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spotlight-search

Search macOS local files by content and filename using Spotlight's indexed search.

Updated Jan 10, 2026
Search Tags:#macos#spotlight#file-search#content-search#mdfind#document-discovery
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jas-ho/jason-agent-skills --skill spotlight-search
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: spotlight-search
Source: https://github.com/jas-ho/jason-agent-skills/tree/main/plugins/spotlight-search
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jas-ho/jason-agent-skills --skill spotlight-search

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Quickly locate local documents by content or filename on macOS using Spotlight's indexed search.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Fast content-aware search across PDFs, Office documents, and plain text with the Spotlight index.
  • Scope searches to specific directories or filenames to locate items when paths are unknown.
  • Use cases include finding documents on a topic, locating resumes, or locating a file by partial name.

Quick Start

Search your Documents for a keyword using macOS Spotlight to quickly locate matching files.

Frequently Asked Questions about spotlight-search

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search for local PDF and Word documents by content on macOS?▼

Find local files on macOS using Spotlight's indexed search to locate documents by topic or content. You can retrieve specific PDFs, Word, or Excel files even when the exact file paths are unknown.

Can I scope macOS file discovery searches to a specific directory?▼

Yes, you can scope macOS file discovery searches to specific directories or filenames. This allows you to narrow down results and locate items quickly when paths are unknown.

Does Spotlight content search require pdftotext to extract text from PDFs?▼

Spotlight content search optionally requires pdftotext for extracting text from PDFs. The core file discovery relies on the macOS Spotlight index, but pdftotext enhances PDF content extraction.

What is the best way to locate a file by partial name on macOS?▼

The best way to locate a file by partial name on macOS is using Spotlight's indexed search. It enables fast filename matching to discover local items like resumes or documents without knowing exact paths.

Do I need macOS Spotlight indexing enabled to find local files?▼

Yes, you need macOS Spotlight indexing enabled to find local files. The document discovery process relies entirely on the Spotlight index to perform fast content-aware and filename-based searches.

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