If you’re a Mac user who values efficiency, streamlining your workflow, and getting things done faster, you’ve probably heard of Raycast—a powerful Spotlight replacement that goes beyond simple searches and becomes your productivity command center. From launching apps to controlling system settings and automating tasks, Raycast is a Swiss Army knife for your Mac experience.
TL;DR
Raycast is more than just another app launcher—it’s a customizable, extensible productivity tool designed to bring speed and clarity to your daily digital tasks. Take advantage of its extension store, custom scripts, powerful search, and keyboard shortcuts for peak efficiency. Integrate with apps like Notion, GitHub, and Jira to centralize your workflow. Whether you’re a developer or a casual user, Raycast can significantly improve how you interact with your Mac.
What is Raycast and Why Should You Use It?
Raycast is a keyboard-driven tool that lets you quickly trigger actions using natural language or simple keystrokes. Unlike macOS’s built-in Spotlight, Raycast is optimized for productivity with features such as:
- Fast access to files, apps, contacts, and commands
- Powerful built-in extensions and support for third-party integrations
- A scriptable interface that lets you build your own mini-apps
- System controls like toggling Wi-Fi, adjusting brightness, or locking your screen
- Collaboration tools for development teams and creatives alike
In short, Raycast is the digital assistant you didn’t know you needed—until you tried it.
Getting Started: Installation and Initial Setup
Installing Raycast is simple. Just go to the Raycast website, download the app, and follow the instructions. Once installed, Raycast lives in your menu bar and is quickly summoned with a customizable keyboard shortcut (by default it’s Command + Space, though you may want to change it if you use Spotlight).
Right after the installation, Raycast will guide you through a short onboarding process to connect your most critical services and configure preferences such as theme, hotkeys, and installed extensions.
Make Raycast Your New Everything-Launcher
At its core, Raycast lets you launch apps and find things, much like Spotlight. But it does so with beautifully styled search results, categorized actions, and barely any delay. Try typing the name of an app, a system command like “Lock Screen”, or even a file name, and watch as it blazes through your system to return what you need instantly.
Beyond just launching files and apps, Raycast offers contextual actions. Search for a contact, and you’ll be given quick options like “Email”, “Message”, or “Call”. These little touches save you seconds constantly—adding up to real time savings over weeks and months.
Utilize Extensions to Supercharge Raycast
One of the standout features of Raycast is its Extension Store. This is where things get exciting. With community-built and officially supported extensions, you can integrate with services like:
- Notion – Create new pages, scrape databases, and search
- GitHub – Create PRs, view issues, and check repo status
- Jira – Manage tickets, log work, and review backlogs
- Slack – Send messages to teammates and switch workspaces
- Zoom – Start meetings, check your next scheduled call, and invite participants
Installing extensions is as simple as typing “Store” in Raycast, finding the one you want, and clicking “Install”. Once added, actions become available in your Raycast command palette.
Create Custom Commands and Scripts
Raycast has robust support for scripting. You can write your own mini-apps or utilities using JavaScript, Python, Bash, or AppleScript. For instance, you can create a small command that triggers routine tasks like launching your preferred writing app, opening your project folder, and turning on Do Not Disturb mode—all at once.
If you’re a developer, this feature alone could shave hours off of repetitive commands and workflows. Raycast even has a detailed CLI (Command Line Interface) for building, testing, and syncing your custom scripts.
Not a coder? No worries. There are plenty of community-shared scripts available for free that can be downloaded and plugged into your setup.
Master Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficiency
Raycast thrives when you rely on the keyboard rather than switching back and forth between mouse and screen. Each command can have a custom shortcut. For example, you could bind Cmd + Shift + M to mute/unmute your mic, or Cmd + Option + N to open a new Notion note.
Memorizing and customizing shortcuts for the actions you perform most often is a great way to maximize your productivity with Raycast. Visit the settings to explore and assign shortcuts to your extensions and scripts.
Use the Clipboard History for Quick Copy Retrieval
The “Clipboard History” feature in Raycast is a subtle but genuinely useful tool. Ever copied something useful 10 minutes ago but got distracted? Use Raycast to search your clipboard history and paste it in one click. It even supports multi-format items like URLs, files, and rich text.
Track Calendar Events and Reminders
Need to check what’s coming up on your schedule without opening your Calendar or Reminders apps? Raycast’s built-in calendar integration pulls up your events and gives you quick-glance capability. Just type “My Schedule” or “Calendar” and get up-to-date immediately.
You can even create new reminders or appointments using natural language input: “Create Meeting with John Friday at 2pm” can turn into an actionable event in seconds.
Boost Development Efficiency
Raycast has become a favorite among developers for its GitHub, GitLab, and CLI integrations. It offers quick commands for managing pull requests, reviewing issues, and even navigating your repositories. Devs can also run terminal commands from Raycast, making repetitive Git tasks easier than ever.
Favorite Commands Every User Should Know
Here are some must-use commands you should try with Raycast:
- System: Lock Screen — Quickly lock your screen with a command
- File Search — Find recent or deeply buried files without opening Finder
- Quicklinks — Create customizable bookmarks for folders, sites, or scripts
- Window Management — Switch to or manage open app windows on the fly
- Clipboard History — Retrieve your past copied content
Tips for Long-Term Use
To really make Raycast an integral part of your workflow:
- Schedule time weekly to review and add new extensions relevant to your evolving tasks
- Organize scripts into folders or themes to keep your UI uncluttered
- Regularly update Raycast and its extensions to benefit from performance upgrades and new features
- Engage with the community on forums or Raycast’s Slack to discover new use cases
Final Thoughts
Raycast isn’t just a better Spotlight—it’s a complete productivity ecosystem that integrates with your tools, adapts to your workflow, and evolves with your needs. It combines elegance with utility, speed with power, and simplicity with customizability.
Whether you’re organizing your day, managing development tasks, or just trying to use your Mac more efficiently, Raycast has something invaluable to offer.