> has been gaining attention as one of those options, competing with one of the community\u2019s long-standing favorites<\/a>, Alfred. <\/p>\n
After trying out Raycast for a few weeks, I\u2019ve found it to be extremely useful. Here are some tips if you want to try it out for yourself.<\/p>\n
Getting started<\/h2>\nWhen you first open Raycast after downloading it from the company\u2019s website<\/a>, it\u2019ll walk you through a brief overview, which prompts you to assign it a keyboard shortcut. The default is Option-Space, though it does offer instructions on how to use Command-Space instead, which is the default shortcut to bring up Spotlight. <\/p>\n
After you make it through the setup screen, you\u2019ll be greeted with Raycast\u2019s main screen: a search bar with several suggestions on what you can do. Start typing, and those suggestions are replaced by whatever applications and commands Raycast finds on your system.<\/p>\n
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    Raycast\u2019s default screen, which will suggest that you go through its walkthrough tutorial to start<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nOut of the box, Raycast can do a lot just on its own. It does, of course, do the basics: launches apps via keyboard shortcuts, gives you answers to simple math questions, searches files (though, unlike Spotlight, Raycast doesn\u2019t automatically lump the files it finds in with your applications \u2014 you have to tell it specifically that you want to search for a file). <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how you can do some of the basics in Raycast:<\/p>\n\n\nTo search for an app<\/strong>: type the app\u2019s name and press enter to launch it.<\/li>\n
\nTo do basic math calculations<\/strong>: type them in as you would normally, e.g., \u201c365\/50\u201d or \u201csquare root of 25.\u201d Pressing enter copies the result.<\/li>\n
\nTo search the web<\/strong>: type in your query, and highlight the Search Google<\/strong> option. Pressing enter will open it in your browser.<\/li>\n\nTo search for a file<\/strong>: type in File Search<\/strong> and press enter. Then type in the name of the file you\u2019re looking for. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhile that\u2019ll get you up and running with Raycast, let\u2019s take a look at some of the cool features that make it worth getting into.<\/p>\nSearching, converting, and more<\/h2>\nIf you type something like \u201c12PM EST to PST,\u201d \u201c1LB to KG,\u201d or \u201c20 BTC to USD\u201d into Spotlight or a default install of Alfred, it\u2019ll prompt you to search Google for the answer. Raycast does the conversion for you without having to send you to a browser.<\/p>\n\n  <\/p>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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    My one complaint is that Raycast is picky with how you write these \u2014 use the more common \u201cPT\u201d and \u201cET,\u201d and it doesn\u2019t give the correct answer.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nSpeeding up search<\/h2>\nIn my experience, Raycast is about as fast as Spotlight and also gives you more control. If Apple\u2019s search tool lists the thing you\u2019re looking for as the second result, you have to use the arrow keys or mouse to select it, moving your fingers away from the home row. With Raycast, when you\u2019re looking at your search results, you can hold down the command key, and it\u2019ll list numbers along the side of each result. Then just press the number that corresponds with the result you want, and it\u2019ll open. (Alfred has a very similar system.)<\/p>\nTaking action<\/h2>\nPressing Command+K in Raycast unlocks a whole host of other actions you can take with a search result, each with a corresponding keyboard shortcut. For example, if I find the file I\u2019m looking for, I can use Raycast\u2019s action menu to do things like show it in Finder, copy it, or even show a list of the other files in the same folder. While the number of actions in the menu can be overwhelming, there\u2019s a \u201csearch for action\u201d bar in the lower right-hand corner of the Raycast window to help you find the one you want. (You can<\/em> totally ignore that bar if you want \u2014 I used Raycast for about a week before I remembered it even existed.) <\/p>\n\n  <\/p>\n    <\/p>\n
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You get a lot of power when you open the File Search section of Raycast.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nManaging Results<\/h2>\nThe complexity of the app\u2019s standard search bar is hard to escape. Using Raycast for the first time can be overwhelming because of just how many things it offers to do for you. Apple\u2019s Mail app may be the first result it shows you when you search \u201cMail,\u201d but underneath it are suggestions: \u201cDo you want to search for this using Google? DuckDuckGo? Your contacts book?\u201d You may also get unfamiliar results if you\u2019re coming from Spotlight \u2014 in addition to your applications, Raycast also surfaces system settings like a dark mode toggle, System Preferences panes, and other controls.<\/p>\n
You can manage which commands pop up under every search and even which ones are available at all. However, I\u2019d suggest trying them out for a while before you do because it\u2019s these commands and Raycast\u2019s store (from which you can install new ones) that really make Raycast shine. However, if you do want to turn things off, here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n
\nOpen Raycast and type in Extensions<\/strong>. The first selection should read Extensions Raycast Preferences<\/strong>. Select that. <\/li>\n
To make it so an option never shows up in search, uncheck the Enabled<\/strong> box next to it. <\/li>\n
The options with a ><\/strong> to the left mean it\u2019s a category. Click on that to see all the individual commands in the category. You can uncheck entire categories \u2014 like System<\/strong>, which contains commands like Show Desktop<\/strong> or Empty Trash<\/strong> \u2014 or individual commands. <\/li>\n
You can also make it so specific apps don\u2019t show up by expanding the Applications<\/strong> group and unchecking specific apps. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo manage which options show up under every search, type Manage Fallback Commands<\/strong> in the search box and hit enter. Selecting items in the Enabled<\/strong> section and pressing enter will make it so they don\u2019t show up, and selecting items in the Available<\/strong> section and pressing enter will make them appear.<\/p>\n
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Fallback commands can be useful, but you may not want all of them.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nUse Raycast\u2019s built-in tools to manage your apps<\/h2>\nTyping Window<\/strong> into Raycast gives you a whole host of commands that let you manage the shape and size of the app you\u2019re currently using. You can maximize it, set it to cover the left half of the screen, make it smaller, and more. There\u2019s also a built-in notes app for jotting down quick thoughts into a floating window. There\u2019s even a command built into Raycast that makes a shower of confetti appear on your screen. <\/p>\n
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I counted over 50 window management options in Raycast \u2014 but I mostly stick to three or four.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nIf you delve into Raycast\u2019s store (which you can access simply by typing Store<\/strong> into the search field), you can find community-built extensions that let you manage music playback, translate text with Google Translate, or start a Zoom meeting. While many of the extensions are geared towards programmers \u2014 understandably, since those are the kind of people who write extensions \u2014 there are plenty of tools that the majority of computer users could find helpful. One of my colleagues uses it to copy two-factor authentication codes from Authy.<\/p>\n
Adding your own commands<\/h2>\nYou can also add custom functionality to Raycast yourself without having to develop an entire extension for it by using Quicklinks and Script Commands. Quicklinks are relatively straightforward: they let you take what you\u2019ve typed into Raycast and search for it on the web. For example, I have a quick search set up that lets me type in \u201cverge [insert search query here]\u201d to get results from our catalog of articles. I also have one that lets me search YouTube. Script Commands are more powerful, letting you write out your own mini programs and sets of actions in a variety of languages (such as Bash, Apple Script, Python, and Node.js). <\/p>\n
The process of adding a Quicklink will depend on what site you\u2019re trying to search, and there are some interesting extra things you can do with parameters. I recommend digging into Raycast\u2019s Quicklinks documentation<\/a> for more info on how to add one. Script Commands are even more complex to set up, as they require some familiarity with scripting (as the name would suggest). If you\u2019re comfortable with that sort of thing, though, you can read Raycast\u2019s documentation on making Script Commands<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n
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    Raycast\u2019s Extensions preference pane contains a wealth of options and is also where you go to create Quicklinks and Script Commands.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nManaging keyboard shortcuts<\/h2>\nIf you really like showing off or shaving milliseconds off each search, you can assign keyboard shortcuts to pretty much any command in Raycast. I have an extension that lets me search Apple Maps, and while I could type \u201cMaps,\u201d press enter, then type my query, I\u2019ve set it so I can just press Command+M to instantly be brought to the Map search field. <\/p>\n
One big thing to note with the keyboard shortcuts, which are completely customizable, is that they\u2019re universal \u2014 they\u2019re active even when you haven\u2019t specifically activated Raycast. For some purposes, that\u2019s useful; you could assign keyboard shortcuts to Raycast\u2019s window management tools and not even have to open it to switch an app to full screen. However, it can be annoying if you want to avoid having complex keyboard shortcuts. I tried setting my Verge search to Command+V and quickly discovered that I was no longer able to paste in any app. So be careful what combination you select.<\/p>\n
To assign a keyboard shortcut to a command:<\/p>\n\nSearch Raycast for Extensions<\/strong> to open the Raycast preferences window.<\/li>\n
Find the command or app you want to have a shortcut to (there\u2019s a search field in the top left if you want to cut down on the scrolling).<\/li>\nClick the Record Hotkey<\/strong> button next to it, and press the keyboard shortcut you want to use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nYou can delete a keyboard shortcut by hovering over the hotkey field and clicking the X that comes up.<\/p>\nMore fun with Raycast<\/h2>\nWhile I\u2019ve hit on a lot of Raycast\u2019s major features, it does feel like I find a new thing I can do with it every other day. I recently discovered that it\u2019ll warn me of upcoming calendar events that may have slipped my mind (using the Command-K shortcut, I can dismiss this notification). I also found out that it lets me turn my cursor into a lightsaber that plays the swooshing sounds as I move my mouse around until I toggle the feature again by typing lightsaber<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n  <\/p>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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    Even if I\u2019m completely oblivious to Fantastical\u2019s notifications, Raycast will still remind me whenever I go to open a new app or take an action.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nHow does Raycast compare to Alfred and Spotlight?<\/h2>\nWhile Raycast is brimming with fun features, at its core, it does the same job as Alfred. Raycast looks and feels more modern and comes out of the box absolutely loaded with features, all for free (there are plans for a paid Teams version that will let you share snippets and scripts). Alfred has a lot of the same features, but only if you buy the Powerpack, which costs 34 British pounds (around $41 at time of writing). In addition, while Alfred wins when it comes to the ease with which you can create customizable actions, which it calls Workflows, again, these are one of Alfred\u2019s paid features. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s also worth noting that in the next version of macOS, Spotlight will also be able to run Shortcuts and is getting a whole host of improvements as well<\/a>. If you\u2019re looking for the simplest option, that will almost certainly be it.<\/p>\n
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  <\/span><\/p>\n
    It\u2019s relatively simple to make your own actions with Alfred, like this workflow my co-worker runs when they\u2019re finished with work.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n  <\/p>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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    <\/span><\/p>\n
  <\/span><\/p>\n
    Making something similar in Raycast requires creating a script and editing it using an external tool.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nIf you\u2019re an Alfred power user who\u2019s using a paid-for version and you have your workflows and settings absolutely dialed in, I genuinely don\u2019t think you need to rush to switch to Raycast unless there\u2019s some absolutely must-have feature that you\u2019ve seen. But if you\u2019re using the free version of Alfred or are looking to upgrade from Spotlight for the first time, Raycast really feels like the best option these days. <\/p>\n
To be perfectly honest, I had tried Raycast about a year ago but bounced off it largely thanks to its complexity. But after committing to learning it (a process that took just an hour or two of really digging into it), I can\u2019t imagine going back to Alfred. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/br><\/code><\/p>\nSource: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/23170431\/raycast-how-to-macos-search-extensions-alfred-spotlight<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Source: Most Mac users find Spotlight, Apple\u2019s built-in tool for searching through apps and files, to suit their needs just fine. But power users who want to have near total control over their computer (as well as access to shortcuts and tools) have often looked for other alternatives. Lately, an app called Raycast has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,8],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-8546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","category-technology","tag-apple"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and Alfred - Science and Nerds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/24\/how-to-use-raycast-and-how-it-compares-to-spotlight-and-alfred\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and Alfred - Science and Nerds\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Source: Most Mac users find Spotlight, Apple\u2019s built-in tool for searching through apps and files, to suit their needs just fine. 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