Convert Units in Spotlight
Miles to kilometers, cups to milliliters, Fahrenheit to Celsius — the conversions you need ten times a week and never quite memorize. Spotlight does all of them instantly as you type, no converter app or website needed. It is the same bar you use for quick math, pointed at units instead.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Quick fix: press Command+Space and type a conversion like 10 miles to km or 68F to C — Spotlight answers instantly. It handles length, weight, temperature, currency, and more, using everyday unit names. Type the number first, then the units; the result is ready to copy.
Follow these steps
- Open Spotlight. Press Command+Space anywhere. The same search bar that finds files and does math also converts — one tool, three jobs.
- Type number, units, ‘to’, target units. The pattern is 10 miles to km or 2 cups to ml. Everyday names work — miles, pounds, fahrenheit — no need for abbreviations unless you like them.
- Try temperature both ways. 68F to C and 20C to F both work, degree symbol optional. Cooking and weather conversions are the two most-used, and both are instant.
- Convert currency the same way. 50 USD to EUR works right in the bar with a current rate. For travel money specifics, see the currency conversion guide — same idea, phone-sized.
- Copy the result. Press Command+C with the answer showing and paste it wherever you need it. Faster than retyping, and no transcription errors.
- Learn the rest of Spotlight’s tricks. Math, definitions, and quick lookups all live here — the Spotlight tricks guide rounds out everything this little bar can do.
What NOT to do
- Do not install a converter app for this. Spotlight covers the everyday conversions — apps are for engineers with exotic units.
- Do not type the units backwards. ‘km to miles’ and ‘miles to km’ give opposite answers; double-check the direction before trusting the number.
- Do not trust currency results for big money moves. The rate is indicative and can lag — fine for trip math, not for transfers.
- Do not forget it needs the number first. ‘miles to km’ with no number just shows definitions; start with the value.
Frequently asked questions
What units does it know?
Length, weight, volume, temperature, area, speed, currency, and more — including cooking units like cups, tablespoons, and ounces.
Can it do square feet to square meters?
Yes — area and volume conversions work the same way: 500 sq ft to sqm.
Why did it show web results instead?
The phrasing did not parse as a conversion. Rephrase as ‘X unit to unit’ with a number first — that pattern is the reliable one.