Deterministic Memory Engine
How SearchOnMac works on macOS.
SearchOnMac decodes what you remember — time, type, folder hint, or app context — into deterministic queries executed on-device across your Mac's native metadata indices.
How It Works
Search by remembering.
SearchOnMac turns the way you describe something into the signals your Mac can actually search.
01
You describe what you remember.
Natural language query entered directly via ⌥ Space.
02
SearchOnMac understands type, folder, time and action.
Intent parsed deterministically on-device without network calls.
03
Four local sources are searched concurrently.
Files, apps, open windows, and clipboard scanned in parallel.
04
Results are ranked instantly.
Local results in about 0.1 s, ranked by relevance, recency and what you use.
SearchOnMac AI only steps in when results are ambiguous.
Keyboard-First Efficiency
Fast hands, zero friction.
Every operation in SearchOnMac is accessible without lifting your hands from the keyboard.
searchonmac://keyboard-reference
7 shortcuts01Toggle SearchOnMac anywhere
⌥Space
02Navigate results
↑↓
03Open / focus / copy
↵
04Reveal in Finder
⌘↵
05Contextual actions
⌘K
06Toggle preview
⌘Y
07Dismiss launcher
⎋
Press ⌥ Space anywhere to open SearchOnMacmacOS 14+