On iPhone, you can search for apps and contacts, content in apps like Mail and Messages, and even text in your photos using Live Text. You can check stock and currency information, and find and open webpages, apps, and images in your photo library, across your system, and on the web.
Search for an app, and shortcuts for your most likely next action appear within the Top Hit. Search for Photos, for example, and a shortcut to the Favorites album appears.
And with Siri AI (Beta)* on supported iPhone models, Spotlight becomes where you start a conversation with Siri, whether you want personal context, broad world knowledge, or actions across your apps.
Note: Siri AI is available in beta on iOS 27 or later on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 model or later with Siri and device language set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS. Usage limits may apply.
Search with iPhone
- Tap the Search button on the Home Screen (on models with Face ID) or swipe down on the Home Screen or the Lock Screen.
- Enter what you’re looking for in the search field. Then do any of the following:
- Initiate your search: Tap the Search button.
- Open a suggested app or website: Tap the app or website.
- Take quick action: Start a timer, turn on a Focus, find the name of a song with Shazam, run any shortcut, and more. Search for an app’s name to see shortcuts available for the app, or create your own using the Shortcuts app.
- Check a suggested website: Tap it.
- Get more information about a search suggestion: Tap it. Tap one of the results to open it.
- Start a new search: Tap the Clear Text button in the search field.
Note: Content from third-party apps only appears in search results if the app supports Spotlight indexing, so if something you’re looking for is missing, the app may not support Spotlight search.
Choose which apps to include in Search
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Search and scroll down. Tap an app.
- Turn Show App in Search on or off.
Turn off Location-Based Suggestions
With Location Services on, Spotlight may use your location to refine suggestions. Turning off Location-Based Suggestions stops that.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Privacy & Security and then tap Location Services.
- Tap System Services, then turn off Suggestions & Search.
Search in apps
Many apps include a search field or search button for finding something within the app. In the Maps app, for example, you can search for a specific location.
-
In an app, tap the search field or the Search button.
If you don’t see a search field or button, swipe down from the top.
- Type your search and then tap Search.
Add a dictionary
You can add dictionaries on iPhone to use in searches.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General, then tap Dictionary.
- Select a dictionary.
*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.
