Quick Look: Previewing Files Instantly on macOS Tahoe
Quick Look is one of the most beloved features of macOS. It allows you to peek inside almost any file without waiting for an application to open. It is fast, lightweight, and surprisingly powerful.
Basic Usage
- Select a file in Finder (or on your Desktop).
- Press the Spacebar.
- A window pops up instantly showing the file's contents.
- Press Spacebar again (or Esc) to close it.
Navigating with Quick Look
You don't have to close the preview to look at the next file.
- Arrow Keys: While the Quick Look window is open, press the Up/Down or Left/Right arrow keys to select a different file. The preview window will update instantly.
- Grid View: If you select multiple files and press Spacebar, you can click the Grid icon (four squares) inside the preview window to see them all at once.
Supported Formats
Quick Look supports a vast array of file types out of the box:
- Images: JPEG, PNG, HEIC, RAW, PSD (Photoshop), AI (Illustrator).
- Documents: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Text files, Markdown.
- Media: MP3, AAC, MP4, MOV (you can scrub through video and audio).
- Archives: ZIP files (shows a list of contents).
- Folders: Shows the folder size and number of items.
- 3D Models: USDZ files (interactive 3D view).
Instant Editing (Markup)
You can perform basic edits directly within Quick Look without opening an app like Preview or Photoshop.
- Open an image or PDF in Quick Look.
- Click the Markup icon (a pencil tip in a circle) in the top right corner.
- Images: You can crop, rotate, and draw on the image.
- PDFs: You can sign documents, highlight text, and add shapes.
- Video/Audio: Click the Trim icon to shorten the clip.
Slideshow Mode
To view files in a full-screen slideshow (great for showing photos):
- Select multiple images.
- Hold Option (Alt) and press Spacebar.
- The images will play in full screen.