These are the everyday tools you'll use constantly on macOS 27 Golden Gate. The biggest change in this release is the new Siri AI, which has its own Siri app and is built into Spotlight and the system's context menus.
1Finder basics
The Finder is the file manager. The sidebar holds favourites (Desktop, Documents, Downloads), iCloud Drive and connected disks. Use the View menu to switch between icon, list, column and gallery views; column view is the fastest way to move through deep folders.
Space Quick Look a selected file.
Command+N new Finder window, Command+T new tab.
Command+Shift+G go to a folder by typing its path, such as ~/Library.
Command+Shift+. show or hide hidden files.
Command+I Get Info, Command+Delete move to the Bin.
Option while dragging copies instead of moving.
2Spotlight
Press Command+Space to open Spotlight. Type to find apps, files, settings, contacts and messages, or do quick sums and unit conversions. Press Return to open the top hit, or Command+Return to reveal a file in the Finder.
Spotlight can also run actions and shortcuts, so it's often quicker than opening an app at all.
3The new Siri AI
Golden Gate introduces a rebuilt Siri AI. Open the Siri app to chat with it: a sidebar lists past conversations (with search and pinning), and you can type, dictate, or attach images and files. Siri can draw on the web and on your own data on the Mac to give useful answers, and it can take actions in apps that support it.
Siri AI is also built into Spotlight, so you can ask it a question straight from Command+Space instead of opening the app. Elsewhere, select text, an image or a file, Control-click it and choose Ask Siri to have it explain, rewrite, proofread or change the tone of what you selected.
Press Command+Shift+Space for Visual Intelligence: select any part of the screen and ask Siri about it.
At launch Siri AI works in English, with more languages following, and it isn't available in the EU or China. It needs Apple Intelligence turned on: look under System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, where you can also change how you invoke Siri. Answers can be wrong, so check anything important.
4Mission Control, Spaces and app switching
Command+Tab switch apps; Command+` switch windows of the same app.
Control+↑ Mission Control (all windows and Spaces), Control+↓ all windows of the current app.
Control+← / Control+→ move between Spaces (desktops).
Trackpad: swipe up with three or four fingers for Mission Control; swipe left or right to change Space.
In Mission Control, move the pointer to the top of the screen and click + to add a Space. Drag a window onto a Space to move it there.
5Shortcuts worth memorising
Command+Q quit, Command+W close window, Command+H hide app.
Command+Option+Esc Force Quit window.
Command+Shift+5 screenshot and recording tools; Command+Shift+4 capture a selection.
Control+Command+Q lock the screen.
Command+, open the current app's settings.