macOS 27: Spotlight search removed from menu bar – Siri AI button no substitute
Apple is changing the operation of its system search again: it will be merged with Siri AI if necessary. This has an annoying disadvantage.
macOS with Siri AI.
(Image: Apple)
macOS with Siri AI.
Siri AI integrates into Spotlight
While Spotlight features are still accessible, such as directly searching for and opening apps by pressing Enter. However, when calling up Siri AI without a keyboard shortcut, Apple acts as if Spotlight has disappeared. With Siri AI active, the corresponding menu bar setting, which allows you to determine in System Settings whether the Spotlight magnifying glass appears or not, is also completely removed.
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Confusingly, the element still appears to be found when searching System Settings, but it is no longer there at the found location. Siri AI also has its own menu bar icon that automatically becomes active as soon as Siri AI is running. However, it does not bring up the new combined Siri AI-Spotlight input. Instead, the “Siri sphere” appears, ready for voice input. However, it does not accept keyboard commands.
Solution: Disable Siri AI
There is currently no built-in solution for the problem of the missing Spotlight icon in the menu bar. Its existence depends on Siri AI. If Siri AI is active, there is no icon. If Siri AI is deactivated, it suddenly reappears. Without using tricks – such as creating a shortcut to call up the search with a menu bar icon – the problem cannot be solved. Users who prefer mouse operation should best get used to the Spotlight (now Siri AI) shortcut Command + Spacebar.
This reliably brings up the system search. It is unclear whether Apple will provide a solution in a future version of macOS 27. For example, it could introduce a settings menu that ensures that the Siri AI icon also opens the system search or Siri AI input if desired, instead of switching directly to voice control mode. This can be started via “Hey Siri” or “Siri” anyway, if this has been activated in the Siri AI settings.
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(bsc)
