Organize Your Spotlight Search Results

Customize spotlight search to cut out the fat

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on September 11, 2020

Spotlight Search has always been a great way to find apps on your iPad, especially if you've downloaded page after page of apps. As Apple has added more to the search results, it has become a bit crowded. Depending on your version of iOS, you may be able to organize your results.

Apple removed the ability to organize Spotlight Search in iOS 11. If you are on a newer version of the operating system, you will not be able to organize the results shown in Spotlight Search.

Boy wearing VR goggles walking threw painted imaginary spotlight
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images 

How to Organize Spotlight Search Results

If you're running a version of iOS between 8 and 10, you can change the order of the different categories in search by dragging and dropping the category.

  1. First, we will need to go into the iPad's Settings. This is the app that looks like gears turning.

    iPad Settings icon is highlighted.

  2. In the iPad settings, choose General from the left-side menu. This will bring up the general settings.

    General settings on iPad.

  3. In General, choose Spotlight Search. This option is near the top, just under the Siri settings.

  4. The Spotlight Search settings allow you to both turn on/off specific categories and reorder where a category displays in the list. If you mainly use spotlight search for finding apps, you should move apps to the top of the list. If you are more interested in finding music or movies on your iPad, you can move those to the top of the list.

  5. To move a category, hold the tip of your finger down on the three horizontal lines to the right of the category list. While holding your finger down, slide the category up or down the list, releasing your finger when it is in the right place.

  6. To disable a category completely, tap the checkmark to the left of the category name. Only categories with a checkmark next to their name will show in the list.

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