Everything New With Spotlight Search in iOS 16

The iPhone and iPad have a built-in intelligent search feature called Spotlight, which is designed to search through apps, files, and the web to help you find what you're looking for. Apple improves Spotlight Search with every iteration of iOS, and iOS 16 is no exception.

iOS Search Guide Feature
This guide highlights everything that's new with Spotlight in ‌iOS 16‌, available now, and iPadOS 16, coming in October.

Accessing the Spotlight Search feature is typically done by swiping down from the Home Screen to bring up the search interface, but Apple in ‌iOS 16‌ decided to add another "Search" button.

ios 16 search button home screen
You can now find a "Search" option available at the bottom of the ‌Home Screen‌, which can be tapped to enter the Spotlight Search interface. The Search button replaces the dots that were previously there to let you know how many app pages you have available.

The button is located just above the dock, but there is an option to disable it in the ‌Home Screen‌ section of the Settings app.

Spotlight can find locations, people, scenes, text, pets, objects, and more in images from Messages, Notes, and Files, in addition to the Photos app in ‌iOS 16‌.

photos search spotlight

Quick Actions

Apple updated Spotlight to support Quick Actions, which are functions that can be done right from the search interface.

spotlight ios 16 timer
Some of the options:

  • Start a timer
  • Activate a Focus
  • Shazam a song
  • Run a Shortcut

Spotlight can also help you find the Shortcuts that are available for any app.

Siri Suggestion Improvements

Apple has updated Siri Suggestions to consider the context when offering up apps that you might want to use. This makes the suggested apps and actions in Spotlight more relevant to what you might be doing at the current time.

ios 16 siri suggestions
‌Siri‌ Suggestions can do things like suggesting directions when you have a meeting coming up, or offer a flight status check when you have a flight. It can also suggest that you call someone having a birthday, show your favorite apps you use at certain times of the day, or bring up your recent searches so you can get back to prior results more quickly.

Live Activities

When Apple launches Live Activities in the future, Spotlight will be able to be used to start a Live Activity that will show up on the Lock Screen. Live Activities are interactive notifications that stay up to date, allowing you to keep an eye on things happening in real-time right from the Lock Screen.

ios 16 live activities uber
If you're following a sports game, for example, you can see the updated score on the Lock Screen, or if you're waiting for an Uber ride, you can watch for your driver to approach.

Live Activities will not be available when ‌iOS 16‌ launches, but will be coming in a future update.

Expanded Rich Results

Apple is improving the rich search results that show information like data on an actor when you search for an actor's name. The feature will now show additional information for businesses, sports leagues, and sports teams.

spotlight rich results ios 16

App Clip Improvements

App Clips are modified versions of apps that let you use limited app functionality without having to do a full install. Spotlight integrates with App Clips, offering up App Clip suggestions when you're in a relevant location.

In ‌iOS 16‌, Apple uses precise location suggestions to improve App Clip suggestions in Spotlight, but Location-Based Suggestions can be disabled as always in the Privacy section of the Settings app.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the Spotlight Search feature in ‌iOS 16‌, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

ghostface147 Avatar
8 months ago
I live by the search bar. Quick swipe down and I find my apps. Not a big fan of the search bar at the bottom.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eatrains Avatar
8 months ago
I wish they made it easier to get to Spotlight when you're not on the home screen.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
amartinez1660 Avatar
8 months ago
Minor comment to say that myself appreciate a lot these quick rundowns of incoming features. Sometimes discovery is either not there easily visible, undocumented or just plain too lazy to dig it and learn it.


I live by the search bar. Quick swipe down and I find my apps. Not a big fan of the search bar at the bottom.

I wish they made it easier to get to Spotlight when you're not on the home screen.
Potential useful tip, as I also live by swipe down and quick search EVERYTHING (also on iPad, but there it’s easier thanks to cmd space like on Mac when a keyboard is attached):

On accessibility settings you can put double tap on the back of your phone to trigger some actions, including Spotlight, allowing it to launch it even while out of the homescreen. I use it everyday now, I have never seen it autotrigger after months of use either.

Suppose you want to add a quick value at some bank bills payment app: double tap, type a basic math operation, swipe it out, continue, recall it at any time again (in case you forgot part of the number or need a new one) by physically double tapping with your finger on the back of your phone.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
8 months ago
has anyone actually ever seen AppClips out in the wild?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
8 months ago
I like the improvements to search here but I'm turning that search button off immediately.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ajfahey Avatar
8 months ago
These Apple Media Events have been progressively less interesting as the become decreasing innovative.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....