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 Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

ghostface147 Avatar
38 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
38 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
38 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
38 months ago
has anyone actually ever seen AppClips out in the wild?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
38 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
38 months ago
These Apple Media Events have been progressively less interesting as the become decreasing innovative.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)