Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup.
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About Search Light
Search Light brings a Spotlight-like popup to the GNOME desktop. Instead of opening the full Activities overview, a keyboard shortcut shows a floating search box where you can find and start applications and use GNOME's other search results.
It is installed as a GNOME Shell extension and has its own preferences for appearance and behaviour. It suits people moving from macOS, or anyone who prefers a compact search box to the overview screen.
Strengths
- Spotlight-style popup without leaving the current workspace
- Uses GNOME's built-in search
- Configurable through a preferences dialog
Limitations
- Only works on GNOME Shell
- GNOME extensions can break with new GNOME releases
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- icedman
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- GNOME users who want a Spotlight-style search box
- Categories
- App launchers
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Search Light
Compare allSoftware that can replace Search Light for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops.
Ulauncher is a Linux launcher with a large extension ecosystem that does not depend on GNOME Shell versions.
Albert
Extensible keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred.
Albert is a C++/Qt keyboard launcher with plugins that also runs on macOS and works outside GNOME Shell.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
rofi is an MIT-licensed launcher and window switcher configured through text files rather than a GNOME preferences dialog.
Walker
A customizable GTK4 application launcher for Linux that also runs commands and does calculations.
Walker is a GTK4 launcher that runs commands and calculations independently of GNOME search, but it is not open source.
Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast.
Vicinae is a Raycast-style native Linux launcher with extensions, not tied to GNOME Shell, but not open source.
Onagre
A general-purpose application launcher for X11 and Wayland, built on pop-launcher and iced.
Onagre is a themeable launcher for X11 and Wayland that relies on pop-launcher plugins instead of GNOME's built-in search.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Kupfer is a GPL plugin-based Linux launcher with a Quicksilver-style object-and-action workflow.
Anyrun
A Wayland-native runner in the style of KRunner, built around plugins and customization.
Anyrun is a plugin-based Wayland runner that works outside GNOME Shell, but it is not open source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Fly-Pie
A GNOME Shell extension that opens customizable pie-shaped marking menus for launching apps and actions.
Kando
Circular pie menu that launches apps, runs scripts and fires keyboard shortcuts.
nwg-drawer
A searchable full-screen application drawer for sway, Hyprland and other wlroots Wayland compositors.
Gauntlet
An open-source, Raycast-inspired cross-platform application launcher with plugins written in React.
