Use Case · Application Launcher
Find and switch applications instantly.
Switch to active applications or launch new utilities without cluttering your Dock or pausing keyboard flow.
Natural Language Query Example
“launch simulator”
Action:Launch / FocusTarget:Simulator.appStatus:Running in background
The Traditional Friction
Dock hunting and launcher lag breaks concentration
Switching between 15 running apps via ⌘ Tab forces you to cycle repeatedly through icons. Spotlight often clutters app results with web suggestions, Wikipedia links, and unrelated emails.
When you want an app, you want it focused in one keystroke without animation delays or extraneous metadata.
The SearchOnMac Advantage
High-priority application index with live running states
- Running App Detection: SearchOnMac marks active apps with live dot indicators, bringing them to the forefront of candidate results.
- Zero Memory Overhead: A native Swift app, with no Electron or web runtime running in the background.
- Direct Hotkey Activation: Press ⌥ Space, type two characters, hit ↵ Return. Switch focus in under 60 milliseconds.
Search Like A Human
Sample queries that just work
“terminal”
Context: User needs a command prompt to run tests.
Instantly brings Terminal.app to front focus.
“figma”
Context: User wants to inspect design specs.
Switches to running Figma window across virtual desktop spaces.
“activity monitor”
Context: User wants to inspect CPU usage.
Direct launch of Activity Monitor.app with zero lag.
Spotlight vs. SearchOnMac
Why memory-based search changes how you work on your Mac.
| Capability | macOS Spotlight | SearchOnMac for Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Running app status indicator | No visual distinction between running and closed apps | Real-time running status indicator and priority ranking |
| Search speed | Often stutters when querying cloud/Siri suggestions | On-device lookup; apps appear in about 40 ms |
| Memory footprint | System daemon that can spike during background indexing | Lightweight native Swift app |
| Context switching | Focus shifts to dedicated fullscreen overlay | Floating macOS HUD floats non-intrusively above active work |
Experience the difference on your Mac
Searches run on your Mac. For macOS 14 or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel.