The Beginner's Guide to Raycast: Replace Spotlight in 15 Minutes
You've probably used Spotlight thousands of times. ⌘Space, type an app name, press Enter. It works, but it's like using a bicycle when you could be driving a race car.
What if I told you there's a free Mac app that's faster than Spotlight, remembers everything you copy, lets you manage windows with your keyboard, and has 1,300+ extensions? And you can set it up in 15 minutes?
That app is Raycast, and in this beginner's guide, I'll show you exactly how to replace Spotlight and unlock productivity features you didn't know you needed. No technical skills required — just follow along.
What is Raycast? (And Why Should You Care?)
Raycast is a blazingly fast, extendable launcher for macOS. Think "Spotlight on steroids" — same basic idea, but 10x more powerful. It's built specifically for keyboard-first workflows and is completely free with a privacy-focused approach (your data stays on your Mac).
The key insight: Raycast does everything Spotlight does, plus dozens of features you'll wonder how you lived without.
Installing Raycast
Download and Install
The fastest way to install Raycast is via Homebrew. If you already have Homebrew:
brew install --cask raycast
Don't have Homebrew? No problem:
- Visit raycast.com
- Click "Download for Mac" (requires macOS 13+)
Tip: Remember Grant Permissions.
Replacing Spotlight (The Most Important Step)
Here's the critical decision: Don't try to use both Spotlight and Raycast. You'll split your muscle memory and never build the habit. Replace Spotlight completely.
How to Replace Spotlight:
Step 1: Disable Spotlight's hotkey
- Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts
- Click "Spotlight" in the sidebar
- Uncheck "Show Spotlight search" (⌘Space)
Step 2: Set Raycast to ⌘Space
- Open Raycast
- Press ⌘, (comma) to open Preferences
- Go to General → Raycast Hotkey
- Click the field and press ⌘Space
- Save
Why ⌘Space is critical: Your fingers already know this shortcut from years of Spotlight. Using it for Raycast means zero retraining.
Your First 5 Minutes with Raycast
Open Raycast (⌘Space) and try these right now:
1. Launch Apps (Just Like Spotlight)
Type "chrome" → Google Chrome appears instantly
Type "mail" → Mail app
Type "vs" → VS Code (partial matching works!)
Key insight: Raycast learns your patterns. The apps you use most will show up after typing just 1-2 letters.
2. Find Files
In File Search. Type "bill" → Finds the file anywhere on your system
3. Do Calculations
Type "250 0.08" → 20* (instant result)
Type "50 USD to EUR" → Live currency conversion
Type "10 miles to km" → Unit conversion
No need to open Calculator ever again.
4. Understanding the Action Panel (⌘K)
Press ⌘K on any result to see all available actions. The Action Panel is context-sensitive — it shows different options depending on what you've selected.
- On an app → Open, Quit, Show in Finder, Copy Path
- On a file → Open, Open With, Move to Trash, Copy
Game-Changing Features You Can Set Up Right Now
Feature 1: Clipboard History
The problem: You copy something important, then accidentally copy over it. It's gone forever.
The solution: Raycast remembers everything you copy for 3 months.
You're writing an email and need to paste 5 different pieces of information (addresses, names, numbers). Normally, you'd copy-paste-switch-copy-paste 5 times. With clipboard history: Copy all 5 things first, then paste them in any order.
Feature 2: Text Snippets
The problem: You type the same things over and over — email signatures, addresses, greetings.
The solution: Type a short keyword and it expands to full text automatically.
Usage: Type ;sparkle anywhere (email, documents, chat) → it instantly expands to your full signature.
Feature 3: Window Management
The problem: Arranging windows by dragging is slow and imprecise.
The solution: Keyboard shortcuts that snap windows into place instantly.
Installing Your First Extension
Extensions are plugins that add new commands to Raycast. There are over 1,300 available — GitHub integration, Notion search, Spotify controls, and more.
How to browse extensions:
- Open Raycast → type "store"
- Press Enter to open Extension Store
- Browse by category or search
Let's install Color Picker (useful for everyone):
- Search for "Color Picker" in the Store
- Click Install
- Usage: ⌘Space → type "color picker" → click anywhere on your screen to grab that color
Other beginner-friendly extensions:
- Emoji — Search and insert emoji faster than Character Viewer
- Calendar — View today's schedule without opening Calendar app
- Spotify — Control music without switching windows
Many extensions require API keys or account connections. Don't worry — each extension guides you through setup with clear instructions.
You're Now a Raycast User
In the last 15 minutes, you've transformed your Mac into a productivity powerhouse.
The bottom line: You've spent 15 minutes that will save you hours every month. Raycast isn't just a better Spotlight — it's a complete rethinking of how you interact with your Mac.
Once Raycast feels natural (give it a week), explore advanced features like Script Commands, AI integration (Raycast Pro), and custom themes.
What's your favorite Raycast feature so far? Drop a comment below — I'm genuinely curious which feature clicked for you first. For me, it was clipboard history. I recovered important text I'd accidentally copied over, and I was sold forever.
If this guide helped you discover Raycast, share it with a friend who's still using plain Spotlight. They'll thank you for the productivity upgrade.
Related Resources
- Official Raycast Manual — Comprehensive documentation
- Raycast Extension Store — Browse all 1,300+ extensions
Welcome to the world of keyboard-driven productivity. You're going to love it here. ⚡️
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