Mac power users, productivity geeks, and even average folks — meet your new best friend: Raycast. It’s a launcher, a super-tool, and the command center for your Mac. Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
TL;DR
Raycast is a fast and sleek app launcher for macOS that helps you do things quicker. It lets you search files, run scripts, control apps, and much more — all from your keyboard. You can customize it with extensions and even build your own. It’s free to use and makes your Mac life way more fun.
What is Raycast?
Raycast is a productivity app built for speed and simplicity. You open a small search bar with a hotkey, type something, and boom—action complete. Think of it like Spotlight on steroids.
With Raycast, you can:
- Launch apps
- Search files
- Control system settings
- Send Slack messages
- Run shortcuts and scripts
- Install extensions for hundreds of tasks
All of that, straight from your keyboard without ever touching your mouse.
How to Install Raycast
Super easy:
- Go to raycast.com
- Click Download and install the app like any other macOS app
- Launch it and go through the quick setup
Raycast lives in your menu bar and is mostly used via a hotkey. By default, it’s Cmd + Space, but you can change this.
Getting Started
Once you open Raycast, you’ll see a sleek little window pop up. Just start typing! That’s it.
Try typing Safari — you’ll instantly see the app and hit Enter to open it. Easy!
Raycast is more than a search box though. Try these:
- Type Dark Mode and toggle it on or off
- Type Lock to lock your screen
- Type Clipboard to view clipboard history
Basic Features You’ll Love
1. App Launcher
This part is straightforward—launch any app with a few keystrokes. Much faster than finding it in Finder or your dock.
2. File Search
Find any file on your Mac. Just type the name. You can preview it or open the containing folder.
3. Clipboard Manager
Raycast keeps a history of what you copy. Just type Clipboard and grab that thing you copied 20 minutes ago. Magic.
4. Window Management
Snap your windows, center them, or move them across displays. All using commands in Raycast!
5. Calculator
No need to open an app. Just type math like 42 * 16 and Raycast gives you the answer, right there.
6. Calendar Events
Type Schedule Meeting and Raycast can add it to your calendar. It can even join Zoom or Google Meet links.
Extensions = Superpowers
This is where Raycast really shines. It has an Extension Store full of tools made by developers and users.
Some favorite extensions include:
- GitHub – Search issues, PRs, repos without opening the website
- Slack – Send a message to a teammate in seconds
- Spotify – Control your music right from Raycast
- Notion – Create and search notes fast
- VS Code – Open projects or search files
You can install new extensions right from Raycast. Just type Store, browse, and click install on anything that looks cool.
Creating Your Own Scripts
Yes, you can create your own magic.
If you know a bit of scripting (Shell, JavaScript, etc.), Raycast lets you add custom scripts. This means you can automate anything—from renaming files to turning off Wi-Fi.
To get started:
- Create a script file on your Mac
- Go to Raycast settings → Extensions → Scripts
- Add your script and give it a name
Now you can run that script just by typing its name in Raycast. Boom.
Keyboard Shortcuts Galore
Raycast is built for people who love keyboards. You can do almost everything without touching the mouse.
Even better—set your own hotkeys for your favorite actions:
- Open Raycast settings
- Find any command
- Click the keyboard icon to assign a shortcut
Now that amazing clipboard manager? One quick combo away.
Teams & Sharing
If you work in a team, Raycast gets even cooler. You can share extensions within your team or use built-in features like collaborative notes or standup check-ins.
This isn’t just for devs. Teams in design, marketing, or support find Raycast super helpful too.
Best Practices for a Smooth Workflow
Getting overwhelmed? Don’t worry. Start small and make it fun.
Here are a few tips:
- Map Raycast to a muscle-memory hotkey (like Cmd-Space)
- Install only a few essential extensions at first
- Use the clipboard manager — it’s a game-changer
- Create one or two custom scripts to automate boring stuff
- Explore the Store every now and then for fun new things
Raycast vs. Spotlight
You might be wondering—why use Raycast when macOS already has Spotlight?
Here’s why Raycast is better:
- Faster – It loads and responds instantly
- Cleaner – No clutter or ads
- More Powerful – Extensions, scripts, clipboard history, and more
- Customizable – Make it yours with keyboard shortcuts and themes
Spotlight is for casual searches. Raycast is for power users. Even casual ones.
Hidden Gems in Raycast
Beneath the surface, Raycast has a ton of Easter eggs and handy tools. Here are some treasures to try:
- Use the emoji picker by typing Emoji
- Check timezone differences by typing World Clock
- Launch apps in specific Chrome profiles
- Use system commands like Empty Trash or Eject Drive
- Search and insert GIFs with Giphy extension
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Raycast free?
Yes! The core app is free. There’s a paid Teams version for businesses, but you won’t need it as a solo user.
Can I sync it between Macs?
Raycast doesn’t yet sync settings across devices. But they’re working on that!
Does it work on older Macs?
Yes, as long as you’re on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later.
Final Thoughts
Raycast is one of those rare tools that feels both simple and powerful. It’s easy for beginners, but deep enough for pros. Whether you’re launching Spotify, managing meetings, or writing custom scripts—it’s all there, in one slick little window.
Install it. Try it. Use it for a week.