# Quick Search

> Search your library from any app on your Mac.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/quick-search
- Section: Find
- Works on: Mac
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-17
- Open: `⇧⌘F` from any app

## Search from any app

With nothing typed, it shows your most recently updated captures.

1. Press `⇧⌘F` in any app. A search panel opens near the top of the screen.
2. Type. Matching captures show as covers.
3. Press `Return` to open the first one, or move with the arrow keys and press `Return`, or click a cover. It opens in Resurf.
4. Press `Esc`, click outside, or press `⇧⌘F` again to close.

Video: [Quick Search opened over the library, with gradient typed and matching captures shown.](https://resurf.so/guides/clips/clip-quick-search.mp4)

What you typed is still there the next time you open it.

## Narrow it down

As you type, it suggests spaces, tags, types, dates, colors and more. Press `Tab` to take the first one.

You can also type a tag with “#”, a space with “@” and its exact name, or a color. “is:” filters aren't supported here.

Quick Search matches words only. Search by meaning and Similar are in the main window. See [Search by meaning](https://resurf.so/guides/meaning-search).

## Change the shortcut

The shortcut is called **Spotlight search**, in **Settings → Shortcuts → Global capture**. If another app already uses it, Settings shows a notice under the row.

Without a shortcut, open Quick Search from **Search** in the menu bar menu, or from **Open quick search** in the `⌘K` bar.

## Questions

### What is Spotlight search in Settings?

It's the Quick Search shortcut.

### Why doesn't a tag I know show as a suggestion?

Quick Search suggests only tags on the current results. Type # and the tag name instead.

### My shortcut used to be ⇧⌘Space.

It moved to ⇧⌘F. Change it in Settings → Shortcuts → Global capture → Spotlight search.

## More guides

- Previous: [Sort and shuffle](https://resurf.so/guides/sort.md)
- Next: [Similar captures](https://resurf.so/guides/similar.md)
- [Search](https://resurf.so/guides/search.md): Find any capture by typing words you remember from it.
- [Filters](https://resurf.so/guides/filters.md): Narrow the library by tag, space, type, color, date or status.
- [Sort and shuffle](https://resurf.so/guides/sort.md): Change the order of your library: newest first, recently updated, best match or random.
- [Similar captures](https://resurf.so/guides/similar.md): See captures that look or read like the one you're on, from anywhere in your library.
- [Search by meaning](https://resurf.so/guides/meaning-search.md): Find captures that match what you mean, not only the words you typed.
- [Resurface widget](https://resurf.so/guides/resurface-widget.md): A widget that brings back one capture at a time and changes every three hours.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)