# Raycast Manual
> Raycast is a productivity launcher for Mac, Windows, and iOS. Use it to launch apps, search files, manage windows, expand snippets, chat with AI, and so much more, without ever leaving your keyboard. Discover how to use Raycast and get the most out of the app in this Raycast Manual.
This file contains the full public Raycast app manual in markdown format for Large Language Models and AI assistants.
## Basics
### Quickstart
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/quickstart
Description: New to Raycast? Start with this guide to get started with the basics of the app on Mac and Windows.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast is the fastest interface to get work done on your computer: a launcher where you can find apps, files, folders, windows, links, commands, AI, snippets, and more from one place. This guide walks you through a few basics to get started.
[Getting started with Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7_7F_FBqQE)
##### Search Your System
Files, folders, and apps are searchable directly from Root Search. Press your Raycast hotkey, start typing, and select something you use often without opening Finder or File Explorer.
Read the [File Search page](https://manual.raycast.com/file-search) for more information.
##### Use the Action Panel
The Action Panel unlocks much of what Raycast can do. With an app, file, folder, command, or search result selected, press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`. From here, you can discover every action available for the selected item.
Read the [Action Panel page](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) for more information.
##### Create a Quicklink
Quicklinks turn the places you open all the time into searchable shortcuts. Open **Create Quicklink**, add a URL, file, folder, or app path, give it a name, then open it later from Root Search like anything else in Raycast. You can also find it any time with the **Search Quicklinks** command.
Read the [Quicklinks page](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks) for more information.
##### Set a Hotkey
Now try one of those actions. Select an app you use regularly, or search for the Quicklink you just created. Open the Action Panel with `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`, choose **Configure Command → Set Hotkey**, then press the shortcut you want to use. You can now open that app or Quicklink from anywhere using that shortcut.
**Tip:** Combine `⌥`/`Alt` with the first letter of the app as an easy system to get started.
Read the [Command Aliases & Hotkeys page](https://manual.raycast.com/command-aliases-and-hotkeys) for more information.
##### Chat with Raycast AI
Raycast AI has two ways you can chat with AI. Press `Tab` from Root Search for **Quick AI**, ideal for fast one-off questions. For longer conversations, open **AI Chat** to ask follow-ups, share attachments, switch models mid-conversation, and pick up where you left off at any time.
Read the [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai), [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat), and [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions) pages for more information.
##### Install an Extension
The Store is home to thousands of community-built extensions. Browse [**Store**](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/store) in Raycast or [on the web](https://raycast.com/store), then install one that looks useful.
**Tip:** If you're not sure where to start, try something fun like **GIPHY**. Once installed, search for a GIF and paste it into a chat.
Read the [Extensions page](https://manual.raycast.com/extensions) for more information.
##### Try some Everyday Essentials
Over the next few days, try a few of Raycast's built-in essentials as they come up in your day to day:
- [Clipboard History](https://manual.raycast.com/clipboard-history): Open **Clipboard History** to find something you copied earlier and paste it again.
- [Calculator](https://manual.raycast.com/calculator): Type a calculation, conversion, date, or currency question directly into Root Search.
- [Emoji & Symbols](https://manual.raycast.com/emoji-symbols): Open **Search Emoji & Symbols**, find an emoji or symbol by name, and paste it into the app you're using.
- [Snippets](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets): Save text you type often, then paste it anywhere with a short keyword.
- [Window Management](https://manual.raycast.com/window-management): Move and resize windows with commands like **Left Half**, **Maximize**, or **Next Display**.
Practice these basics for a few days and you'll start to feel Raycast becoming part of how you move around your computer. When you're ready for more, the [Raycast Manual](https://manual.raycast.com) has all the features for you to try. You can also use `@manual` in AI Chat or Quick AI to ask for help.
### Search Bar
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar
Description: The Raycast Search Bar and Root Search are where everything starts — search apps, files, commands, and extensions, then trigger actions with a press of a key.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
The **Search Bar** is the single input at the top of the Raycast window, where everything starts. Type into it and Raycast searches across your Mac and extensions in real time.
**Root Search** is the list of results shown below the Search Bar when no command is open. It's Raycast's home screen and the entry point to everything you can do.
#### Compact Mode
When Compact Mode is enabled, the Raycast window collapses to show only the search bar when the search term is empty. The full results list expands as soon as you start typing or open the Action Panel. The window automatically collapses again when it loses focus.
You can enable Compact Mode in **Settings → General → Appearance → Window Mode**.
#### Action Panel
Every item in Root Search has an Action Panel (opened with `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` or `Enter` on some items). The available actions vary by item type, but common actions include:
- **Add/Remove from Favorites**: Pin items for quick access.
- **Assign Hotkey**: Set a keyboard shortcut to launch a command directly.
- **Assign Alias**: Set a short keyword to quickly access a command.
- **Copy Deeplink**: Copy a direct link to the command for sharing or automation.
- **Disable Command**: Hide a command from Root Search results.
- **Reset Ranking**: Clear the frecency data for a command, resetting it to its default position in results.
#### Launch Apps
Raycast is a fast way to open any application installed on your system, no hunting through the Dock, Launchpad, or Start menu. Just open Raycast and start typing.
Hit your Raycast hotkey to focus the Search Bar, type the name of the app you want, and press `Enter` with it highlighted to launch it. Fuzzy search means you don't need an exact match, typing `msg` finds Messages, `slk` finds Slack.
> [!TIP]
> Pin the apps you use most as Favorites so they appear at the top of Root Search without typing. Open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) and choose **Add to Favorites**.
#### URL Detection
Raycast automatically detects when you type a valid URL into the search bar. When a URL is recognized, commands that can handle URLs (like web browsers and search commands) are surfaced. If you type a domain without a scheme, Raycast infers `https://` automatically.
#### File Navigation in Root Search
Files and directories are now integrated directly into Root Search.
When File Search indexing is enabled, files and directories appear directly in Root Search results, so you can find and act on them without leaving the search bar:
- `Shift Tab`: Navigate to the parent directory.
Recently used files also appear in the empty-search view, so you can quickly access files you've been working with.
#### Command Arguments
Some commands accept arguments (up to 3). When you select a command that has arguments, input fields appear right in the search bar area. Fill them in and press `Enter` to run the command with those parameters.
Navigate between argument fields with the `Left` and `Right` arrow keys. Arguments can be text, password, or dropdown types.
#### Search Contacts
_(Only on Mac)_
Use the **Search Contacts** command to find people from your Apple Contacts directly in Raycast. Open the command and start typing a name to filter your contacts in real time.
Once a contact is selected, use the Action Panel (`⌘ K`) to act on it: copy details, open in Contacts, etc. Make sure you enabled the Contact application in **Settings → Applications → Applications → Contacts**.
> [!TIP]
> Assign an alias or hotkey to **Search Contacts** so you can launch it straight from the Search Bar.
#### How Ranking Works
Root Search learns from you. The more often, and the more recently, you pick a result for a given query, the higher it ranks the next time you type the same thing.
> [!TIP]
> If two apps match what you type (say, `cal` could be Calendar or Calculator), Raycast notices which one you usually pick and starts surfacing that one first. Open the same app a handful of times via Root Search and it starts appearing at the top for shorter and shorter queries.
Ranking priority (from highest to lowest):
1. Exact alias match
2. Alias prefix match
3. Title fuzzy match score
4. Subtitle and keyword matches
5. Frecency (a blend of frequency and recency) score
If results feel out of order, you can use **Reset Ranking** from the Action Panel to clear learned behavior for a specific command.
#### What You Can Search For
Root Search surfaces a wide variety of items from across Raycast and your system. Here's everything you can find:
- **Applications**: All installed applications on your system. On macOS this includes symlinked apps and Finder aliases, and apps on drives you mount after Raycast launches appear without a restart; on Windows it covers Start Menu and desktop apps.
- **Commands**: Built-in Raycast commands and commands from installed extensions.
- **Files & Directories**: Indexed files and folders from your system. Recently used files appear when the search bar is empty.
- **Calendar Events**: Upcoming events for today appear at the top when the search bar is empty (requires calendar permissions).
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Search Contacts**: Find people from your Apple Contacts directly in Raycast.
- **Calculator**: Type a math expression (like `128 * 3.5`) and get instant results right in the search bar.
- **Quicklinks**: Saved quick links to URLs, files, or folders.
- **AI Commands**: AI-powered commands and built-in AI prompts.
- **Script Commands**: Custom scripts you've set up.
- **Settings**: Raycast preferences and extension settings.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Windows Settings**: Every individual setting from the Windows settings catalog and Control Panel tasks.
- **Web URLs**: Type a valid URL and Raycast detects it, offering actions like opening it in your browser.
- **Color Conversion**: type or paste any supported color value (e.g. `#FF6B35`, `rgb(255 107 53)`, `hsl(16 100% 60%)`, `oklch(0.7 0.18 40)`) in Root Search to see an instant visual preview, then copy it in the format you need.
> [!NOTE]
> Check the Search Bar placeholder text, it tells you what you can search for in the current context.
##### Search Sensitivity
You can adjust how strict the fuzzy search algorithm is in **Settings → Launcher → Root Search Sensitivity**. There are three levels:
- **High**: Requires more precise input. Best if you find too many irrelevant results.
- **Medium** (default): Balanced sensitivity for most users.
- **Low**: Returns broader results for any elements containing the typed letters. Best if you want maximum flexibility.
#### Favorites
Pin any command, application, or item as a **Favorite** to keep it at the top of Root Search when the search bar is empty.
- **Add to Favorites**: Open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) on any item and select "Add to Favorites".
- **Reorder Favorites**: Use "Move Favorite Up" or "Move Favorite Down" in the Action Panel to change the order.
- **Remove from Favorites**: Open the Action Panel on a favorited item and select "Remove from Favorites".
Favorites appear in a dedicated section above all other results, making your most-used items always just one keystroke away.
#### Aliases
Aliases are short, custom keywords you can assign to any command for quick access. For example, you could set `gc` as an alias for "Google Chrome".
- When you type an alias that exactly matches a command, that command is prioritized in results.
- Aliases appear as a tag next to the command name in the results list.
- If a command has arguments, typing the alias followed by a space will automatically focus the first argument field.
You can assign aliases from the Action Panel in Root Search or from extension settings.
#### Settings
You can customize Root Search behavior from **Settings**:
- **Settings → Launcher → Root Search Sensitivity**: Adjust fuzzy search strictness (Low / Medium / High).
- **Settings → General → Appearance → Window Mode**: Switch between standard and compact mode.
- **Settings → Launcher → Pop to Root Search**: How long before Raycast returns to Root Search when inactive.
- **Settings → File Search → Include Files in Root Search**: File Search Extension Settings: Configure whether files appear in Root Search, which directories to index, hidden files visibility, and ignore patterns.
- **Settings → Calculator → Color Conversion**: Enable to surface color results in Root Search. Detected colors can be copied in any supported format, including hex, rgb, hsl, oklch and other modern color spaces, plus NSColor and UIColor for Swift.
The Search Bar is the central hub of Raycast. It's focused by default whenever you open the app, so you can start typing immediately to find what you need. Whether it's an application, a command, a file, a calendar event, or a quicklink, everything is reachable from a single search.
> [!NOTE]
> Open Raycast with `⌘ Space`/`Ctrl Space`. You can customize this shortcut in Settings (`⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`).
#### Permissions
Some Root Search results rely on system access:
- **Calendar Events** needs calendar access to show your upcoming events. _(Only on Mac)_ Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Calendars**.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Search Contacts** needs contacts access. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Contacts**.
Raycast prompts for access the first time you use these features.
#### Keyboard Shortcuts
Raycast is built for keyboard-first workflows. Here are the most useful shortcuts for navigating the Search Bar.
##### Navigation
- `↑` / `↓`: Move up / down through results
- `⌘ ↑`/`Ctrl ↑` / `⌘ ↓`/`Ctrl ↓`: Jump to previous / next section
- `⌥ ↑`/`Alt ↑` / `⌥ ↓`/`Alt ↓`: Jump to previous / next page of results
- `Enter`: Run the selected item (primary action)
- `⌘ Enter`/`Ctrl Enter`: Run the secondary action
##### Search Bar
- `Escape`: Clear search text, or close Raycast if already empty
- `Backspace` (when search is empty): Navigate back
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Open the Action Panel for the selected item
- `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`: Open **Settings**
### Action Panel
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel
Description: The Action Panel surfaces every contextual action for the selected item in Raycast — open the Actopm Panel to discover, learn, and trigger actions right from your fingertips.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
The Action Panel is one of Raycast's most powerful features. It lets you discover and execute actions on any selected item with just a few keystrokes, no mouse needed. Every item in Raycast, whether it's an application, a command, a file, or a calendar event, has an Action Panel with contextual actions tailored to it.
#### Opening the Action Panel
There are two ways to interact with actions:
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Opens the full Action Panel, showing all available actions for the selected item. This is the best way to explore what you can do.
- `↵`: Triggers the **primary action** immediately (the first action in the list). For apps, this launches them. For commands, this runs them.
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`: Submits form data when you're in a form view.
- `Esc`: Closes the Action Panel or navigates back from a submenu.
> [!TIP]
> Make it a habit to press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` whenever you're unsure what actions are available. Each action shows its keyboard shortcut on the right, so you can learn to trigger them directly over time.
#### How the Action Panel is Organized
Actions are grouped into logical **sections** to make them easy to find. Each section groups related actions together. The exact sections depend on the item you've selected, but here's the typical layout:
##### Primary Action
The first action in the Action Panel is the **primary action**. It's displayed prominently at the top and is the action that runs when you press `↵` without opening the panel. For example:
- For an **application**, the primary action is "Open".
- For a **command**, the primary action is "Run Command".
- For a **file**, the primary action is "Open" or "Open With…".
##### Action Sections
Below the primary action, you'll find additional sections. Common ones include:
- **Favorites**: Add/remove from favorites, reorder favorites.
- **Configure**: Open command settings, set hotkey, set alias, configure extension.
- **Deeplink**: Copy a direct link to the command.
- **Manage**: Disable command, reset ranking.
#### Searching for Actions
When the Action Panel is open, you'll see a search field at the top with the placeholder *"Search for actions…"*. Start typing to filter actions by name in real-time using fuzzy matching. This is especially useful when an extension provides many actions and you want to jump to a specific one quickly.
When searching, all matching actions are shown in a single flat list regardless of their original sections.
#### Sub-menus
> [!NOTE]
> Actions can now open sub-menus and custom views.
Some actions don't execute immediately. They open a **sub-menu** with additional options. For example, "Configure Command" opens a sub-menu where you can set a hotkey, set an alias, open settings, or delete existing configurations.
Some sub-menu items open **custom views** directly inside the Action Panel. For instance, "Set Hotkey" opens an inline keyboard shortcut recorder where you can press your desired key combination and save it, all without leaving the Action Panel.
Press `Esc` to go back from a sub-menu to the main Action Panel.
#### Configuring Commands from the Action Panel
> [!NOTE]
> You can now assign hotkeys and aliases directly from Root Search without going to Settings.
Select any command in Root Search and open the Action Panel. Under the **Configure Command** section, you'll find:
##### Set Hotkey
Opens an inline keyboard shortcut recorder. Press the key combination you want to assign, then confirm with `↵`. The recorder shows:
- The command name and icon for context
- A "Press keys to assign" prompt
- The currently assigned hotkey (if one exists)
- A clear button to remove the existing hotkey
##### Set Alias
Opens a text input field where you can type a short keyword as an alias for the command. Once set, typing that alias in Root Search will prioritize the command in results.
##### Other Configure Options
- **Open Command Settings**: Opens the full settings page for the command.
- **Configure Extension**: Opens the extension's settings page.
- **Delete Hotkey / Delete Alias**: Removes the assigned hotkey or alias (only visible when one is set).
#### Common Actions Reference
Here are the common actions you'll find across most items in Root Search:
##### Favorites
- **Add to Favorites** (`⌘ F`/`Ctrl F`): Pin the item so it always appears at the top of Root Search.
- **Remove from Favorites**: Unpin a previously favorited item.
- **Move Favorite Up / Down** (`⌘ ↑`/`Ctrl ↑` / `⌘ ↓`/`Ctrl ↓`): Reorder your favorites.
##### Configuration
- **Configure Command** (`⇧ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Shift ,`): Opens a sub-menu with Set Hotkey, Set Alias, and settings options.
- **Configure Extension** (`⇧ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Shift ,`): Opens extension-level settings.
- **Disable Command** (`⇧ ⌘ D`/`Ctrl Shift D`): Hides the command from Root Search results. You can re-enable it from the extension settings.
##### Deeplinks & Sharing
- **Copy Deeplink**: Copies a direct URL to the command to your clipboard. Useful for sharing workflows, creating automation triggers, or adding to documentation.
##### Managing Commands
- **Reset Ranking**: Clears learned frecency data and search terms for a command, resetting it to its default position. Useful if a command appears too high or too low in your results.
#### Actions by Item Type
The Action Panel adapts to the type of item you've selected. In addition to the common actions above, here are some examples of what you'll see for specific item types:
- **Applications**: Open, Show in Finder, Uninstall (if supported), Hide/Unhide from Root Search.
- **Files & Directories**: Open, Open With…, Show in Finder, Copy Path, Move to Trash.
- **Calendar Events**: Open in Calendar, Join Meeting (if a link is available), Copy Event Details.
- **Extension Commands**: Run Command, plus any custom actions defined by the extension developer.
The best way to discover what's available is to press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` on any item and explore.
#### Extension-Defined Actions
When you're inside an extension command (not Root Search), the Action Panel shows actions defined by the extension developer. These can include anything the extension needs: copying values, opening URLs, navigating between views, running scripts, and more.
Extension developers can:
- Define custom actions with icons, titles, and keyboard shortcuts.
- Organize actions into named sections.
- Create sub-menus for complex action hierarchies.
- Mark actions as **destructive** (shown in red) to warn users before irreversible operations.
#### Keyboard Shortcuts
- `↵`: Run primary action
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Open Action Panel
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`: Submit form
- `Esc`: Close panel / go back
- `⇧ ⌘ F`/`Ctrl Shift F`: Add to Favorites
- `⇧ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Shift ,`: Configure Command
- `⌥ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Alt ,`: Configure Extension
- `⌃ ⇧ ⌘ D`/`Ctrl Alt Shift D`: Disable Command
### Command Aliases & Hotkeys
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/command-aliases-and-hotkeys
Description: Instantly activate any Raycast command by setting up custom aliases or assigning hotkeys. Launch your favorite actions with a quick keyword or keyboard shortcut, without searching or breaking your flow.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Aliases and hotkeys let you launch any Raycast command faster. An **alias** is a short keyword you type into Root Search to jump straight to a command. A **hotkey** is a global keyboard shortcut that launches a command from anywhere on your system, even when Raycast isn't open.
#### Command Aliases
##### What is an Alias?
An alias is a custom short keyword that you assign to a command. When you type the alias into Root Search, the associated command is immediately prioritized in the results. For example, you could set `gc` as an alias for Google Chrome, or `cb` for Clipboard History.
Aliases appear as a small badge next to the command name in Root Search results, so you can always see which commands have aliases assigned.
##### How to Set an Alias
There are two ways to assign an alias:
**From the Action Panel**
You can now set aliases directly from Root Search without opening Settings.
1. Select a command in Root Search.
2. Press `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,` or open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) and choose **Configure Command**.
3. Select **Set Alias**.
4. Type your desired alias and press `↵` to save.
**From Settings**
1. Open **Settings → Shortcuts**.
2. Find the command you want (use the search bar or filters to narrow the list).
3. Click the alias field (shows "Add Alias" as placeholder) and type your alias.
4. Press `↵` or click away to save.
##### How Aliases Work in Root Search
Aliases use strict matching in Root Search, which makes them more predictable than regular fuzzy search:
- **Exact match**: Typing the full alias (e.g. `gc`) places the command at the very top of results. This has the highest ranking priority.
- **Prefix match**: Typing the beginning of an alias (e.g. `g` for `gc`) still boosts the command in results, but lower than an exact match.
- **Alias + space**: If a command has arguments, typing the alias followed by a space focuses the first argument field automatically.
> [!TIP]
> Aliases don't use fuzzy matching. They use strict prefix matching, which means they're always predictable. This makes them ideal for muscle-memory workflows.
##### Alias Format
- Allowed characters: lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and spaces.
- Aliases are automatically converted to lowercase when saved.
- Spaces in aliases are displayed as `␣` in the UI for clarity (e.g. `go␣compose`).
- Aliases can be single or multi-word.
- Special characters are not supported.
##### Changing or Removing an Alias
- **To change**: Edit the alias field (in Settings or via Action Panel → Configure Command → Set Alias) and type the new value.
- **To remove**: Clear the alias field entirely, or use Action Panel → Configure Command → Delete Alias.
Changes take effect immediately. No confirmation dialog or restart needed.
#### Hotkeys
##### What is a Hotkey?
A hotkey is a global keyboard shortcut that launches a Raycast command from anywhere on your system. Unlike aliases (which require Root Search to be open), hotkeys work even when Raycast is in the background. Press the key combination, and the command runs immediately.
Assigned hotkeys are displayed next to the command name in Root Search when the command is selected, using platform-appropriate symbols.
##### How to Set a Hotkey
There are two ways to assign a hotkey:
**From the Action Panel**
You can now record hotkeys directly from Root Search without opening Settings.
1. Select a command in Root Search.
2. Press `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,` or open the Action Panel and choose **Configure Command**.
3. Select **Set Hotkey**.
4. The keyboard shortcut recorder opens. Press the key combination you want to assign.
5. The hotkey auto-saves after a short countdown, or press `↵` to save immediately.
**From Settings**
1. Open **Settings → Shortcuts**.
2. Find the command and click **Record Hotkey**.
3. Press your desired key combination in the recorder popover.
4. Save with `↵` or wait for auto-save.
##### The Hotkey Recorder
A redesigned, visual keyboard shortcut recorder with auto-save and real-time conflict detection.
When you record a hotkey, a popover appears with a visual key recorder. Here's what you'll see:
- **Real-time key display**: As you press keys, they appear as styled keyboard buttons in the recorder, so you can see exactly what you're recording.
- **Auto-save with countdown**: Once a valid combination is entered, a visual progress bar counts down (~1.5 seconds) before auto-saving. You can press `↵` to save immediately.
- **Conflict warnings**: If the combination conflicts with another command, the recorder highlights in red and shows which command owns the shortcut.
- **Clear button**: Click the `✕` button to remove the current hotkey, or press `Backspace` while recording to clear.
##### Supported Key Combinations
A hotkey is typically a modifier key (or combination of modifiers) plus a regular key. Modifiers can also stand on their own: a multi-modifier combination (such as `⌥ ⌘` on macOS or `Ctrl Shift` on Windows) or a single modifier key (such as Right `⌘` or Right `Ctrl`) can be assigned as a hotkey. See [Hotkey Types](#hotkey-types) below.
**Modifier Keys**
_(Only on Mac)_ `⌘`, `⌃`, `⌥`, `⇧`, `globe fn`
_(Only on Windows)_ `Ctrl`, `Alt`, `Shift`, `win`
Modifier-only hotkeys can be tied to one side of the keyboard: a lone tap records the side you pressed, shown as a small **L** or **R** next to the modifier. Click the key in the recorder to cycle through **left → right → any side**, where any side means either key triggers it.
**Regular Keys**
Letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), function keys (F1–F24), punctuation (`. , ; = - [ ] / \`), and special keys (Return/Enter, Tab, Escape, Delete, Arrows, Home, End, Page Up/Down).
##### Hotkey Types
To give you a wider range of hotkey options we support a few different hotkey types:
###### Single Step
This is when you record your hotkey with one press of each key in the sequence. For example `⌥ ⌘ A` on Mac or `Ctrl Shift L` on Windows
###### Multi-Modifier Hotkeys
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
You can assign hotkeys made up of more than one modifier key, such as `⌥ ⌘` on macOS or `Ctrl Shift` on Windows. This gives you more combinations to work with when single modifiers are already taken.
###### Double-Tap Modifiers
You can record a hotkey using a double-tap modifier: two quick presses of a modifier key, such as `⌘ ⌘`/`Ctrl Ctrl`. Release the key between the presses, since holding a modifier and then pressing its opposite side is a different gesture, covered in [Both-Sided Modifiers](#both-sided-modifiers).
###### Single-Tap Modifier Hotkeys
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
You can use a single modifier key as a hotkey, and left and right modifiers are treated separately. For example, Right `⌘` or Right `⇧` on macOS, or Right `Ctrl` or Right `Alt` on Windows, can each be assigned as their own hotkey, leaving the other side free for its normal use.
###### Both-Sided Modifiers
_(Only on Mac)_
Holding both keys of the same modifier at once (left and right `⌘` together, for example) is a hotkey in its own right, separate from a `⌘ ⌘` double tap, and shows in the recorder as L`⌘` R`⌘`. This only applies to modifier-only hotkeys: as soon as a regular key joins, both sides collapse into one, so left `⌘`, right `⌘`, and `S` records plain `⌘ S`.
###### Single Key
A single press of certain keys can launch a command, no modifiers needed.
- _(Only on Mac)_ You can assign the `globe` / `fn` key as a single-tap hotkey. Before recording it in Raycast, open **System Settings → Keyboard → Press `globe` / `fn` key to** and set it to **Do Nothing** so macOS doesn't intercept the press first. Users with an extended keyboard layout can also assign `F13`–`F18` as single-tap hotkeys.
- _(Only on Windows)_ You can assign the `Win` key as a single-tap hotkey.
These keys can also be combined with other keys for more complex shortcuts, such as `fn A`, `fn Ctrl A`, `⌘ F13`, or `win A`.
##### Support for International Keyboards
You can now choose to record hotkeys as either physical keys or key equivalents, making it easier to switch between different keyboard layouts.
- **Physical Key**: The hotkey stays on the same key position across different layouts. For example, a hotkey recorded with the `Z` key on a QWERTZ keyboard corresponds to the `Y` key on a QWERTY keyboard.
- **Key Equivalent**: The hotkey maps to the same character regardless of layout. For example, a hotkey recorded with `Z` on a QWERTZ keyboard remains `Z` when switched to a QWERTY layout.
By default, all hotkeys are recorded as phyical keys. You can configure this for each key. To do this:
1. Open the hotkey recorder from Settings or via Root Search.
2. Record your hotkey if one is not already set.
3. Click on the key you wish to change.
4. No blue dot on the key means it was recorded as a physical key. A blue dot indicates it was recorded as a key equivalent.
> [!NOTE]
> All built-in Raycast shortcuts use key equivalent keys, and this setting cannot be changed.
##### Conflict Detection & Overwrites
Improved conflict detection with the ability to overwrite conflicting shortcuts.
The hotkey recorder automatically detects conflicts at two levels:
**Raycast Global Shortcut Conflict**
If you try to assign a combination that's already used as Raycast's main launcher shortcut, you'll see an error: "Already used by Raycast." This type of conflict cannot be overwritten.
**Command Conflict**
If you try to assign a combination already used by another command, the recorder shows the conflicting command's name and icon with a red warning. You have two options:
- **Choose a different combination**: Press new keys to try a different shortcut.
- **Overwrite**: Save the shortcut anyway. The conflicting command loses its hotkey, and your new command takes over. The previous command will need to be reassigned if you still want it to have a hotkey.
**Shortcuts That Can't Coexist**
Raycast also flags hotkeys that can't both work, because one fires on a press the other is still waiting to complete. A single `⌥` tap conflicts with an `⌥ ⌥` double tap, and on macOS a side-agnostic `⌘` tap conflicts with a both-sided L`⌘` R`⌘` hotkey. Combinations using a *different* modifier are fine, since that press cancels the lone tap. A saved shortcut that conflicts with another shows a red dot, with a tooltip naming the command it clashes with.
##### Removing a Hotkey
- Click the `✕` button next to the hotkey display in Settings or the recorder.
- Or open the recorder and press `Backspace` to clear, then save.
- Or use Action Panel → Configure Command → Delete Hotkey.
The hotkey is removed immediately and the global shortcut stops working.
#### Managing Aliases & Hotkeys
##### The Shortcuts Settings Page
You can manage all your aliases and hotkeys from a single place: **Settings → Shortcuts**.
This page provides:
- **A complete list** of all commands with their aliases and hotkeys visible inline.
- **Search** to quickly find a specific command.
- **Filters** to narrow the view by category (Applications, Extensions, Quicklinks, System Actions, etc.) or by status (*Hotkey Set*, *Alias Set*, *Enabled*, *Disabled*).
- **Inline editing**: Click on any alias or hotkey field to edit it directly in the list.
> [!TIP]
> Use the "Hotkey Set" or "Alias Set" filter to see all commands that already have shortcuts assigned. This is a great way to audit your setup and avoid conflicts.
##### Aliases vs. Hotkeys: When to Use Which
Both aliases and hotkeys speed up your workflow, but they serve different purposes:
- **Use an alias** when you want faster access to a command within Raycast. Aliases are great for commands you use often but not constantly: you open Raycast, type 2–3 characters, and you're there. They're easy to remember and you can have many without worrying about conflicts.
- **Use a hotkey** when you want instant access from anywhere on your system without opening Raycast first. Hotkeys are ideal for commands you trigger dozens of times a day, like clipboard history, window management, or your most-used translation pair. Since they're global, keep the number manageable to avoid conflicts.
- **Use both** for commands that you want to access both ways. A command can have an alias and a hotkey at the same time.
### Keyboard Shortcuts
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/keyboard-shortcuts
Description: Explore the Raycast keyboard shortcut on Mac and Windows. Learn how to launch commands, navigate search, trigger actions, manage windows, and streamline your workflow with speed.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast is built to be driven entirely from the keyboard. This page lists all the keyboard shortcuts available across the app. Learning even a few of these will significantly speed up your workflow.
> [!TIP]
> On macOS, Raycast uses `⌘` (Cmd) as the primary modifier. You can also enable Emacs-style or Vim-style navigation bindings in Settings.
#### Global Shortcuts
These shortcuts work from anywhere on your system, even when Raycast isn't in focus.
- `⌘ Space`/`Alt Space`: Open or close Raycast (default, can be customized).
You can also assign custom global hotkeys to any command. See the **Command Aliases & Hotkeys** page for details.
#### General Navigation
These shortcuts work across most views in Raycast.
- `Esc`: Go back to the previous view. From Root Search, closes the Raycast window.
- `⌘ Esc` (Mac) / `⇧ Esc` (Windows): Pop to Root.
- `⌘ W`/`Ctrl W`: Close the Raycast window.
- `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`: Open **Settings**.
- `⇧ ⌘ /`/`Ctrl Shift /`: Open the User Guide.
#### List Navigation
These work in any list view: Root Search, extension results, Action Panel, etc.
- `↑ ↓`: Move up and down in the list.
- `⌥ ↑`/`Alt ↑` / `⌥ ↓`/`Alt ↓`: Jump to the previous or next page of results.
- `⌘ ↑`/`Ctrl ↑` / `⌘ ↓`/`Ctrl ↓`: Jump to the previous or next section.
- `⌃ N`/`Ctrl N` / `⌃ P`/`Ctrl P`: Move down / up (Emacs-style, enabled by default).
> [!NOTE]
> Pagination keys can be changed in **Settings → Keyboard → Page Navigation Keys**.
#### Root Search
These shortcuts work in Raycast's main search.
- `↵`: Run the primary action.
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Open the Action Panel.
- `⇧ Tab`: Navigate to parent directory.
- `↑` / `↓` (at top/bottom of list): Cycle through search history.
- `⌘ F`/`Ctrl F`: Add the selected item to Favorites.
- `⇧ ⌘ ↑`/`Ctrl Shift ↑` / `⇧ ⌘ ↓`/`Ctrl Shift ↓`: Move a favorite item up or down.
- `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`: Configure Command.
- `⇧ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Shift ,`: Configure Extension.
- `⇧ ⌘ D`/`Ctrl Shift D`: Disable Command.
#### Action Panel
These shortcuts work inside the Action Panel.
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Open or close the Action Panel.
- `↵`: Execute the selected action.
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`: Execute the secondary action.
- `⇧ ⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl Shift ↵`: Execute the tertiary action.
- `Esc`: Close the Action Panel or go back from a sub-menu.
- Type to search: Filter actions by name when the panel is open.
#### Common Item Actions
These shortcuts work on selected items across most views. Not all actions are available for every item type.
- `⌘ O`/`Ctrl O`: Open item.
- `⇧ ⌘ O`/`Ctrl Shift O`: Reveal in Finder / File Explorer.
- `⌥ ⌘ O`/`Ctrl Alt O`: Open With…
- `⌘ Y`/`Ctrl Y`: Toggle Quick Look preview.
- `⌘ E`/`Ctrl E`: Edit item.
- `⌘ I`/`Ctrl I`: Show info / details.
- `⌘ D`/`Ctrl D`: Duplicate item.
- `⌘ .`/`Ctrl .`: Pin or unpin item.
- `⇧ ⌘ .`/`Ctrl Shift .`: Show hidden items.
##### Copy & Paste
- `⌘ C`/`Ctrl C`: Copy.
- `⇧ ⌘ C`/`Ctrl Shift C`: Copy (secondary, e.g. copy deeplink).
- `⌘ V`/`Ctrl V`: Paste.
- `⇧ ⌘ V`/`Ctrl Shift V`: Paste (secondary).
##### Delete
- `⌃ X`/`Ctrl X`: Delete selected item.
- `Ctrl Shift X`: Delete all.
#### AI Chat
AI Chat has a full set of dedicated keyboard shortcuts.
##### Chat Navigation
- `⇧ ⌘ S`/`Ctrl Shift S` or `⌘ B`/`Ctrl B`: Toggle chat history sidebar.
- `⇧ ⌘ F`/`Ctrl Shift F`: Search chats.
- `⌘ 1`/`Ctrl 1` to `⌘ 9`/`Ctrl 9`, `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0`: Jump to one of the first ten chats in the sidebar. Hold `⌘`/`Ctrl` to see the numbers.
- `⌘ J`/`Ctrl J`: Send selected item to AI Chat (from other views).
##### Find in Chat
- `⌘ F`/`Ctrl F`: Open Find in Chat.
- `↵` or `⌘ G`/`Ctrl G`: Next match.
- `⇧ ↵` or `⇧ ⌘ G`/`Ctrl Shift G`: Previous match.
- `Esc`: Close the find bar.
##### Composer & Messages
- `⇧ ⌘ A`/`Ctrl Shift A`: Add attachment to composer.
- `⇧ ⌘ B`/`Ctrl Shift B`: Branch chat from a message.
- `↑` (empty composer): Edit your last message. Keep pressing `↑` or `↓` to step through earlier and later messages.
- `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M`: Start dictating, or accept the dictation in progress.
- `Esc`: Cancel the dictation in progress.
##### Model & Settings
- `⇧ ⌘ M`/`Ctrl Shift M`: Change AI model.
- `⇧ ⌘ Y`/`Ctrl Shift Y`: Change creativity level.
- `⇧ ⌘ U`/`Ctrl Shift U`: Change reasoning effort.
##### Chat Management
- `⌥ ⌘ A`/`Ctrl Alt A`: Archive chat.
- `⌃ ⇧ X`/`Ctrl Alt D`: Delete all unpinned chats (they move to Recently Deleted).
- `⌃ ⌘ N`/`Alt Shift N`: Create project.
- `⌃ ⌘ M`/`Alt Shift M`: Move to project.
##### Feedback
- `⇧ ⌘ =`/`Ctrl Shift =`: Upvote / Good response.
- `⇧ ⌘ -`/`Ctrl Shift -`: Downvote / Bad response.
#### Forms
These shortcuts work inside Raycast forms.
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`: Submit the form.
- `Tab`: Move to the next field.
- `⇧ Tab`: Move to the previous field.
- `Esc`: Cancel and go back.
#### Text Editing
Standard text editing shortcuts work in all text fields.
- `⌘ A`/`Ctrl A`: Select all.
- `⌘ C`/`Ctrl C`: Copy.
- `⌘ X`/`Ctrl X`: Cut.
- `⌘ V`/`Ctrl V`: Paste.
- `⌘ Z`/`Ctrl Z`: Undo.
- `⇧ ⌘ Z`/`Ctrl Shift Z`: Redo.
#### Alternative Navigation Bindings
Raycast supports alternative navigation styles that you can enable in Settings. These provide familiar keybindings for users coming from terminal editors.
##### Emacs Bindings (enabled by default)
- `⌃ N`/`Ctrl N`: Move down.
- `⌃ P`/`Ctrl P`: Move up.
- `⌃ F`/`Ctrl F`: Move right.
- `⌃ B`/`Ctrl B`: Move left.
##### Vim Bindings (optional)
- `⌃ J`/`Ctrl J`: Move down.
- `⌃ K`/`Ctrl K`: Move up.
- `⌃ L`/`Ctrl L`: Move right.
- `⌃ H`/`Ctrl H`: Move left.
You can switch navigation bindings in **Settings → Keyboard → Navigation Bindings**.
#### Extensions Support & Feedback
These shortcuts open extension support and feedback options.
- `⇧ ⌘ B`/`Ctrl Shift B`: Report a bug.
- `⌥ ⌘ F`/`Ctrl Alt F`: Request a feature.
### Import & Export
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/import-export
Description: Easily back up, transfer, or migrate your full Raycast setup and data between your devices.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Use Import & Export to move your Raycast setup between machines, create a backup for safekeeping, or migrate your data from Raycast for Mac v1. Export your entire configuration as a single file, or export individual components like Snippets and Quicklinks and import them into Raycast on another machine.
#### Exporting
##### Export Settings & Data
When you export using the **Export Settings & Data** command in Raycast on Mac or Windows, Raycast bundles eleven data categories into a single `.rayconfig` file saved to your computer. The following categories are included:
- AI Chats, Commands & Agents
- Clipboard History
- Quicklinks
- Snippets
- Notes
- Emoji & Symbol History
- MCP Servers
- Extensions installed from the Store
- Settings, Aliases & Hotkeys
- Raycast Wrapped
- Window Management Layouts
`.rayconfig` files are encrypted and require a passphrase of at least 8 characters. You'll be prompted to set one the first time you use the **Export Settings & Data** command, or in **Settings → Advanced → Export**. Raycast remembers it for future exports. You can clear or update it in Settings at any time.
##### Export Snippets or Quicklinks
To export just your Snippets or Quicklinks, use the **Export Snippets** and **Export Quicklinks** commands to save each as a JSON file. Snippet and Quicklink exports are not encrypted and do not require an export passphrase.
##### Scheduled Exports
**Pro** Raycast can automatically export your data on a schedule, so you always have a recent backup without having to think about it. To set it up:
1. Open **Settings → Advanced → Export**.
2. Set an export passphrase of at least 8 characters. Backups will be skipped if no valid passphrase is set.
3. Choose a backup frequency (**None**, **Daily**, **Weekly**, or **Monthly**) and an output folder.
- Optionally, enable **Auto-Delete Old Exports** to manage disk space. You can keep the latest, last 5, or last 10 exports.
Once configured, a `.rayconfig` file will be saved to your chosen folder at the scheduled frequency.
> [!TIP]
> Point **Scheduled Backup Location** at a synced folder like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive. The `.rayconfig` is encrypted with your passphrase, so your data stays private while you get an off-machine copy automatically.
#### Importing
##### Import Settings & Data
Import `.rayconfig` files into Raycast using the **Import Settings & Data** command. You'll see a checklist of all available categories and can pick exactly which ones to import. Any unchecked categories are left untouched.
`.rayconfig` files are cross-platform. A file exported from Raycast on Mac v2 can be imported into Raycast on Windows, and vice versa. This makes it straightforward to carry your setup across platforms without any extra steps.
> [!TIP]
> Imports are selective. If you only want to recover your Snippets from an earlier backup, import the `.rayconfig` and tick only **Snippets** in the category checklist.
##### Import Snippets or Quicklinks
Import your Snippets and Quicklinks using the **Import Snippets** and **Import Quicklinks** commands to load each from a JSON file.
##### Migrate from Raycast v1
> [!WARNING]
> Make sure that you are running Raycast for Mac v1.104.16 or newer if you would like to migrate data from Raycast v1 to v2.
If you've previously used Raycast v1 on Mac, you can migrate your data directly to Raycast v2. No `.rayconfig` file is needed. The first time you launch v2 on a Mac where v1 is installed, you'll be prompted to transfer automatically. Migrating also carries over your Raycast Account sign-in, so you don't need to sign in again.
If you'd prefer to migrate later, dismiss the onboarding screens and run the **Migrate from Raycast v1** command. This command brings across some extra data that is not included in your `.rayconfig` export, namely Clipboard History, Wrapped and your Emoji Picker customizations.
If you include **Settings, Aliases & Hotkeys**, Raycast will show a **Transfer Hotkeys?** prompt. Confirming will disable those hotkeys in v1 so both apps aren't competing for the same shortcuts. You can re-enable them in v1 at any time.
> [!TIP]
> Migration is additive — your existing v2 setup is never wiped. Duplicates, like a Quicklink with the same link or a Snippet with the same keyword, are skipped automatically.
If you don't need the extra data and are okay with manually reconfiguring your hotkeys, then using the Import Settings and Data command with your `.rayconfig` file is also an option.
##### Conflict Handling
Raycast handles duplicates automatically when you import. Here's what to expect:
- Quicklinks with an existing matching link are skipped.
- Snippets that match an existing text, keyword, and name are skipped. Keyword collisions are also skipped.
- All other data merges with your existing setup. Nothing is overwritten.
### Settings
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/settings
Description: Manage your settings in Raycast. Set up keyboard shortcuts, themes, AI providers, and extensions to fit your workflow.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Settings is where you personalize Raycast to fit your workflow. From appearance and hotkeys to AI configuration and extension management, everything is accessible from a single, streamlined interface. In v2, Settings has been redesigned with a cleaner layout that matches the refreshed look and feel of the app.
[Settings in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-JyyaKYX2M)
> [!TIP]
> Open Settings quickly by pressing `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,` while Raycast is open, or search for "Settings" in Root Search.
#### Opening Settings
There are several ways to access Settings:
- Type **Settings** in Root Search.
- Press `⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,` when Raycast is open.
- Select any command in Root Search, open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`), and choose **Configure Command** or **Configure Extension**.
- Press `⇧ ⌘ ,`/`Ctrl Shift ,` from Root Search to jump directly to the selected item's settings.
#### Search Settings
You don't need to remember where every option lives. Press `⌘ F`/`Ctrl F` while Settings is open and search for anything: a setting, a command, an extension, or just a keyword you remember. Select a result to jump straight to the right place.
#### Account
The Account tab sits at the top left of Settings and shows your profile at a glance. Simply click on your display name to manage your Raycast account, view your current plan (Free, Pro, or Teams), and access subscription settings. You can also sign in or sign out of your account, and switch between organizations if you belong to more than one.
#### General
The General tab contains the core options that shape your everyday Raycast experience.
##### Open at Login
Choose whether Raycast launches automatically at login. We recommend keeping this enabled so Raycast is always ready when you need it.
##### Show in Menu Bar
Toggle whether Raycast appears in the menu bar. When enabled, you can quickly access Settings, check for updates, and quit the app from the menu bar icon.
> [!NOTE]
> _(Only on Mac)_ On macOS 26 (Tahoe), this toggle isn't enough on its own. Raycast also has to be allowed in **System Settings → Menu Bar → Allow in the Menu Bar** — until it is, macOS keeps the icon hidden even though the setting here is on.
##### Raycast Hotkey
Set the global keyboard shortcut that opens Raycast from anywhere on your computer. The default depends on your platform.
_(Only on Mac)_ The default is `⌥ Space`. You can also replace Spotlight by assigning `⌘ Space` to Raycast, so you only need to remember one hotkey.
_(Only on Windows)_ The default is the Windows key (`win`), so pressing it opens Raycast instead of the Start Menu. This is the default on a fresh installation only.
##### Replace Spotlight
_(Only on Mac)_
You can open Raycast with a global hotkey that overlays your current application, so you stay focused without switching windows. The default hotkey is `⌥ Space`.
We recommend replacing Apple's Spotlight (or any other application launcher) with Raycast — that way you only need to remember one hotkey. To do this, assign `⌘ Space` to Raycast:
1. Open Settings (`⌘ ,`).
2. Go to the **General** tab.
3. Click the **Raycast Hotkey** field and press `⌘ Space`.
If `⌘ Space` doesn't register, another macOS feature is already using it. Free it up using the steps below.
###### Disable the hotkey for Spotlight
If `⌘ Space` doesn't work, that hotkey is most likely still assigned to Spotlight search. Go to **System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Spotlight** and uncheck (or change) **Show Spotlight search**.
###### Disable the hotkey for language switching
If you use, or have previously used, multiple languages on your Mac, you'll likely have a conflicting shortcut. Go to **System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Input Sources** and disable or change the shortcut.
###### Ensure "Ask Siri" isn't using the same shortcut
By default, Siri may be set to "hold `⌘ Space`" or "hold `⌥ Space`". When Raycast shares that shortcut, you might notice a slight delay when toggling the main window. We recommend changing the Siri shortcut to something else, or disabling it if you don't use it. Go to **System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri** and change or turn off the keyboard shortcut.
##### Use the Windows Key
_(Only on Windows)_
If your Raycast Hotkey is something else — because you changed it, or because you set Raycast up before the Windows key became the default — click [Replace Start Menu](https://manual.raycast.com/replace-start-menu) next to the **Raycast Hotkey** field in **Settings → General** to switch to the Windows key.
##### Appearance
Control the visual presentation of Raycast.
##### Follow System Appearance
Raycast adopts your system's light or dark mode by default. Toggle this off to manually choose a theme. Raycast ships with a curated set of built-in themes, and you can browse and install community themes from the Store.
##### Interface Size
Interface Size lets you make Raycast bigger or smaller so it's easier to read and comfortable on your display. Choose one of three sizes using the **Aa** buttons:
- **Default** — the standard size.
- **Large** — a bit bigger.
- **Larger** — the biggest option.
When you change the size, Raycast's windows resize to match, and all UI elements scale with them, including text, buttons, and fields.
Interface Size can also nudge the content zoom in windows that have their own zoom, such as [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) and [Raycast Notes](https://manual.raycast.com/notes): if a window's content zoom is smaller than the new interface size, it grows to match so things stay readable. Content zoom stays independent, though. You can still adjust it per window and set your own values regardless of the interface size.
##### Window Mode
Choose between Compact and Expanded mode. Compact mode uses a more condensed layout so you can see more results at a glance.
#### Launcher
The top of the Launcher tab is where you fine-tune the everyday launcher behavior.
##### Show Raycast on
Choose which screen Raycast opens on in a multi-monitor setup: the **Screen containing mouse**, the **Screen with active window**, or your **Primary screen**.
##### Pop to Root Search
Set how long Raycast waits before resetting to Root Search after you close the window. Choose **Immediately**, or a delay of up to **180 seconds** if you want Raycast to stay where you left it for a while after dismissing it.
##### Root Search Sensitivity
Control how many matching results Root Search surfaces. **Low** sensitivity returns more results for a given term, while **High** sensitivity shows fewer, closer matches.
##### Search History
Reset the list of recent searches that Raycast restores when you press the up arrow in Root Search.
##### Customize Search
Choose which additional sources appear in Root Search alongside your apps, commands, and extensions:
- **Files**: include matches from File Search in your results.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Contacts**: include people from your Apple Contacts.
##### Fallback Commands
Configure which commands appear at the bottom of Root Search results when your query has no matches. Add commands from any extensions, use **the drag handle** to reorder them, and use **the minus button** to remove ones you don't want.
#### Shortcuts
The Shortcuts tab gives you a bird's-eye view of every shortcut assigned across Raycast. You can filter by category and see which commands already have hotkeys or aliases. This is the central place to manage all your shortcuts at a glance, rather than navigating into individual extension tabs.
You can also assign shortcuts from each extension's dedicated tab in Settings, or directly from the Action Panel in Root Search.
You can now assign hotkeys and aliases directly from the Action Panel in Root Search, no need to open Settings first.
The hotkey recorder has been completely rebuilt with support for single-tap `fn` key on macOS and `win` on Windows as a modifier, improved conflict detection, and the ability to overwrite conflicting shortcuts.
You can now assign left and right modifier keys as hotkeys. Simply click on the key when you set it up in **Settings → Shortcuts**
#### Keyboard
The Keyboard tab lets you customize how you navigate within Raycast using your keyboard.
##### Emacs & Vim Key Bindings
Enable Emacs-style (`⌃ N`/`Ctrl N` / `⌃ P`/`Ctrl P`) or Vim-style navigation for moving through lists and text fields within Raycast.
##### Navigation
Fine-tune search and navigation behavior, such as whether pressing `Esc` returns to Root Search or closes Raycast entirely.
#### Advanced
The Advanced tab provides additional configuration for power users.
##### Window Activation Behavior
_(Only on Mac)_
Choose what happens when you activate Raycast while one of its windows is open on another macOS Space:
- **Move to Active Space**: bring the window to the Space you're currently on.
- **Switch Space**: switch to the Space where the window is already open.
##### Favicon Provider
Choose the service Raycast uses to fetch website icons (favicons) shown next to links and Quicklinks: **DuckDuckGo**, **Google**, or **Raycast** (the default). Select **None** to disable favicon fetching.
##### Open Folders in Tabs
_(Only on Windows)_
Open folders as new tabs in an existing File Explorer window instead of launching a new window each time.
##### Export & Import Settings
Export your full Raycast configuration to a file and import it on another machine. This transfers your extensions, hotkeys, aliases, and preferences so you can set up a new machine quickly.
> [!TIP]
> If you use Raycast on multiple machines, export your settings periodically so you always have a recent backup available.
##### Connection
Control how Raycast connects to the network:
- **Use System Proxy Settings**: automatically route Raycast's traffic through your computer's proxy configuration.
- **Additional Certificate Authority**: trust a custom certificate (`.crt`, `.cer`, or `.pem`) so connections that would otherwise fail or show security warnings are allowed.
#### Organizations
If you are part of a Raycast Teams plan, the Organizations tab lets you view and manage your team membership. You can see which organization you belong to, switch between organizations, and access team-specific settings and policies configured by your admin.
#### About
The About tab shows your current Raycast version number, provides links to the Raycast website and changelog, and lets you submit feedback or bug reports. You can also check for updates here.
#### AI
The AI settings are where you configure how Raycast AI works for you — models and providers, agents, commands, extensions, memory, and the general behavior of AI Chat and Quick AI. Toggle the switch in the top right to enable or disable AI globally.
##### Models & Providers
The **Models & Providers** sub-pane manages which models Raycast AI can use and where they come from:
- **Default Models**: Pick the default model for AI Chat, Quick AI, and AI Commands. Learn more under [Default Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#default-models) on the AI Chat page.
- **[Local AI Subscriptions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription)**: Connect the Claude or ChatGPT subscription you already pay for and use its models in Raycast.
- **[API Keys](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key)**: Bring your own API keys to use AI at your own cost and pay their standard rates directly.
- **[Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers)**: Connect any OpenAI-compatible endpoint with a `providers.yaml` config.
- **[Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models)**: Install and run local open models on your own machine.
- **Manage Models**: Choose which models appear in the model pickers, and compare their speed, intelligence, and context window. Learn more under [Manage Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#manage-models) on the AI Chat page.
##### Agents, AI Commands & AI Extensions
Three sub-panes manage everything you can build on top of AI:
- **[Agents](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents)**: Your custom AI agents, each with their own instructions, tools, and personality.
- **[AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands)**: Reusable prompts you can trigger anywhere in Raycast (translate, summarize, fix grammar, etc.).
- **[AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions)**: Extensions that AI can call as tools when answering you, letting it take real actions across your apps.
##### Projects
Create and edit your AI Chat [Projects](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects) here with **Add Project**. Each project keeps related chats, instructions, and context together.
##### Personalization
###### Profile
Add context you want available in every conversation — your role, the tools you use, how you'd like AI to respond. The profile applies to AI Chat and Quick AI, but not to AI Commands (which run with their own dedicated prompts).
###### Memory
When Memory is on, Raycast keeps a running summary of details from your conversations and reuses them automatically. Just tell it what to remember in any chat — for example, *"Remember I'm vegetarian."*
Use **Show Memory** to review or edit what's stored, or **Import** to bring in memory from another source.
##### Chat
- **Start New Chat**: How long Quick AI waits before starting a fresh conversation when you reopen it. Default is **After 5 minutes**.
- **Send Message**: The keyboard shortcut used to send messages in AI Chat. Default is **⌘ Return**.
- **Conversation History**: Choose whether AI Chat and Quick AI conversations live in a combined history or stay **Separate**.
- **Auto-Archive Chats**: Automatically archive chats after a period of inactivity. Default is **Never**.
- **Background Notifications**: Show a system notification when a chat finishes in the background. See [Background Notifications](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#background-notifications).
- **Prevent Sleep During AI Runs**: Keep this computer awake while AI is working. Off by default. Turn it on if you leave long tasks or [Automations](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations) running unattended.
##### Tools
- **Permissions**: Controls whether tools from [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions), [MCP servers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/model-context-protocol), and Raycast itself need approval before running. **Ask** prompts for anything that isn't read-only or allowed by a rule. **Auto**, the default on paid plans, also approves routine actions automatically. **Always Allow** runs everything without asking. Free plans use Ask. Individual chats can override this.
- **Auto-review Rules**: Shown when Permissions is set to Auto. Natural-language rules that customize what Auto can run in every chat. Select **Add Rules** (or **Manage Rules** once you have some) and fill in "When Raycast wants to:" and whether it should **Allow automatically** or **Ask first**. Ask first wins if rules conflict. Requires Raycast Pro.
- **Globally Allowed Tools**: Tools that run without approval in every chat because you chose **Always allow** on an approval card. Select **See Allow List** to open the list, where you can remove a specific tool or **Reset All** to clear them at once. Per-chat approvals stay with their chat.
Learn more under [Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions#permissions) on the AI Extensions page.
##### Commands
The AI extension ships with a full set of built-in commands you can alias, hotkey, or disable individually
#### Applications
The Applications settings let you fine-tune how Raycast finds, launches, and manages your installed apps. Toggle the switch in the top right to enable or disable Applications globally.
##### Auto Quit
Open Auto Quit to have Raycast automatically close apps shortly after you stop using them, freeing up memory without you having to think about it.
##### Hotkey Action
Choose what happens when you press an application's hotkey. The default, **Toggle Visibility**, brings the app to the front if it's hidden and hides it again on the next press.
##### Search Scopes
Use the **+** button to add extra folders so apps stored outside the standard locations show up in Raycast too.
##### Per-App Configuration
Use the search field to find any installed app, then configure it inline:
- **Add Alias** — give an app a custom name to type (for example, "music" for Spotify).
- **Record Hotkey** — assign a global keyboard shortcut to launch or toggle the app.
- **Checkbox** — disable individual apps you don't want to appear in Raycast's results.
##### Commands
The Applications extension also ships with built-in commands you can alias, hotkey, or disable like any other:
- **Uninstall Applications** — quickly remove installed apps directly from Raycast
#### Extensions
Below the list of Applications, each installed extension appears as its own entry in the sidebar. Select any extension to manage its preferences, authenticate with third-party services, enter access tokens, and assign shortcuts to its commands.
##### Browsing Extensions
Extensions are grouped into categories in the left sidebar: Built-in commands, Store extensions, Script Commands, and Quicklinks. Select any extension to see its commands and settings.
##### Enabling & Disabling Commands
Each command has a toggle to enable or disable it. Disabled commands won't appear in Root Search. This is useful for hiding commands you don't use to keep your search results clean.
##### Extension-Specific Settings
Many extensions expose their own configuration options. For example, a Jira extension might ask you to log in, or a GitHub extension might let you choose a default repository. These settings appear when you select the extension in the sidebar.
##### Uninstalling Extensions
To remove a Store extension, select it in the sidebar and click the Uninstall button, or right-click the extension and choose Uninstall.
### New in Raycast v2
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/new-in-v2
Description: Tour what's new in Raycast v2, including a redesigned UI, improved hotkeys, AI Agents, Memory, branching chats, Personalization, and more.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Welcome to the brand new Raycast, rebuilt from the ground up for the next era of personal computing. **It's faster everywhere, the AI knows you now, and your hotkeys finally work the way you set them.**
Take a tour below of what's new in Raycast v2 to discover what's different. A full list of changes is available under [Everything New in v2](#everything-new-in-v2) at the bottom of this page.
#### Fresh Design
Raycast has been redesigned for Liquid Glass to fit right at home on your Mac. Compact window mode strips Raycast back even more to the essentials, and grids in [Emoji & Symbols](https://manual.raycast.com/emoji-symbols) and [Screenshots](https://manual.raycast.com/screenshots) let you choose how many columns you see, so you decide how much fills the window.
#### Search Files and Settings
Type a filename or folder into Root Search and the File Search results will show alongside other results, no separate command needed. File Search also runs on a new indexing engine, with faster results and more ways to filter them. Settings has its own search now too, covering every extension, command, and setting.
Learn more about [File Search](https://manual.raycast.com/file-search).
#### Even More Shortcuts
The hotkey recorder is quicker and more reliable, and it understands the keyboard you actually use. You can now use `fn` as a hotkey on its own, assign left and right modifiers separately, or set a hotkey straight from the Action Panel in the launcher.
Learn more about [Command Aliases & Hotkeys](https://manual.raycast.com/command-aliases-and-hotkeys).
#### Ask AI, Anywhere
Ask a question in Root Search and Quick AI is there to answer it. It's been redesigned to match AI Chat, making it a familiar experience across both. Make Quick AI your fallback command and anything that isn't a command goes straight to AI.
AI Chat can branch off any message to explore a different direction without losing the original thread. As a conversation nears its context limit, Raycast summarizes the earlier turns and keeps going.
AI Extensions load in automatically when they're relevant, and Screen Awareness brings whatever is in front of you into the conversation: the focused window, your selection, and a screenshot, sent along with your question. The chat sidebar is new too, with projects to group related chats under shared instructions and auto-archiving to keep the rest tidy, plus notifications when a reply lands while you're in another app.
Learn more about [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai), [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat), and [Screen Awareness](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness).
#### A More Personal AI
Raycast AI now carries context about you between conversations. Profile is what you tell it about your job, interests, values, or preferences like writing styles. Memory is what it picks up about you throughout your chats.
Agents replace Presets as reusable setups you switch into, and Skills give the model instructions and knowledge for the tasks you repeat.
Learn more about [Personalization](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization), [Agents](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents), and [Skills](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills).
#### Talk Instead of Typing
Dictation lays down clean, formatted text in the app you're in, filler words and punctuation handled. It picks up whichever language you're speaking, or you can set one yourself in Settings.
Auto Styling matches the tone to where you are, so the same words land as an email in Mail and a quick message in Slack, and Styles let you write your own prompts per app or website.
Learn more about [Dictation](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
#### Everything New in v2
Every change in Raycast v2, grouped by where you'll find it.
##### General
- A fresh new look and feel across the app, redesigned for macOS Tahoe.
- A simpler, cleaner compact mode that's easier to scan at a glance.
- Application symlinks now show up in Root Search, so you can launch them just like any other app.
- Share a file straight from Root Search with the **Share…** action in its Action Panel.
- **Raycast in Raycast**: more reliable copy and paste between Raycast surfaces, for example pasting a Quick AI response into a Raycast Note.
- Search in the Settings sidebar, allowing you to quickly find any extension, command, or preference across Settings.
##### Shortcuts
- A new and improved hotkey recorder that's quicker and more reliable to set up.
- Use the `fn` key on its own as a single-tap modifier, perfect for a quick shortcut without holding multiple keys.
- Support for single-tap `fn` key and double tap modifiers.
- Improved support for international keyboards. You can now record your hotkeys as either physical or key-equivalent keys.
- Better detection when shortcuts overlap, with a clear option to overwrite the existing one.
- Assign hotkeys and aliases right from the Action Panel in Root Search, no need to dig into **Settings**.
- You can now assign left and right modifier keys as hotkeys. Simply click on the key when you set it up in the Action Panel in Root Search or directly in **Settings → Shortcuts**
- Single-modifier and multi-modifier hotkeys work on Windows too, not just macOS.
- _(Only on Mac)_ Holding both keys of the same modifier at once (left and right `⌘` together, for example) can be its own hotkey, separate from a `⌘ ⌘` double tap. See [Hotkey Types](https://manual.raycast.com/command-aliases-and-hotkeys#hotkey-types).
- Hyper Key is more reliable, with new diagnostics for conflicts with other apps, Karabiner remappings, and system keyboard remappings.
- New **Secure Input Compatibility** option keeps your Hyper Key shortcuts working even while an app has macOS Secure Input active (such as a focused password field), without needing a keyboard driver like Karabiner.
##### File Search
- Now powered by a new indexing engine for faster results and more ways to filter.
- Files and folders can now be found right in Root Search, so you don't need a separate command to look them up.
- Sort a folder you're browsing by **Date Modified**, **Date Created**, or **Name** with the **Sort Folder By** dropdown.
- Folders an app keeps rewriting, like build output and caches, are excluded automatically, and you can restore any of them from the **Excluded Automatically** list in **Settings → File Search**.
##### Snippets
- Added support for tagging, so you can organize and find snippets faster.
- Major reliability improvements for snippet expansion across Chromium and Electron apps, plus better handling of multiline snippets. Shorter snippets also expand faster.
##### Quicklinks
- Added support for pinning, so your most-used Quicklinks always stay at the top.
- Added support for tagging to keep large collections of Quicklinks organized.
- Added **Prefer Existing Tabs**, which focuses an already-open tab when launching a Quicklink instead of opening a new one.
- **Create Quicklink** now autofills the path of the selected file when Finder is active.
##### Clipboard History
- Clipboard capture is now more reliable: Raycast detects changes directly instead of polling every 0.75 seconds, so fast consecutive copies are no longer missed.
- More reliable detection of the source app for each clipboard entry.
- Raycast now saves every original format you copied and lets you restore them, so pasting always matches the source.
- Rename clipboard entries to make them easier to find later.
- When you copy multiple files or pieces of content at once, they're now grouped together as a single clipboard entry.
- Refreshed UI for browsing history, with several visual improvements over v1.
- When pasting, you can now prefer plain text over the original formatting. Enable "Prefer pasting as plain text" in settings to strip rich formatting automatically.
- Copy text directly from QR codes found in images stored in your clipboard history.
- Share any entry with the **Share…** action, including text, links, email addresses, images, and multiple files.
##### Translator
- Set default source and target languages so you don't have to pick them every time.
- Create custom commands with predefined language pairs, so you can jump straight into translating your most-used languages without picking them each time.
- New **Use Selected Text as Source** setting. When it's on, triggering the translator via hotkey automatically fills in whatever you have selected.
- Inline translation with the `in` suffix, so you can translate right as you type.
##### Emoji & Symbols
- Multiple grid size options, so you can pick the layout that suits you best.
##### Screenshots
- **Column Count**: choose between 3, 4, 5, or 6 columns in the Search Screenshots grid to tune thumbnail size and density to your liking.
##### Calendar
- New **Create Event** command for adding events without leaving Raycast.
##### Calculator
- Added syntax highlighting so expressions are easier to read at a glance.
- Several new syntax to use in Calculator, including:
- **Work hours and days**: `workhours in 2023`, `55h in workdays`.
- **Pixel calculations**: `2 inches in px at 72 ppi`.
- **Trigonometry**: `cot`, `csc`, plus hyperbolic, inverse, and degree variants (`coth`, `csch`, `acot`, `acsc`, `cotd`, `cscd`, `acotd`, `acscd`).
- **Time diff shorthand**: `time diff Paris`, `diff Paris`.
- **Date/time expressions**: `time in 4 hours [in San Francisco]`, `3 days from now at 4:39pm`, ISO 8601 Zulu.
- **Calendar arithmetic**: `August 5 + 5` (days), `3:45pm + 5` (hours), `8am to 4pm`.
- **Percentage phrases**: `20% discount off $500`, `5% gratuity on $95`.
- **Percentage ratios**: `20% of 500, 90-30%`.
- **Percentage elapsed**: `day percentage`, `week %`, `year percentage`.
- **US customary units**: `5 feet 3 inches in cm`; more `ft`/`in` aliases.
- **Unit shorthands**: `mo`, `yr`, `deg`.
- **Currency shorthand**: `USD1K`; `10K` = 10,000 (`10 K` = kelvin); `kilo` as a synonym for `kg`; no-space `1kUSD`.
- **Cities and airports**: 119 new tourist destinations and airports; multi-word resolution (`London Heathrow`); aliases for multi-airport cities.
- Other fixes and improvements to existing syntax and expressions.
##### Window Management
- New **Switch to Next Space** and **Switch to Previous Space** commands to jump between Spaces without the macOS animation.
- New **Minimize on This Display** command minimizes every window on the display where Raycast is open.
- Layouts have an **Other Windows** option to minimize or close every window the layout doesn't place.
##### Dynamic Placeholders
- New `{calculator}` placeholder for inline math, available in **Snippets**, **Quicklinks**, and **AI Commands**.
##### AI
**Quick AI**
- Redesigned to match AI Chat, with a more powerful composer for richer prompts.
- Tool calls and AI Commands now show richer detail. Expand any run to inspect the inputs the model passed.
- Added Quick AI as a fallback command (**Settings → Launcher → Fallback Commands**).
**AI Chat**
- Presets are now called **Agents**, and they're reused across chats. Update an agent's configuration once and the change applies to every chat that uses it. Learn more on the [Agents page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents).
- Added **Memory** so chats remember context about you and feel more personal. Learn more on the [Personalization page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization).
- Added **Skills** so you can give Raycast AI custom instructions and knowledge for the tasks you do often. Learn more on the [Skills page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills).
- Skills and AI Extensions are now loaded into the chat automatically when they're relevant, so you don't need to mention them manually.
- Tool calls and AI Commands now show richer detail. Expand any run to inspect the inputs the model passed.
- A redesigned history sidebar groups your chats into **Pinned**, **Projects**, **Recent**, and **Archived**, where v1 only had pinning.
- Added **Projects** so you can group related chats together under shared instructions, optional memory, and a working directory, with drag and drop between sections and a right-click menu anywhere in the sidebar. Learn more about [Projects](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects).
- Added **Automations** to run an AI prompt once or on a repeating schedule, with results delivered to a new or existing chat. Learn more on the [Automations page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations).
- Chats can be auto-archived after a set period, keeping your sidebar tidy without any manual cleanup.
- Branch off any message in a chat to explore a different direction without losing the original thread.
- Raycast AI can now pause to ask you a short multiple-choice question when a request is ambiguous, so it can confirm the right direction before continuing.
- Added **[Background Notifications](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#background-notifications)** so you get notified when a chat finishes responding in the background.
- Long chats now keep going instead of hitting a wall. As a conversation approaches its model's context limit, Raycast summarizes the earlier turns for you and continues from there. See [Long Conversations](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#long-conversations).
- Deleted chats move to **Recently Deleted** for 60 days, so you can restore one or delete it permanently.
- **Find in Chat** searches inside the open chat with `⌘ F`/`Ctrl F` and steps through every match.
- The sidebar search now matches message content, not just chat titles.
- Mermaid diagrams in responses render as diagrams you can Quick Look, copy, or save as SVG or PNG.
- Type `/usage` to see your credits, and a **Low Credits** pill above the composer warns you before they run out.
- New **Prevent Sleep During AI Runs** setting in **Settings → AI → Chat** keeps your computer awake while AI is working.
**Screen Awareness**
- New **Screen Awareness** lets you ask Raycast AI about whatever you're looking at. It reads the focused app's content, the text you have selected, and a screenshot of the window, then sends the lot to AI with your question.
- Attach it in AI Chat or Quick AI with **Focused Window**, run **Send Focused Window to AI** from a hotkey, or mention `@screen-awareness` and let the model look for itself. Learn more on the [Screen Awareness page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness).
**AI Commands**
- New **Quick Fix** runs the **Fix Spelling and Grammar** command in any focused app with a single hotkey. Learn more on the [AI Commands page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands#quick-fix).
- New **Output Behavior** option lets each command either **Open in Raycast** or **Replace Selection** in place.
**Personalization**
- Added **Profile**, where you can jot down context about yourself (role, preferred tools, communication style) that Raycast AI uses across conversations.
- Added **Memory**, an automatic summary Raycast AI builds from your conversations over time, picking up on your projects, preferences, and goals.
- Both are fully editable, and you can turn them off any time in **Settings → AI → Personalization**.
**Bring Your Own AI**
- Added **Bring Your Own Subscription** so you can connect the Claude or ChatGPT subscription you already pay for and use its models in Raycast, with usage counting towards that subscription rather than your Raycast AI credits. Learn more on the [Bring Your Own Subscription page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription).
- **Custom Providers** are no longer experimental. Connect any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, from cloud gateways and team proxies to servers on your own machine, with a `providers.yaml` config. Learn more on the [Custom Providers page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers).
##### Dictation
- Dictation turns speech into clean, formatted text and pastes it directly into the app you're in, with filler words and punctuation handled for you. Learn more on the [Dictation page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
- **Auto Styling** picks the right tone for where you're typing, so dictation in Mail comes out as an email and dictation in Slack comes out as a quick message.
- **Custom Vocabulary**, **Instructions**, and **Styles** let you teach Dictation your spellings, your tone, and your own per-app templates.
- Press or hold to talk. Tap the hotkey to start and stop, or hold it down for push-to-talk, with the Dictation Pill keeping you in flow.
- **Dictation History** gives you back every past transcription, ready to paste, copy, or delete.
- Added **[Dictate in AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation#dictate-in-ai-chat)** so you can dictate a message in AI Chat by voice with `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M`.
#### Switching from v1
##### What changes with the v2 update?
This is the moment when we come out of beta and Raycast becomes one app again.
For macOS users, this update will replace Raycast v1 and the v2 beta on your machine with the general Raycast v2 release. Your v2 beta data will remain unchanged, and during the migration process, you will have the option to import your v1 data if you have not already done so. Some permissions may need to be re-authorized because they are inherited from v1.
For Windows users, Raycast v2 is the version you have been using from the start. The most important change is that all features that were free during the beta will now be available on the Pro plan. See [What happens to all of my features that were free during the beta?](#faq-v2-free-features) below.
##### What do I need to do to update to v2?
With this release, all macOS beta users will see an in-app notification prompting them to update. Simply follow the instructions provided.
For all v1 users who are not yet using the beta, we invite you to download the new 2.0 version. You will be migrated to v2 during installation. If you download Raycast 2.0 manually and already have Raycast installed, macOS will ask whether you want to replace the existing app or keep both. Choose **Replace**. If you keep both, you will end up with two copies of Raycast and the old one will keep launching.
Some permissions may need to be re-authorized since they are inherited from v1.
For Windows users, you do not need to do anything. You will either be updated automatically, or you can select **Check for Updates** to update as usual.
We have the following system requirements:
- **macOS**: Tahoe (Apple silicon)
- **Windows**: Windows 10 or later (x64 or ARM)
##### I chose "Keep Both" when installing. How do I fix it?
You now have two apps in your Applications folder, `Raycast` and `Raycast 2`. The one that opens is still v1, which is why v2 seems to be missing.
To fix it:
- Quit Raycast.
- Delete both `Raycast` and `Raycast 2` from your Applications folder.
- Download Raycast 2.0 again and install it.
##### Do I need to re-import my v1 data during the migration process?
If you have already imported your v1 data and are using the beta as your daily driver, you do not need to re-import it. The option is available for those who are still using v1 and have fresh data to import.
Please note that when you import v1 data, your v1 settings and hotkeys will override those currently configured in v2. During this step, you can choose which data to import if you do not want this to happen.
Some permissions may need to be re-authorized since they are inherited from v1.
##### What happens to all of the features that were free during the beta?
All features that were free during beta will now be available on the Pro plan. This includes Dictation and AI features, as they were always intended to be.
To help ease the transition, you can try out Raycast Pro with a seven-day free trial to continue experiencing these features before subscribing. The trial can be accessed by simply signing in, no credit card is required.
##### I'm on the Enterprise plan. Should I update?
Users on an Enterprise plan should refrain from updating to Raycast v2 for now. We are working directly with your teams to move to the new version.
##### How do I install custom extensions in the new version?
For custom extensions to import correctly, you need to be on the latest version of Raycast v1, or at least `v1.104.16`.
If these did not automatically import, you can do it manually by running `npx @raycast/api@latest dev` and the dev command should be clever enough to pick up the new version if it's running.
##### As an extension developer, should I continue supporting both v1 and v2?
Raycast v2 is the new version of Raycast going forward and all extension developers should focus on this version when creating extensions.
Our team will still be able to test on v1, so extension updates should receive some testing on both versions during pull request reviews.
- [Get Raycast v2](https://raycast.com/): Run the **Check for Updates** command or download now from our website
- [The Technical Story](https://raycast.com/blog/a-technical-deep-dive-into-the-new-raycast): Read the blog post on how the team built the new Raycast
## Core Features
### Snippets
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/snippets
Description: Store and auto-expand text snippets from Raycast. Type a keyword in any app to instantly paste templates, code, addresses, signatures, and more.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Last updated: 01 September 2026
Snippets let you store frequently used text and insert it anywhere on your computer with just a few keystrokes. Whether it's email templates, code blocks, addresses, or emoji sequences, Snippets save you from typing the same things over and over. In v2, Snippets gain support for tagging and a new `{calculator}` [dynamic placeholder](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders).
[Snippets in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8YeKe-0tU)
> [!TIP]
> Open Snippets by searching for "Search Snippets" or "Create Snippet" in [Root
> Search](/search-bar), or assign a hotkey for instant access.
#### Creating a Snippet
To create a new Snippet:
1. Open Raycast and search for **Create Snippet**
2. Enter the text you want to save in the **Snippet Text** field. This can be plain text, formatted content, code, or any text you type repeatedly.
3. Give your Snippet a **Name** so you can find it later.
4. Optionally assign a **Keyword** to enable auto-expansion (see below).
5. Optionally add **Tags** to organize your Snippets into groups.
6. If you're in a Raycast team, choose an **Organization** to decide whether the Snippet is personal or shared with your organization.
> [!NOTE]
> Snippet text has a maximum length of 65K characters. This limit exists for performance reasons —
> in practice, most Snippets are well within this range.
#### Keywords & Auto-Expansion
Keywords are the real power behind Snippets. When you assign a keyword to a Snippet, typing that keyword in any application automatically replaces it with the full Snippet text. This works everywhere: in your browser, code editor, email client, chat apps, and more.
##### How Auto-Expansion Works
1. Assign a keyword to your Snippet (e.g., `!email`, `;;addr`, `/sig`)
2. Type the keyword in any text field on your computer
3. Raycast automatically replaces the keyword with your Snippet text
> [!TIP]
> Choose keywords that are unlikely to be typed accidentally. Prefixes like `!`, `;;`, or `//` work
> well. For example, `!thanks` is safer than just `thanks`.
##### Auto-Expansion Settings
You can enable or disable auto-expansion globally in **Settings → Snippets**. When disabled, Snippets still work — you just need to search for them in Raycast and paste manually instead of using keyword triggers.
{/* TODO: add screenshot — apps/raycast/public/images/app/core-features/snippets/mac-snippets-autoexpansion-settings.png */}
##### Keyword Character Reference
Not all characters can be used in keywords. Raycast uses certain characters as word-boundary delimiters, which means they will trigger expansion rather than become part of the keyword itself.
**Characters that cannot be used in keywords:**
- **Backtick**: `` ` ``
- **Quotation marks**: single quote `'`, double quote `"`, and their curly/smart variants `' ' " "`
- **Whitespace**: spaces, tabs, and newlines
- **Other delimiters**: some additional punctuation characters act as word boundaries and will trigger expansion instead of being included in the keyword
**Characters that can be used in keywords:**
- **Letters**: all Unicode letters (Latin, Cyrillic, CJK, etc.)
- **Numbers**: `0–9`
- **Hyphen & underscore**: `-` and `_`
- **Math symbols**: such as `+ = < >`
- **Currency symbols**: `$ € £ ¥` and others
- **Most punctuation**: including `! ; / . , @ # ~ &` (except the restricted characters listed above)
> [!TIP]
> Keywords like `!email`, `;;addr`, `/sig`, and `$price` are all valid. Keywords like `my email`
> (contains a space) or `it's` (contains an apostrophe) are not, because the space and quote act as
> delimiters.
#### Searching & Managing Snippets
The **Search Snippets** command gives you a central view of all your Snippets. From here you can:
- Search by name, keyword, or content
- Filter by tag to quickly narrow down your collection
- Copy a Snippet to your clipboard
- Paste a Snippet directly into the active application
- Pin frequently used Snippets to the top of the list
- Edit, duplicate, or delete Snippets
#### Dynamic Placeholders
Snippets support [Dynamic Placeholders](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders) — arguments that are replaced with dynamic data when the snippet is expanded. This lets you create context-aware Snippets that adapt every time you use them.
#### Tags
Snippets now support tagging. Tags let you organize your Snippets into
logical groups — for example, by project, language, client, or purpose. You can assign one or more
tags when creating or editing a Snippet, and then filter by tag in the Search Snippets view to
quickly find what you need.
To add a tag:
1. Open the Snippet editor (create a new Snippet or edit an existing one)
2. Use the **Tags** field to assign one or more tags
3. Type a new tag name to create it, or select from existing tags
In the Search Snippets view, use the tag filter dropdown to show only Snippets with a specific tag. This makes it easy to manage large Snippet collections.
#### Shared Snippets (Teams)
With Raycast for Teams, you can create shared Snippets that are available to everyone on your team. This is ideal for maintaining consistent messaging: support responses, company boilerplate, onboarding templates, and more.
Shared Snippets are managed from the same Search Snippets interface. They appear alongside your personal Snippets and can be filtered separately. Team admins can manage shared Snippets from the Raycast Teams dashboard.
#### Importing Snippets
You can bring existing Snippets into Raycast from a file or from another text expansion tool. To import:
1. Open Raycast and run the **Import Snippets** command
2. Select your file
3. Review the Snippets to be imported, then confirm
##### Supported File Format (JSON)
Raycast imports Snippets from a JSON file containing an array of snippet objects. Each object supports:
- `name` (required) — the Snippet's title
- `text` (required) — the content that gets inserted
- `keyword` (optional) — the trigger that expands the Snippet
Example:
```json
[
{
"name": "Personal Email",
"text": "sherlock@gmail.com",
"keyword": "@@"
},
{
"name": "Home Address",
"text": "221B Baker St., London"
},
{
"name": "Catchphrase",
"text": "Elementary, my dear Watson",
"keyword": "!elementary"
}
]
```
Save the file with a `.json` extension. If your file is greyed out and can't be selected in the import dialog, it isn't in a format Raycast recognizes — convert it to the JSON structure above.
##### Importing from Other Tools
Raycast can also import from other text expansion tools such as TextExpander, aText, Espanso, and PhraseExpress. Export your Snippets from those apps, then select the exported file in **Import Snippets**.
#### Use Cases & Examples
Here are some practical ways to use Snippets:
- **Email signatures**: Keyword `!sig` expands to your full signature with name, title, and contact info
- **Meeting notes template**: Keyword `!notes` expands to a structured template with `{date}` and `{cursor}` placeholders
- **Code snippets**: Keyword `;;log` expands to `console.log({cursor})`
- **Support replies**: Tag your customer support responses and quickly filter by client or issue type
- **Emoji combos**: Keyword `!shrug` expands to `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`
> [!TIP]
> Looking for more ideas? Browse [ray.so/snippets](https://ray.so/snippets/) for a curated
> collection of ready-to-use snippets to get you started.
#### Settings
Open Settings (`⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`) and select **Snippets** from the sidebar to configure how Snippets expand. Use the toggle in the top-right corner to enable or disable the Snippets feature entirely.
##### Snippet Expansion
- **Enable Snippet Expansion**: Master toggle for automatic keyword expansion. Turn it off if you want to keep your Snippets library but stop them from auto-expanding as you type.
- **Expansion Mode**: Choose when a Snippet expands after you type its keyword:
- **Immediately**: Inserts the text as soon as the keyword is matched.
- **After Delimiter (keeping)**: Waits until you type a delimiter (e.g. space, punctuation), then expands and keeps the delimiter.
- **After Delimiter (discarding)**: Waits for a delimiter, then expands and discards the delimiter from the output.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Expand within Words**: When toggled off, a Snippet only expands when
its keyword is typed as a standalone word. Turn it on if you want keywords to also expand when
they appear inside a larger word.
- **Override System Snippets**: When enabled (experimental), Raycast expands its Snippets before macOS's built-in System Snippets. When disabled, Raycast skips expansion for keywords that conflict with system ones to avoid double insertion.
- **Injection Delay**: Adds a delay before Raycast types the expanded text. This lets you type words that happen to contain a Snippet keyword without triggering expansion, and gives slower apps time to receive the input correctly. Options range from None and Short through Regular, Long, and Extra Long. Increase the delay if expansion is unreliable in specific apps.
- **Response Time**: Controls how quickly Raycast processes clipboard entries during expansion. Options range from Instant and Quick through Default, Delayed, and Extended. Try a slower setting if you notice missing characters or partial expansion in specific applications.
- **Completion Sound**: Optionally play a sound whenever a Snippet is expanded automatically. Useful as a confirmation cue, especially when using longer Snippets or dynamic placeholders like `{clipboard}` and `{date}`.
- **Disabled Applications**: Add applications where Snippet expansion should never run. 1Password and Keychain Access are included to prevent accidental expansion inside password fields. Click the **+** button to add more.
##### Commands
Assign aliases and hotkeys to the Snippet commands you use most:
- **Create Snippet**: Open the Snippet editor
- **Export Snippets**: Save your Snippets to a file for backup or sharing
- **Import Snippets**: Import Snippets from a JSON file, TextExpander, aText, Espanso, or PhraseExpress
- **Search Snippets**: Find and insert a Snippet from the list
Set the **Primary Action** for Search Snippets (e.g. **Paste to Active App** or **Copy to Clipboard**) to match how you most often use your library.
#### Troubleshooting
If Snippets aren't working as expected, here are some common issues and steps to resolve them.
##### My snippets from Raycast v1 aren't working after upgrading to v2
If snippets you created in v1 don't expand in v2, they likely weren't migrated. Run the `Migrate from Raycast v1` command in v2 (on a Mac with v1 installed, the first launch of v2 also prompts an automatic transfer). Make sure you're on Raycast for Mac v1.104.16 or newer before migrating.
Migration is additive, so it won't wipe your existing v2 setup.
If you're running both versions, only one should handle expansion. Open Raycast v1 → Settings → Extensions → Snippets and turn off **Enable Snippet Expansion** there, so v2 can expand snippets without the two conflicting. If snippets stopped working in v1 too, fully quit v2 and confirm only one version of Raycast is running.
##### Snippets aren't expanding when I type the keyword
- Make sure snippet expansion in v1 is disabled. If you're running both versions, only one should
handle expansion. Open Raycast v1 → Settings → Extensions → Snippets and turn off **Enable Snippet
Expansion** there, so v2 can expand snippets without the two conflicting. If snippets stopped
working in v1 too, fully quit v2 and confirm only one version of Raycast is running. - Make sure
auto-expansion is enabled in **Settings → Snippets** (look for **Enable Snippet Expansion**). -
Check the **Expansion Mode**. If expansion is unreliable, try switching between **Immediately**
and **After Delimiter**. - If expansion is intermittent, increase the **Injection Delay**, and if
text comes through partially, try a slower **Response Time**. - _(Only on Mac)_ Check
that Raycast has Accessibility permissions enabled in **System Settings → Privacy & Security →
Accessibility** (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). - Verify your keyword doesn't contain invalid characters (see the Keyword
Character Reference above). Characters like quotes, backticks, and spaces will prevent the keyword
from working. - Some apps with custom text input fields (e.g., certain code editors, terminal
emulators, virtual machines, or Apple Mail) may not support auto-expansion. Try pasting the
Snippet manually from the Search Snippets command instead.
##### Line breaks or rich text aren't preserved when a snippet expands
Snippets with hard returns or formatting can paste on a single line or lose styling, depending on
the target app. Confirm the line breaks are saved in the snippet itself (edit it in Search
Snippets), then try a different paste method or a slower Response Time in **Settings → Snippets**.
Some apps strip formatting on paste regardless.
##### Snippet text is pasted incorrectly or partially
- If the expanded text appears
garbled or incomplete, the target app may be interfering with the paste operation. Try increasing
the paste delay or switching to a different paste method in Snippet settings. - Ensure your
Snippet text is within the 65,536 character limit.
##### Snippet keyboard shortcuts (like Cmd+1 to Cmd+8) aren't working
If the quick keyboard shortcuts for inserting snippets don't fire, confirm you're on the latest
Raycast version, and check that no other app is bound to the same shortcut. Note which app you're
in when it fails, since these shortcuts depend on the frontmost app passing the key combination
through.
##### Dynamic placeholders aren't being replaced
Double-check the placeholder syntax. Placeholders must use curly braces, e.g., `{date}`, `{clipboard}`. A typo in the placeholder name will cause it to be inserted as plain text. For formatted dates, include the format inside the braces, e.g., `{date: YYYY-MM-DD}`.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. The **name and keyword** of the Snippet that isn't working.
4. The **app** where you're trying to use the Snippet (e.g., Chrome, VS Code, Slack, Notion).
5. Whether you **migrated from v1**, and whether v1 is fully quit.
6. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
7. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Quicklinks
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks
Description: Turn any URL into a keyboard shortcut with Raycast Quicklinks — open sites, trigger searches, and jump to deep links across all your devices.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Quicklinks turn the places you open every day into fast, searchable shortcuts. Save a website, search URL, file path, folder, or deeplink, then open it from [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) by name. Use them for anything you open repeatedly: a project folder in your editor, a customer dashboard, a Notion page, a Spotify playlist, or a search engine with arguments.
[Quicklinks in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQuW4nv8XcM)
> [!TIP]
> Use the **Create Quicklink** command to add a quicklink, or **Search Quicklinks** to browse your library. Quicklinks also appear directly in Root Search alongside commands and applications.
#### Create a Quicklink
1. Open the **Create Quicklink** command.
2. Enter the **Link**. This can be a website URL, file path, folder path, or deeplink.
3. Give the Quicklink a **Name** & **Icon**. Raycast will automatically use the favicon when a website URL is entered.
4. _(Only on Mac)_ Select an app in **Open With** (Optional).
5. Add **Tags** to organize related Quicklinks (Optional).
6. Click **Save Quicklink** `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵` to create the Quicklink.
##### Add from Library
Rather than build one by hand, click ** Add from Library** in **Settings → Quicklinks** and search hundreds of ready-made Quicklinks, with common ones like Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube featured at the top.
Picking one opens the **Create Quicklink** form pre-filled, with the search term already set up as a `{argument name="Query"}` placeholder, so you can adjust it before saving.
##### Supported Links
You can use Quicklinks to open a wide range of link types, including:
- **Web URLs**: `https://github.com` or `https://figma.com/file/...`
- **File and folder paths**: `~/Projects/my-app` on macOS or `C:\Projects\my-app` on Windows
- **Deeplinks**: `spotify://playlist/...` or `slack://channel/...`
- **Search URLs**: `https://google.com/search?q={argument name="query"}`
##### Autofill
_(Only on Mac)_
When you create a Quicklink, Raycast can automatically fill the link from your active browser tab or clipboard. Auto Fill requires Automation permissions and works with Safari, Chrome, and other popular browsers.
#### Dynamic Placeholders
Quicklinks support [Dynamic Placeholders](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders), which are replaced when the Quicklink runs. This lets one Quicklink adapt to the current date, clipboard, selected text, calculator result, or a value you enter when opening it.
#### Search and Manage Quicklinks
The **Search Quicklinks** command gives you a central place to browse, open, and manage your Quicklinks.
- Search by name to find a specific Quicklink.
- Filter by tag to narrow down your collection. Press `⌘ P`/`Ctrl P` to open the filter menu.
##### Action Panel
Open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to discover more actions you can take with Quicklinks, including
- ** Open Quicklink**
- ** Open With**: Open the Quicklink in a different app than the set default.
- ** Edit**: Change the contents of an existing Quicklink.
- ** Duplicate**: Use an existing Quicklink as a starting point for a new one.
- ** Pin/Unpin**: Keep your most used Quicklinks at the top of the **Search Quicklinks** command.
- ** Copy Name/Link**
- ** Hide in Root Search**: Keep a specific Quicklink hidden from Root Search.
- ** Create Quicklink**: Add a new Quicklink from scratch.
- ** Move Quicklink**: When part of an organization, move Quicklinks between your personal account and organizations.
- ** Delete Quicklink**
##### Tags
Tags let you organize Quicklinks by project, client, team, or purpose. Assign one or more tags when creating or editing a Quicklink, then filter by tag in the **Search Quicklinks** command when your library grows.
#### Shared Quicklinks
With Raycast for Teams, you can give everyone the same fast path to the links your organization uses every day, from internal dashboards and documentation to staging environments, design files, and onboarding resources. Shared Quicklinks appear alongside your personal Quicklinks.
> [!NOTE]
> An Organization is required before you can create a Shared Quicklink. You can create an organization in **Settings** or through the [Raycast website](https://www.raycast.com/settings/).
##### Create Shared Quicklink
1. Open the **Create Quicklink** command.
2. In **Organization**, select your organization.
3. Complete the dialog with the Quicklink information.
4. Click **Save Quicklink** `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵` to publish the Quicklink.
The Quicklink is then available to every member of the organization. Shared Quicklinks show the organization's avatar on the right side of the item and sync automatically between members.
##### Managing Shared Quicklinks
To manage Shared Quicklinks, use the **Search Quicklinks** command. You will see all your available Quicklinks appear by default, and can swap to view just your organization's Quicklinks by using the Organization filter in the Navigation Bar.
Use the actions available in the Action Panel `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to **Edit**, **Duplicate**, **Move**, or **Delete** a Shared Quicklink. Raycast asks for confirmation before destructive actions. You can also manage Shared Quicklinks in **Settings → Quicklinks** where your organization's Quicklinks appear as a separate group from personal Quicklinks.
#### Import Quicklinks
Raycast can import Quicklinks from a JSON file using the **Import Quicklinks** command. This is useful for moving an existing setup into Raycast or sharing a set of Quicklinks with teammates.
**JSON Format**
The JSON file must contain an array of Quicklink objects. Each object supports these fields:
- `name`: Quicklink title. Type: `String` (required)
- `link`: Quicklink URL. Type: `String` (required)
- `iconName`: Quicklink icon. Type: `String` (optional)
- `openWith`: Target app to open the Quicklink. Type: `String` (optional)
If no app is specified with `openWith`, the link opens in the default web browser. Deeplinks are routed by the browser.
If no icon is specified with `iconName`, Raycast uses the default Quicklink icon.
```json
[
{
"link": "https://duckduckgo.com/?q={argument}",
"name": "Search DuckDuckGo"
},
{
"openWith": "Finder",
"iconName": "folder-16",
"link": "~/Downloads",
"name": "Downloads"
},
{
"openWith": "Music",
"link": "https://music.apple.com/gb/station/apple-music-hits/ra.1498155548",
"name": "Apple Music Hits Radio"
},
{
"link": "shortcuts://run-shortcut?Name={Test}",
"name": "Run Apple Shortcut"
}
]
```
After the import completes, Raycast shows how many Quicklinks were added and how many duplicates were skipped. A Quicklink is considered a duplicate when another Quicklink has the same title and content.
#### Examples
- **Search engines**: `https://google.com/search?q={argument name="query"}` to search Google from Raycast.
- **GitHub repositories**: `https://github.com/{argument name="org"}/{argument name="repo"}` to jump to any repo.
- **Project folders**: `~/Projects/my-app` opened in VS Code.
- **Internal tools**: dashboards, staging environments, admin panels, and design files.
- **Translation**: a Google Translate URL with arguments for source language, target language, and text.
- **Meetings**: your team's standup Zoom or Google Meet link, pinned for fast access.
#### Settings
All Quicklinks settings live under **Settings → Quicklinks**.
- **Show Link Previews**: Display a preview of the website URL when browsing Quicklinks in the **Search Quicklinks** command.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Prefer Existing Tabs**: When a Quicklink points to a website URL already open in your browser, Raycast switches to that tab instead of opening another one. Supports Chrome, Safari, and popular Chromium and Webkit browsers.
- **Pass Selected Text as Argument**: Raycast can automatically pass selected text from the active application to Quicklinks with a single argument when invoked via hotkey.
- **Show Warning Before Deleting Quicklinks**
##### Commands
Assign aliases and hotkeys to the Quicklinks commands you use most:
- **Create Quicklink**: Open the Quicklink editor so you can save a new link. Toggle **Autofill selected text** to pre-fill the URL field with text selected in another app.
- **Export Quicklinks**: Save your Quicklinks to a file for backup or sharing.
- **Import Quicklinks**: Import Quicklinks from a JSON file.
- **Search Quicklinks**: Find and open a Quicklink from your library.
##### Quicklinks
Below Commands, you'll find your full Quicklinks library. Personal Quicklinks and Organization Quicklinks are grouped.
- ** Create Quicklink** to add a new Quicklink.
- ** Add from Library** to start from one of hundreds of ready-made Quicklinks.
- Assign an alias or hotkey to any Quicklink for faster access.
- Click the **ellipsis** icon next to a Quicklink to edit, duplicate, copy, disable or delete it.
#### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
Auto Fill needs Automation access to read the link from your active browser tab. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation**. Raycast prompts the first time you create a Quicklink if the permission is missing.
#### Troubleshooting
##### Quicklink doesn't open or opens the wrong app
- Check that the URL, file path, or folder path is correct and accessible.
- _(Only on Mac)_ Check that the correct application is selected in the **Open With** field.
- For deeplinks such as `spotify://`, make sure the target app is installed.
##### Arguments or placeholders aren't being replaced
- Check the placeholder syntax. Arguments must use curly braces, for example `{argument name="query"}`.
- You can use a maximum of 3 arguments per Quicklink.
- If you're using another Dynamic Placeholder, make sure the placeholder name matches the [Dynamic Placeholders](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders) reference.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. The **Quicklink URL or path** (with any placeholders).
4. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
5. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Clipboard History
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/clipboard-history
Description: Raycast's Clipboard History keeps every text, image, file, link, email, and color you've copied so you can search, paste, and reuse anything in seconds.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: More with Pro
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Ever had the situation that you wanted to find something that you copied earlier? Raycast has a built-in Clipboard History for that. The command keeps track of all copied text, images, files, links, emails, and even colors.
To access it, find the **Clipboard History** command in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar). We recommend setting a custom Alias or Hotkey through the Shortcuts or Clipboard History tab in **Settings** (`⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`) in order to have direct access at all times.
- Raycast now saves every original format you copied. Use **Paste as…** to switch between rich text, plain text, RTF, HTML, and any other format the source provided, so what you paste always matches what you copied.
- When you copy multiple files or pieces of content at once, they're now grouped together as a single clipboard entry instead of being split apart.
- Rename clipboard entries to make them easier to find later.
- Enable **Prefer pasting as plain text** in settings to automatically strip rich formatting on every paste.
- Use **Copy Text from QR Code** to extract the encoded text or link from a QR code in an image in your history.
#### Actions
Within the Clipboard History command, you can search through your entries by name, or hit `⌘ P`/`Ctrl P` to filter them by type: Text, Images, Files, Links, Emails, or Colors.
With a clipboard entry highlighted, you can either hit `↵` to paste it into your active input field, or hit `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to access additional options in the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel), such as:
- **Paste as Plain Text**: strip formatting before pasting
- **Copy to Clipboard** (`⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`)
- **Share…**: send the entry through your system's share options, for text, links, email addresses, images, and multiple files
- **Copy Text from Image**: extract text from a screenshot or photo via on-device text recognition
- **Copy Text from QR Code**: extract the encoded text or link from a QR code in an image
- **Send to AI Chat**: open a new [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) with the entry as context (or Attach to AI Chat for files and images)
- **Edit Content**: make quick edits to text, links, or colors before pasting
- **Save as Snippet**: turn a frequently used entry into a [Raycast Snippet](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets)
- **Rename Entry** (`⌘ E`/`Ctrl E`)
- **Pin Entry** (`⌘ .`/`Ctrl .`)
- **Delete Entry** (`⌘ X`/`Ctrl X`)
- **Delete Entries…**: bulk-delete by time window (last 5, 15, or 30 minutes, or last 1 or 24 hours) (`⇧ ⌘ X`/`Ctrl Shift X`)
- **Delete All Entries** (`⇧ ⌘ X`/`Ctrl Shift X`)
#### Settings
Open Settings (`⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`) and select **Clipboard History** from the sidebar to configure how Raycast records, retains, and pastes your clipboard items. Use the toggle in the top-right corner to enable or disable Clipboard History entirely.
##### History
**Keep history for**: Choose how long Raycast retains each clipboard item before it's deleted. Options include:
- 1 Day
- 1 Week
- 1 Month
- 3 Months
- 6 Months (Pro)
- 1 Year (Pro)
- Unlimited (Pro)
> [!TIP]
> On Raycast Pro? Longer retention isn't enabled automatically. Open **Settings → Clipboard History
> → Keep history for** and pick **Unlimited** (or 6 Months / 1 Year) to use it.
##### Text Recognition
- **Text Recognition**: When enabled, Raycast automatically extracts text from images you copy so they can be searched alongside regular text entries. Helpful for quickly grabbing text from screenshots without an OCR step.
- **Recognition Mode**: Choose between faster processing or more accurate text extraction:
- **Fast**: Lower CPU usage, suitable for most everyday screenshots.
- **Accurate**: Better recognition for small text, mixed fonts, or low-contrast images, at the cost of higher CPU usage.
##### Disabled Applications
Add applications where clipboard changes should not be recorded. Common examples like Passwords and Keychain Access are included to prevent sensitive values from ending up in your history. Click the **+** button to add more, for example password managers or banking apps.
##### Commands
Assign aliases and hotkeys to the Clipboard History commands you use most:
- **Clipboard History**: Open the searchable history list to paste a previous item. Expand the command to access these options:
- **Primary Action**: Choose what pressing Return does on a selected entry. **Paste to Active App** inserts the item into the focused app, while **Copy to Clipboard** puts it back at the top of your clipboard.
- **Prefer pasting as plain text**: When enabled, pasting prioritizes plain text over restoring the original copied formats.
- **Show visual information for links**: When enabled, social card images and favicons are fetched and displayed for link entries, making them easier to identify at a glance.
- **Update history after action**: When enabled, clipboard items are moved to the top of the list after a copy or paste action, so your most recently used items stay easy to find.
- **Paste Sequentially**: Paste multiple clipboard items one after another in sequence. Each time you run it, Raycast pastes the next item back through your history (most recent first, then the one before it), advancing a cursor as it goes. The cursor resets automatically once the **Sequence Timeout** elapses or your most recent clipboard item changes. Expand the command to access these options:
- **Sequence Timeout**: How long Raycast waits between pastes before resetting the sequence. The default selection of 30 Seconds works well for filling out forms across fields.
- **Add a new line after pasting text**: When enabled, Raycast inserts a line break after each pasted item, useful for pasting lists or filling multi-line text areas.
- **Reset Paste Sequence**: Reset the paste sequence to start again from the most recent clipboard item. Running it moves the cursor back to the top and shows a HUD confirming **Paste sequence reset**, so you can restart a sequence right away — for example after a mistake or a context switch — without waiting for the **Sequence Timeout** to lapse. No hotkey is assigned by default; add an alias or hotkey from **Settings → Shortcuts** if you use it often.
##### Ask Clipboard
**Ask Clipboard** is a built-in AI Extension that lets you act on your clipboard history through natural language (for example, "summarize what I just copied" or "find the link I copied yesterday"). It searches your full history by text, title, recognized text, or category, reads a specific entry, and can replace an entry's content with new plain text. Assign an alias or hotkey to make it easier to invoke.
#### Troubleshooting
Clipboard History keeps a searchable record of what you copy. Most reports come down to history not recording, images not being captured, paste formatting, or the hotkey not opening the window. Here are the common ones.
##### Clipboard History isn't recording anything (or stopped after updating)
If old entries are there but no new copies are saved, work through these checks:
- Make sure Raycast v1 is fully quit, not just disabled. Running v1 and Raycast at the same time can stop Raycast from recording. Quit v1 entirely, then reopen Raycast.
- Confirm Clipboard History is enabled in **Settings → Clipboard History**, then copy a plain piece of text and check whether it appears.
- Test whether it fails for copies from every app or only specific ones, and note which.
- Check your account and permissions. If Raycast is in `/Applications` and that folder is only writable by an admin, a standard user account can be blocked from saving. Confirm whether you're on an admin or standard account.
- On managed Macs, an MDM or security profile can block clipboard monitoring even if v1 worked. On a work device, check with your IT admin.
##### Images or screenshots aren't saved, or paste without a file extension
Some image and screenshot entries may not appear in history, or paste without their file extension
so the target app can't open them. Confirm the image actually copied by pasting it directly into
another app first.
##### Pasting keeps the formatting, or "Paste as Plain Text" doesn't always work
The default paste behavior changed from v1. To drop formatting on a single entry, use the "Paste
as Plain Text" action from the entry's Action Panel. Some apps re-apply their own styling on
paste, so if you want plain text every time, set your preferred default in **Settings → Clipboard
History**.
##### The hotkey doesn't open Clipboard History
If your Clipboard History hotkey doesn't open the window, check for another app bound to the same
shortcut and confirm the hotkey in **Settings → Clipboard History**. Some combinations are
unreliable: double-modifier binds like Option + Option can fail to trigger while Caps Lock is on,
so try a standard modifier combination if yours isn't firing.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. Whether **Raycast v1 is fully quit**.
4. The **app you copied from** and the **app you're pasting into**, and whether it happens with every app or only specific ones.
5. Whether the content was an **image, formatted text, or plain text**.
6. Whether you're on an **admin or standard account**, and whether the Mac is **managed (MDM)**.
7. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
8. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Notes
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/notes
Description: Capture and access quick notes directly in Raycast — synced across Mac, Windows, and iPhone so your thoughts are always within reach.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: More with Pro
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Raycast Notes makes it frictionless to organize your thoughts from anywhere on your Mac. You can track your todos, take notes during meetings, and save your next big idea. It's designed to be lightweight with Markdown support and is just a keystroke away with a deep integration into the rest of Raycast's ecosystem.
Our note-taking experience comes with three commands:
- **Raycast Notes:** This command simply toggles the Notes window.
- **Create Note:** This command creates a new note and opens the window. It's ideal to capture your thoughts with zero friction.
- **Search Notes:** This command allows you to search all your notes by title and content, making it easy to revisit previous notes.
> [!TIP]
> We recommend assigning a hotkey to the Raycast Notes command for quicker access. A commonly used hotkey is `⌥ N`/`Alt N`.
>
> Type `Raycast Notes` into the main Raycast window, then choose Configure Command → Set Hotkey from the `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` Action menu. Alternatively, set the hotkey from Settings → Raycast Notes.
#### Creating
It all starts by creating a new note. It can be your next big idea or just a way to jot down some thoughts. If you have Raycast Notes already open, you can click the plus button in the top-right corner of the toolbar (or press `⌘ N`/`Ctrl N`) to create a new note.
Alternatively, you can use the Create Note command in [Raycast's Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar), which is globally available. After you have successfully created a new note, you can start writing. The first line of the note is used as the title of the note, which is shown in the toolbar.
#### Editing
Raycast Notes offers a lightweight editing experience that allows you to format your note with ease.
There are four ways to format your notes:
1. By typing Markdown syntax like creating a heading with `#`
2. By pressing keyboard shortcuts like `⌘ B`/`Ctrl B` to make text bold
3. By performing the Format action via the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`)
4. By activating the Format Bar on the bottom of the window
Below is an overview of all formatting options and their corresponding keyboard shortcut and Markdown syntax.
##### Paragraph Formatting
Everything you need to organize your content into clear, structured sections - from headers and lists to specialized blocks that help keep your notes tidy and easy to navigate.
| Format | macOS Shortcut | Windows Shortcut | Markdown Syntax |
| ------------ | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Heading 1 | `⌥ ⌘ 1` | `Ctrl Alt 1` | Type `#` at the beginning of a new line |
| Heading 2 | `⌥ ⌘ 2` | `Ctrl Alt 2` | Type `##` at the beginning of a new line |
| Heading 3 | `⌥ ⌘ 3` | `Ctrl Alt 3` | Type `###` at the beginning of a new line |
| Code block | `⌥ ⌘ C` | `Ctrl Alt C` | Type ``` (three backticks and a space) or `~~~` (three tildes and a space) at the beginning of a new line |
| Blockquote | `⇧ ⌘ B` | `Ctrl Shift B` | Type `>` at the beginning of a new line |
| Ordered list | `⇧ ⌘ 7` | `Ctrl Shift 7` | Type `1.` (or any other number followed by a dot) at the beginning of a new line |
| Bullet list | `⇧ ⌘ 8` | `Ctrl Shift 8` | Type `*` or `-` at the beginning of a new line |
| Task list | `⇧ ⌘ 9` | `Ctrl Shift 9` | Type `[ ]` for an unchecked task or `[x]` for a checked task at the beginning of a new line |
To toggle a task’s checked state, place the cursor on the task line and press `⌘ Enter`/`Ctrl Enter`.
##### Text Formatting
Basic styling options that let you modify the appearance of individual words or phrases within your text to emphasize important points, add links, or create distinctions.
| Format | macOS Shortcut | Windows Shortcut | Markdown Syntax |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Bold** | `⌘ B` | `Ctrl B` | Type `**two asterisks**` or `__two underlines__` |
| _Italic_ | `⌘ I` | `Ctrl I` | Type `*one asterisk*` or `_one underline_` |
| ~~Strikethrough~~ | `⇧ ⌘ S` | `Ctrl Shift S` | Type `~~two tildes~~` |
| Underline | `⌘ U` | `Ctrl U` | N/A |
| `Code` | `⌘ E` | `Ctrl E` | Type `` `one backtick` `` |
| [Link](https://raycast.com) | `⌘ L` | `Ctrl L` | Type `[link text in square brackets](https://manual.raycast.com/link-url-in-parentheses)` |
##### Other Formatting
Additional formatting elements that help you enhance your notes with visual separators and expressive elements like emojis to improve readability and communication.
| Format | macOS Shortcut | Windows Shortcut | Markdown Syntax |
| --------------- | -------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Emoji | N/A | N/A | Type `:` to open the inline emoji picker |
| Horizontal rule | N/A | N/A | Type three dashes (`---`) or three underscores and a space (`___ `) at the beginning of a new line |
#### Organizing
Raycast Notes offers support for multiple notes but balances it with a lightweight user interface. Only one note is visible at the time. Notes are organized as a stack. You can think of them as a notepad with multiple pages. To access previous notes, you can click the Browse Notes tool bar item in the top right or press `⌘ P`/`Ctrl P`.
Alternatively, you can use the Search Notes command in Raycast's Root Search. This is handy when you want to quickly open a note, such as a note for your 1:1 with your manager.
##### Pinning
Some notes are more important than others and you want to revisit them on a regular basis. Those notes can be pinned to the top of the Search Notes command and the Browse Notes action. To pin a note, press `⇧ ⌘ P`/`Ctrl Shift P` (from the Search Notes window, it's `⌘ .`/`Ctrl .`).
Once a note is pinned, it can be accessed with `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` through `⌘ 9`/`Ctrl 9` while you have the Notes window open. This is similar to how pinned tabs work in most browsers and should feel familiar.
##### Navigating
Raycast Notes keeps your focus on a single note at a time. But sometimes you want to go back and forth between multiple notes. You can use the `⌘ [`/`Ctrl [` and `⌘ ]`/`Ctrl ]` keyboard shortcuts to navigate between previously opened notes. This is similar to how the navigation hierarchy works in most browsers.
> [!TIP]
> You can adjust the zoom level of the Notes content by using `⌘ -`/`Ctrl -` / `+` to zoom out or in, or `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` to return to actual size, or in **Settings -> Raycast Notes -> Zoom**.
#### FAQ
##### Are Raycast Notes synced across devices?
Yes, Raycast Notes supports Cloud Sync as part of an [active Pro
subscription](https://www.raycast.com/pro). That means you can start a note on one device and
continue it on another.
##### What is free and paid in Raycast Notes?
You can use Raycast Notes for free with up to 5 notes. If you want more notes, you need to
purchase a [Pro subscription](https://www.raycast.com/pro). The subscription also unlocks other
features such as Raycast AI, Cloud Sync, and custom themes.
##### Can I open multiple notes at the same time?
Raycast Notes is a lightweight note-taking experience and keeps your focus on a single note.
However, our navigation and search experience allows you to quickly switch notes.
##### What is the hotkey to check a task from the task list?
`⌘ ⏎`/`Ctrl Enter`
##### Can I recover notes that I accidentally deleted?
Yes. Press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` in Raycast Notes and search for the `Show Recently
Deleted Notes` action to recover a recently deleted note.
##### Are the keyboard shortcuts the same on macOS and Windows?
Mostly, yes. The Windows shortcuts use `Ctrl` in place of `⌘` and{" "}
`Alt` in place of `⌥`, with otherwise identical key combos. The one
exception worth noting is Strikethrough — on macOS you may need to disable Speech selection in
System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Accessibility for `⇧ ⌘ S` to work;
on Windows there's no equivalent conflict.
#### Troubleshooting
If Notes isn't working as expected, here are some common issues and steps to resolve them.
##### My notes aren't syncing between devices
- Notes sync through [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync), which requires a signed-in Raycast Pro account with the **Raycast Notes** category turned on in **Settings → Cloud Sync → Synced Content**.
- v1 and iOS devices sync through legacy Cloud Sync and appear as a single **Legacy Raycast & iOS Devices** entry, so bridging notes between a v1 device and a v2 device can lag behind syncing between two v2 devices.
- Still stuck? See [Cloud Sync Troubleshooting](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync#troubleshooting) for more.
##### I'm on Pro but don't see Unlimited Notes
- Open **Settings → Account** to confirm your current plan. Pro includes
Unlimited Raycast Notes (alongside Raycast AI, Translator, and more).
- Make sure you're signed into the same account on every device.
- If you subscribed on iOS, the subscription is managed from the iOS app /
App Store.
##### ⌘N doesn't create a new note
- Make sure the Notes window is actually focused when you press the shortcut
— otherwise the keypress goes to the previously active app.
- Check for a conflicting global hotkey, especially one using a directional
modifier (e.g. right-`⌘` + `N`).
##### Raycast Notes appears on its own, or I can't hide it while screen sharing
These are known limitations the team is actively working on. Hiding Raycast
Notes from screen sharing isn't available yet, and unexpected appearances are
being investigated. If you hit this, please report it with the details below
so we can reproduce it.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command (or **Share Feedback** in the iOS app) so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings
→ About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to
copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs**
to open your log folder.
4. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Focus
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/focus
Description: Stay in flow and get more done by blocking out distracting apps and websites for a set period of time.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast Focus helps you stay in flow and get more done by blocking out distractions on your computer. Define a goal, set a duration, and block (or exclusively allow) distracting apps and websites for the length of your session.
You can group apps and websites into reusable Focus Categories (e.g. "Social Media", "News"), then drop a whole category into a session instead of re-picking everything each time. Sessions live in a panel and can be tucked into the menu bar (macOS) or taskbar (Windows) while you work.
#### Getting Started
Open Raycast and run **Start Focus Session**. Fill in the form:
- **Goal**: what you're focusing on (e.g. "Write the report")
- **Duration**: pick a length, or leave it as `No Limit` for an open-ended session
- **Mode**: `Block Apps & Websites` (block the listed items) or `Allow Apps & Websites` (block everything except the listed items)
- **Block / Allow**: add apps, websites, or saved Focus Categories
Submit the form (`⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`) to begin. The most-used commands:
- **Start Focus Session**: opens the configuration form
- **Toggle Focus Session**: starts with your last-used setup, or stops the current session
- **Complete / Pause / Resume / Edit Focus Session**: control a running session
- **Search Focus Categories / Create Focus Category**: manage reusable app/website groups
- **Ask Raycast Focus (`@raycast-focus`)**: the AI Extension for Focus
> [!TIP]
> Assign a Hotkey or Alias to **Toggle Focus Session** for one-keystroke start/stop.
#### How It Works
While a session is running, Raycast enforces your block/allow list at the system level. Launching or switching to a blocked app, or visiting a blocked website, is intercepted. A session panel shows your goal and a countdown (for timed sessions).
Sessions are sleep-aware: if your machine sleeps, the running session is paused automatically and reconciled when you wake. Timed sessions auto-complete when the timer runs out; No Limit sessions run until you complete them manually. Maximum session length is 24 hours.
From the session's [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) you can Restart, Complete, Pause, Resume, or Cancel the session, and move it to / detach it from the menu bar.
##### Commands
- **Start Focus Session**: opens the session configuration form where you set your goal, duration, mode, and what to block or allow.
- **Toggle Focus Session**: starts a new session using your last-used setup, or stops the current session if one is running. Ideal for a single hotkey that drops you in and out of focus.
- **Create Focus Category**: creates a reusable group of apps and websites you can drop into any session.
- **Search Focus Categories**: browse and manage your saved Focus Categories.
While you're in a session, there are additional commands:
- **Edit Focus Session**: add more time, change the block/allow list, or adjust the goal without stopping.
- **Complete Focus Session**: ends the session early with a celebratory green glow and toast.
- **Pause Focus Session**: temporarily suspends blocking so you can step away. Pick a predefined break duration and Focus nudges you when it's time to return.
- **Resume Focus Session**: picks up a paused session where you left off.
##### Custom Focus Categories
Categories are reusable groups of apps and websites you can drop into any session. Create one with **Create Focus Category**, then find it later with **Search Focus Categories**. There are two kinds:
- *Built-in*: curated by Raycast and not editable, but you can duplicate one and save it under a new title.
- *Custom*: your own categories, created with **Create Focus Category**.
Categories work in both Block and Allow modes. For example, group your work apps and apply them in Allow mode, or group distractions and apply them in Block mode.
##### Tracking
**Focus Bar**: a window that floats above your other windows, subtly reminding you to stay focused. It shows your progress and lets you pause, complete, or manage the session.
**Menu Bar**: prefer something more discrete? Hover the Focus Bar and choose Move to Menu Bar (on Windows, Move to Taskbar) under the more menu to show the session there instead.
##### Blocking
When a session starts, blocked apps quit immediately and blocked websites redirect to a block page. In Block mode the blocked items are the apps and websites you listed; in Allow mode it's everything except the ones you listed, so your allowed apps and sites stay open. If you stumble onto a blocked app during a session, you get an orange glow and a toast to notify you.
If you really need to access blocked content, you can snooze it (3 minutes by default, configurable in **Settings → Raycast Focus**). After the snooze period you see the blocked overlay, and the app quits once you switch focus.
> [!TIP]
> Set **Snooze Duration** to **No Snooze** and the escape hatch goes away completely: no **Snooze** action is offered on a blocked app at all, so pausing the session is the only way through.
##### Editing
Need to add more time or block additional apps and websites? Edit a session at any time with **Edit Focus Session**, or hover the Focus Bar and pick Edit under the more menu.
##### Taking a Break
Something urgent come up, or time for a brew? Pause the session and pick one of the predefined break durations. Focus steps away and nudges you when it's time to jump back in.
##### Completing
Finished before the clock hits zero? Complete the session manually for a celebratory green glow and toast. Otherwise it auto-completes when the timer ends, giving you the option to extend or wrap up.
##### Create a Focus Filter
_(Only on Mac)_
macOS Ventura (13) and later supports Focus filters, which adjust app behavior based on your active system Focus. Raycast Focus ships a filter that starts a Raycast Focus session whenever a system Focus turns on.
1. Open **System Settings → Focus** and select the Focus you want to customize.
2. Scroll down to **Focus Filters** and choose **Add Filter**.
3. Select **"Raycast – Start a focus session"**.
4. Configure the session that starts with the Focus, including the goal and the categories of apps and websites to block.
##### Apple Shortcuts
_(Only on Mac)_
Raycast Focus ships two Apple Shortcuts actions: **Start Focus Session** and **Complete Focus Session**. Find them in the Shortcuts app sidebar and chain them into larger automations, for example playing music and turning on Do Not Disturb alongside a focus session.
The duration is optional. Leave it out to start a session with no timer, then end it manually or with the **Complete Focus Session** action.
##### Ask Raycast Focus (AI Extension)
The `@raycast-focus` AI Extension lets you drive Focus from [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) or [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) in plain language. Mention `@raycast-focus` and ask it to start a session with a goal and duration, complete or pause the running session, or explore your past sessions activity — how long you focused, what you blocked, and how your sessions trend over time. Enable or disable it like any other Focus command in **Settings → Raycast Focus**.
#### Platform Differences
| Feature | macOS | Windows |
| --------------------- | ------------------ | --------------- |
| Stash the session UI | Move to Menu Bar | Move to Taskbar |
| App/website blocking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Focus Categories | ✅ | ✅ |
Functionally Focus is equivalent on macOS and Windows; the only real difference is the menu bar vs. taskbar wording.
#### Tips & Tricks
- Use Allow mode for deep work: list only the 2-3 apps/sites you need and everything else is blocked.
- Build Focus Categories once (e.g. "Distractions") and reuse them across sessions.
- Toggle Focus Session reuses your previous setup, so a single hotkey can drop you back into your usual config.
- Move the session to the menu bar/taskbar to keep the countdown visible without the panel in your way.
- **Deeplinks**: control sessions from scripts or other apps, e.g. `raycast://focus/start?goal=Deep%20Focus&categories=social,gaming&duration=300&mode=block`. Also `raycast://focus/toggle` and `raycast://focus/complete`.
- **Natural-language duration**: type a timeframe like `until 4:30pm`, or pick anything from 5 minutes to a full day.
#### Settings
**Settings → Raycast Focus**:
- **Snooze Duration**: choose how long blocked apps and websites stay snoozed. Pick 1 minute, 3 minutes (default), 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or **No Snooze** to disable snoozing entirely.
- **Play Sound**: play sounds for Focus notifications (on by default).
- **Restore Terminated Apps**: reopen apps Raycast Focus terminated when the session ends (off by default).
- **Allow all Websites**: allow all websites when a browser is allowed but no specific websites are listed (off by default).
Each Focus command (Start, Toggle, Pause, Resume, Complete, Edit, Search Focus Categories, Create Focus Category, and the Ask Raycast Focus AI extension) can be enabled or disabled, and given an alias or hotkey, in **Settings → Raycast Focus**.
#### FAQ
##### Can I focus with no time limit?
Yes, leave Duration as `No Limit`; the session runs until you complete it.
##### What's the difference between Block and Allow mode?
Block blocks the items you list; Allow blocks everything except the items you list.
##### What happens if my computer sleeps mid-session?
The session auto-pauses and is reconciled on wake.
##### Is there a maximum session length?
Yes, 24 hours.
##### Is Focus available on iOS?
No, Focus is macOS and Windows only.
##### What happens if I need to access an app while in focus?
Snooze blocking for that specific app or website to access it while everything else stays blocked, or pause the session to temporarily disable blocking. If **Snooze Duration** is set to **No Snooze** in **Settings → Raycast Focus**, no Snooze action is offered and pausing the session is your only option.
##### Is Raycast Focus free?
Yes, it's completely free and available to all users.
##### What permissions does Focus need?
Automation and Accessibility permissions in **System Settings → Privacy & Security** (Accessibility is renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). If blocking misbehaves, toggle them off and on again.
##### Does Focus work in every browser?
It supports all major browsers (Little Arc is not supported).
##### I can't see my session in the menu bar.
With an active session, detach it from the menu bar via the bar's more menu, or Cmd-drag menu bar items to the left until Focus appears.
#### Troubleshooting
If Focus isn't working as expected, here are some common issues and steps to resolve them.
##### A blocked app keeps reopening / blocking feels off after sleep
The session pauses on sleep and resumes on wake. Edit or Restart the session to re-sync.
##### Website not blocked
Check the host pattern was parsed (an invalid URL shows a "Failed parsing website URL" toast) and that it isn't already covered by a selected category.
##### Apps didn't reopen after finishing
That's expected unless **Restore apps when session ends** is enabled in **Settings → Raycast Focus**.
### File Search
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/file-search
Description: Find any file on your computer by name from Root Search or the dedicated Search Files command, with full control over what's indexed.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
File Search turns Raycast into the fastest way to find a file on your computer. Type in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) and matches appear inline as you go or use the **Search Files** command for richer details and metadata without opening Finder or Explorer.
[File Search in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQl8Wrue3oQ)
#### Get Started
1. Start typing a file or folder name in Root Search. Matching results appear inline alongside your apps, commands, and history.
2. Press `↵` to open the selected result, or `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) for more actions.
3. For a richer view, open the **Search Files** command. The command will show a wider results list, a details panel showing file metadata, and the same actions as Root Search. When the search field is empty, the command shows your **Recently Used** files.
> [!NOTE]
> By default, File Search matches on **file name** alone. To also match on what's inside your files, turn on [Content Search](#content-search).
> [!TIP]
> Type any file path into Root Search and you'll see an **Open in Finder or Open in File Explorer** command to take you straight to that location.
##### Sort a Folder
When you browse into a folder path, a ** Sort Folder By** dropdown appears in the Navigation Bar. Press `⇧ ⌘ P`/`Ctrl Shift P` to switch between **Date Modified**, **Date Created**, and **Name**. Raycast remembers your choice for the next folder you browse.
#### What Gets Indexed
By default, Raycast indexes your home folder, and on Mac it also indexes `/Applications`. Hidden files are excluded, and Raycast respects `.gitignore`, `.ignore`, Git exclude files, and `.rayignore` files. Common noise like `node_modules`, `*.tmp` files, and system caches is filtered out automatically.
Raycast also skips the state and cache folders that developer tools keep in your home folder, such as the caches and sessions inside `.claude`, plus `.codex`, `.npm`, `.cargo/registry`, and `.swiftpm`. Files you wrote yourself in those folders, like `.claude/settings.json` or anything under `.claude/skills`, are still indexed.
> [!NOTE]
> Your file index is stored locally on your device and is never synced or uploaded to Raycast servers.
##### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
On first launch, Raycast requests permission to scan your home folder. If you prefer, grant permission to individual folders instead and File Search will index just those. If you skip this during setup, you'll see a prompt when you open the **Search Files** command.
##### .rayignore
A `.rayignore` file works like `.gitignore`, but for Raycast's File Search. Place one in any folder to tell Raycast what to skip. List one path or glob pattern per line, and rules apply to that folder and all subfolders. This is useful when you want to exclude something from File Search without touching your Git config, such as a tracked build directory you don't want cluttering results.
The **Exclude from Index** action in **Search Files** handles this for you. Select a file, run the action, and Raycast walks up the directory tree to find the nearest `.rayignore`, appends the rule, or creates a new `.rayignore` in the file's parent folder if none exists.
#### Settings
All File Search settings can be found in **Settings → File Search**.
- **Content Search**: Also match on the text inside files, not just their names. See [Content Search](#content-search) below.
- **Search Scopes**: Add or remove additional folders to be included when searching for files. Useful for bringing in an external drive or a specific project folder not in your home folder.
- **Ignore Patterns**: Comma-separated glob patterns to skip globally (for example `*.log, build/**`). Combine with `.rayignore` files for per-folder rules.
- **Include Hidden Files**: Index dotfiles, folders that start with `.`, and other hidden files on your system.
- **Use Ignore Files**: Respect `.gitignore`, `.ignore`, and `.rayignore` files. On by default.
- **Keep Files from Removed Volumes**: Preserve indexed results for files on external or network drives even when those drives are disconnected or unavailable.
- **Excluded Automatically**: Folders an app keeps rewriting, like build output and caches, that Raycast stopped indexing on its own. Each row shows how many reindexes it saved.
- **Enforce Low Disk Space Block**: Stop indexing if the estimated index wouldn't fit in your available disk space. Off by default. See [Enforce Low Disk Space Block](#enforce-low-disk-space-block) below.
- **Reset to Defaults**: Restore all File Search settings to their defaults. See [Reset to Defaults](#reset-to-defaults) below.
If you would like to turn off File Search in Root Search, you can do so from **Settings -> Launcher -> Include Files in Root Search**.
##### Content Search
Content Search lets Raycast find files by what's inside them, not just their names. It uses your operating system's built-in search index (Spotlight on macOS, Windows Search on Windows), so it only works when that index is healthy and covers your File Search folders.
To turn it on, open **Settings → File Search** and toggle on **Content Search**. If the toggle is grayed out, your OS index isn't covering your File Search folders yet — fix that first (below), then enable it.
**Mac**
If Spotlight isn't indexing your File Search folders, Content Search shows a warning and the toggle stays disabled.
1. Open **System Settings → Spotlight** (Raycast's warning has an **Open Spotlight Settings** shortcut).
2. Make sure your File Search folders are not in Spotlight's **Privacy** / excluded list. Remove any you want searchable.
3. Give Spotlight time to finish indexing, then re-toggle **Content Search**.
**Windows**
If your File Search folders aren't in the Windows index, Content Search shows a warning and the toggle stays disabled.
1. Open **Windows Indexing Options** (Raycast's warning has an **Open Search Settings** shortcut).
2. Add your File Search folders to the index.
3. For file contents (not just names): **Indexing Options → Advanced → File Types** and set the relevant types to **Index Properties and File Contents**.
4. Let indexing finish, then re-toggle **Content Search**.
##### Enforce Low Disk Space Block
Off by default, and currently available to some users. When enabled, Raycast stops indexing your files if it estimates the index wouldn't fit in your available disk space, protecting you from a large index filling up your drive.
If indexing is blocked because you're low on space, Raycast shows a warning at the top of File Search settings ("You are low on disk space, which may prevent Raycast from indexing your files"). To resolve it, free up disk space, then re-run indexing. If you'd rather let indexing proceed regardless, turn this setting off.
##### Reset to Defaults
If your File Search settings get into a messy state, or you just want a clean slate, you can restore everything to its defaults in one step.
1. Open **Settings → File Search**.
2. Scroll to **Reset to Defaults**.
3. Click **Reset**.
4. Confirm in the dialog ("Reset File Search Settings?"). Your files will then be re-indexed.
Resetting restores all File Search settings to their defaults, including:
- **Search directories (scopes)** — back to the defaults (your Home folder and Applications).
- **Ignore patterns / exclusions** — back to the default set.
- Other toggles like **Include Hidden Files**, **Use Ignore Files**, and **Keep Files from Removed Volumes**.
After you confirm, Raycast re-indexes your files so search reflects the restored settings. Depending on how much you have indexed, this can take a little while to complete.
> [!NOTE]
> This only affects File Search settings. It doesn't delete your files or change settings elsewhere in Raycast.
#### Actions
With a file selected in either Root Search or the **Search Files** view, press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to open the Action Panel. Several File Search-specific actions you can use in Raycast:
- **Show Details in File Search**: Opens the **Search Files** command to the selected file with the details panel open.
- **Quick Look**: Preview the file without opening it.
- **Open in Terminal**: Opens the folder in your default terminal. Folders only.
- **Save as Quicklink**: Turn the file into a [Quicklink](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks) so you can launch it by name later.
- **Save as Duplicate**: Creates a copy of the file alongside the original.
- **Share…**: Sends the file through your system's share options. Root Search results only.
- **Send to Quick AI** / **Send to AI Chat** _(Only on Mac)_: Attach the file to a new Chat as context. Files only.
- **Toggle Hidden Files**: Includes hidden files on your computer in File Search.
- **Index Files**: Force a fresh scan of your file index. You can also use the **Stop Indexing** action from the indexing toast to pause it.
#### AI Extensions
_(Only on Mac)_
File Search ships with [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions) you can call in [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) or [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) with an `@` mention to ask about your files in natural language — for example "find the PDF I downloaded last week from Apple" or "open the most recent screenshot from this morning" — without knowing the exact file name.
- **Ask File Search** (`@file-search`) — queries Raycast's own File Search index, so it reflects your configured search scopes, ignore patterns, and (if enabled) [Content Search](#content-search).
- **Ask Finder** (`@finder`) — asks against macOS Finder.
Each can be given an alias and hotkey, and toggled on/off, from the **AI Extensions** section of File Search settings.
Both extensions are also available as [fallback commands](https://manual.raycast.com/settings#fallback-commands). This means you can type your file search into Root Search with no matching results and use the **Use with Ask File Search** or **Use with Ask Finder** command at the bottom of results to locate it on your Mac.
#### Troubleshooting
If File Search isn't working as expected, here are some common issues and steps to resolve them.
##### File Search is stuck on "Indexing files"
- Update Raycast to the latest version.
- Check that Raycast has the right permissions (**Full Disk Access** in
**System Settings → Privacy & Security**).
- Make sure only one version of Raycast is running.
- Check for conflicts with other tools that index or watch files.
- To force a fresh scan, run the **Index Files** action inside File Search.
##### A file isn't showing up in results
- Confirm the file's folder is included in your Search Scopes
(**Settings → File Search**).
- If a specific folder seems broken, remove it from the scope and re-add it.
- File Search respects `.gitignore`, `.ignore`, and `.rayignore` files by
default. Check **Ignore Patterns** and **Use Ignore Files** if expected
files are missing.
##### Hidden files aren't being found
- Enable **Include Hidden Files** in **Settings → File Search**. Hidden
files are dotfiles and folders whose names start with `.` and are
excluded by default.
- Note that ignore files (`.gitignore`, `.ignore`, `.rayignore`) still
apply — a hidden file inside an ignored folder won't be indexed.
- Some developer tool caches and state folders are never indexed, even with
**Include Hidden Files** on. See [What Gets Indexed](#what-gets-indexed).
##### Search Screenshots / OCR isn't finding text in images
- Enable **Text Recognition** — it's required for the `text:` filter and
the **Copy Text from Image** action.
- Make sure the folder holding the images is in Search Scopes. Defaults
include the system screenshot location, CleanShot X, and `~/Desktop`.
- Grant Screenshots file access: **Full Disk Access** in **System Settings
→ Privacy & Security**, or at minimum Desktop, Documents, and Downloads.
- For non-screenshot images or videos in watched folders, enable **Include
All Media**. Set **Recognition Mode** to **Accurate** to catch more text.
##### Content Search toggle is grayed out
Your OS index isn't covering your File Search folders. Follow the platform
steps in [Content Search](#content-search) to add your folders to Spotlight
(macOS) or Windows Search, let indexing finish, then re-toggle **Content
Search**.
##### Content Search isn't returning content matches
- Confirm **Content Search** is on in **Settings → File Search** and that the
folder is in your OS index.
- Some files may not be indexed yet — large or recently added files can take
time, and locations excluded from the OS index are never searched.
- Stale results usually mean the OS is still (re)indexing. Give it time to
finish.
##### Search results feel worse or different than Raycast v1
Fuzzy-matching behavior (e.g. underscores/hyphens in filenames) has changed
and several cases have been fixed across recent releases — make sure you're
on the latest version. If it still differs, it may be a known issue; please
report it with the details below.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings
→ About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue
3. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to
copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs**
to open your log folder.
4. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Extensions
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/extensions
Description: Extensions add commands, integrations, and AI tools to Raycast — install thousands from the Store or build your own to create your perfect workflow.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Extensions are the building blocks of your Raycast experience. Each one adds a focused set of commands, whether that's a quick utility, a search shortcut, or a deep integration with the tools you rely on. Raycast includes a set of built-in extensions out of the box, with thousands more available in the Store.
#### Store
The Store is where you discover and install extensions built by the Raycast community, as well as private extensions if you're part of an organization. Open it using the **Store** command in Root Search.
Browse the Store by name, command, keyword, or category. Only compatible extensions for Raycast on your OS appear in results, so everything you see works on your machine. Open any extension to see its description, commands, screenshots, and author details, then press ⏎ to install. It's added to Raycast instantly, ready to use from the Store listing or from Root Search.
**Teams** If you belong to an organization on Raycast, private extensions appear in the Store alongside public ones. To find them, select **Filter by Organization** in the Navigation Bar and choose your organization. Private extensions are only visible to members and follow the same installation process as public extensions.
##### Installed Extensions
Filter the Store to show only installed extensions by opening the **Categories** dropdown in the Navigation Bar and selecting ** Installed**. From there, press `⏎` to go directly to an extension's Store listing, or open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) to view all available actions including uninstall, configure, or view its source code.
#### AI Extensions
AI Extensions give Raycast AI the ability to take action across your installed extensions. Instead of running a command yourself, describe what you want in [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) or [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) and Raycast picks the right tool automatically — whether that's searching your clipboard history, finding a file, checking a Linear ticket, or anything else an extension supports.
Store extensions can ship AI Extensions alongside their regular commands. Raycast's own built-in extensions come with AI Extensions too. You can review and configure which tools are available to AI in **Settings → Extensions**.
Explore the [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions) page for more information.
#### Check for Updates
Raycast automatically applies updates to your installed Store extensions in the background as they become available from the extension's maintainers. If you'd prefer to pull updates manually, or grab one the moment it's published, use the **Check for Extension Updates** command.
Automatic updates only apply to extensions installed from the Store. Local development extensions added via the **Import Extension** command are managed by you and aren't updated from the Store.
#### Create Your Own
If you can't find what you're looking for, you can build a Raycast Extension yourself. The Raycast Extension API lets you create extensions using React, TypeScript, and Node, with a built-in UI component library to get you up and running fast.
> [!NOTE]
> When you run `npm run dev` on Mac, your extension opens in Raycast v2 if it's running and falls back to Raycast v1 otherwise. Run `npm install @raycast/api@latest` to ensure your extension picks up the latest dev command behavior.
Check out the [Extension API Manual](https://developers.raycast.com) for more information.
### Translate
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/translate
Description: Translate text between dozens of languages directly from Raycast — paste, switch source and target, and copy results in seconds.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 20 August 2026
The Translate command turns any block of text into another language without leaving Raycast. Open it, type or paste what you want to translate, and the result appears in real time. You can copy it, paste it directly into the app you came from, or send it to [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) for follow-up.
Open Translate from [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) by typing **Translate** and pressing `↵`. For faster access, assign an alias (like `tr`) or a hotkey from the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`).
#### How It Works
When Translate is open, the window splits into a source field on top and a translated field below. As you type, edit, or paste into the source field, the translation updates automatically. Word and character counts are shown for the source text.
#### Source and Target Languages
Each side has its own language picker.
- The source language defaults to **Detect Language**, so Raycast figures out what you typed. The detected language is shown as a subtitle once it has been identified.
- The target language is whatever you set last, or the default you picked in Settings.
- To change either one, open the Action Panel and choose **Change Source Language** or **Change Target Language**. The pickers also support fuzzy search, so typing `jap` jumps to Japanese.
- Use **Swap Languages** to flip source and target. The current translation moves up into the source field, ready to translate back the other way.
#### Inline Translation
You don't have to open the Translate command to translate a quick phrase. From Root Search, type your text followed by `in` or `into` and a language name, and the translation appears right in the results.
Examples:
- `hello in german`
- `"good night" into french`
The language name needs to be at least three characters and is matched fuzzily, so `jap`, `germ`, or `port` all work. Language codes (like `de` or `fr`) are intentionally **not** matched, to avoid triggering inline translation by accident.
#### Action Panel
Open the Action Panel with `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to see everything you can do with the current translation:
- **Copy Translation**: Copy the translated text to your clipboard. This is the default action when you press `↵`.
- **Copy Source Text**: Copy the original text instead.
- **Paste to Active App**: Paste the translation directly into the app you were just in. You can make this the default action in Settings.
- **Swap Languages**: Flip source and target.
- **Change Source Language** / **Change Target Language**: Pick a different language for either side.
- **Continue in AI Chat**: Send both the source and the translation to AI Chat as context, so you can ask follow-up questions, request a more formal tone, or get an explanation of an idiom.
#### Default Source and Target Languages
If you usually translate between the same pair of languages, set them once and skip the picker every time. Open **Settings → Translator** and choose your default **Source Language** and **Target Language**. Leave the source on **Detect Language** if you'd rather have Raycast guess.
#### Use Selected Text as Source
When this setting is on, launching Translate from a hotkey automatically fills the source field with whatever text you currently have selected in the foreground app. Highlight a sentence in your browser or chat app, hit your Translate hotkey, and the translation appears immediately. Toggle it in **Settings → Translator → Use Selected Text as Source**.
#### Custom Translate Commands
Create your own translation commands with a fixed language pair, so you can jump straight into translating without picking languages first. For example, you might create **Translate to Spanish** or **English to Japanese**, give them their own aliases or hotkeys, and treat them like any other command in Root Search.
1. Open **Settings → Translator → Custom Commands** and click **Add Custom Command**.
2. Pick a name, a source language (or **Detect Language**), and a target language.
3. Edit, duplicate, disable, or delete custom commands from the same screen, and copy a deeplink to share or automate them.
#### Keyboard Shortcuts
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`: Run the primary action (copy or paste, depending on Settings).
- `⌥ ⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl Alt ↵`: Paste the translation into the active app.
- `⇧ ⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl Shift ↵`: Copy the source text.
- `⌘ S`/`Ctrl S`: Swap source and target languages.
- `⌘ P`/`Ctrl P`: Open the target language picker.
- `⇧ ⌘ P`/`Ctrl Shift P`: Open the source language picker.
- `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`: Open the Action Panel.
- `Escape`: Clear the source field, or close the command if it's already empty.
#### Settings
All Translate settings live under **Settings → Translator**:
- **Primary Action**: Choose whether `↵` copies the translation or pastes it into the active app.
- **Default Source Language**: The language Translate starts from. Leave it on **Detect Language** to let Raycast guess.
- **Default Target Language**: The language Translate translates into by default.
- **Use Selected Text as Source**: Auto-fill the source field with the text you currently have selected when you launch Translate from a hotkey.
- **Custom Commands**: Create, edit, and manage your own translation commands with fixed language pairs.
### Emoji & Symbols
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/emoji-symbols
Description: Find any emoji, flag, or Unicode symbol in Raycast by name, custom keyword, or natural language with AI Results, then paste it into any input field instantly.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 27 August 2026
**Emoji & Symbols** in Raycast lets you search for any emoji, flag, or Unicode symbol by name or description in natural language, then paste it directly into your active input field at lightning speed.
Start typing to search for emojis or symbols. Raycast matches against the symbol name, its category, and any custom keywords you've added. Use the category filters in the Navigation Bar to browse by group (Smileys & People, Symbols, Flags, and more).
> [!TIP]
> Make the grid your own: adjust the number of columns in the Emoji view with `⌘ -`/`Ctrl -` / `+` (or press `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` to return to the default), and choose the default skin tone for emojis that support skin tone modifiers. Both live in **Settings → Emoji & Symbols**.
#### AI Results
AI Results uses natural language understanding to find emojis based on meaning rather than keywords. AI Results automatically show when there are no matches, or you can press `Tab` on direct matches to show AI-suggested alternatives.
#### Custom Keywords
Assign custom keywords to any emoji or symbol so you find it faster next time. You can search by Unicode name and custom keywords interchangeably.
1. Open the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command
2. Highlight the emoji you'd like to edit, then use the **Edit Custom Keywords** action from the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel)
3. Enter the custom keywords you'd like to assign to the emoji
4. Save the updated emoji
#### Inline Autocomplete
Type `:` inside a Raycast text field to open an inline emoji suggestion menu, without opening the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command. Keep typing to search by name, then choose a result to insert the emoji right where you're writing.
Inline autocomplete works across Raycast's own text surfaces, including:
- **Notes**
- **Snippet** editor
- **Quicklink** editor
- **AI Command** editor
- **AI Chat** composer
- Standard Raycast text inputs and text areas
Results come from the same search that powers the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command, ordered by pinned emojis, frecency, and name matches. Suggestions also respect your default **Emoji Skin Tone** setting, so an inserted emoji uses the tone you've chosen in **Settings → Emoji & Symbols**.
> [!NOTE]
> Inline autocomplete is available inside Raycast's own UI surfaces only. It does not type into third-party apps such as Slack or Mail. To insert an emoji into another app, use the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command.
#### Actions
Pressing `Enter` will paste the highlighted emoji or symbol directly into your active input field. Emoji & Symbols also includes additional actions:
| Action | Mac | Windows |
| --------------------------- | ------------ | --------------- |
| Copy to Clipboard | `⌘ Enter` | `Ctrl Enter` |
| Paste and Keep Window Open | `⇧ ⌘ ↵` | `Ctrl Shift ↵` |
| Paste with Skin Tone… | `⌥ ⌘ V` | `Ctrl Alt V` |
| Copy with Skin Tone… | `⌥ ⌘ C` | `Ctrl Alt C` |
| Copy Unicode | `⌥ ⇧ ⌘ C` | `Ctrl Alt Shift C` |
| Pin/Unpin Emoji | `⌘ .` | `Ctrl .` |
| Assign Custom Keywords | `⌘ E` | `Ctrl E` |
##### Skin Tones
The **Paste with Skin Tone…** and **Copy with Skin Tone…** actions appear only when the selected emoji supports skin tones. Each opens a submenu with a preview of the emoji at each of the six tones.
Use these actions to pick a tone for a single emoji without changing your default **Emoji Skin Tone** setting.
#### Settings
All Emoji & Symbols settings live under **Settings -> Emoji & Symbols**.
- **Column Count**: Customize how many emojis appear in the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command and choose between 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 columns.
- **Primary Action**: Choose the primary action when pressing `⏎` in the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command.
- **Emoji Skin Tone**: Choose the default skin tone for emojis that support skin tone modifiers.
- **Save AI-generated custom keywords**: When enabled, your search term is stored as a custom keyword on the emoji you copied or pasted, helping future searches find it without AI.
##### Replace System Emoji Picker
You can replace the system emoji picker with the **Emoji & Symbols** extension in Raycast by setting a hotkey for the command.
**Mac**
1. Open **System Settings → Keyboard**
2. Select **Keyboard Shortcuts**
3. Change "Press Globe key to" to **Nothing**
4. Open **Settings → Emoji & Symbols**
5. Set the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command hotkey to `globe`
**Windows**
1. Open **Settings → Emoji & Symbols**
2. Set the **Search Emoji & Symbols** command hotkey to `win .`
#### Tips
- **Pin your favorites.** Pinned emojis always appear at the top of the grid
- **Use AI Results for discovery.** Press `Tab` to see alternative emoji suggestions for any search
- **Enable auto-save for AI keywords.** Turn on **Save AI-generated custom keywords** in **Settings** to instantly surface repeated searches using the same keywords
- **Set a global hotkey.** Assign a keyboard shortcut in settings to open Emoji & Symbols from any app. You can even reassign the built-in emoji picker hotkey on macOS and Windows to Raycast's Emoji & Symbols instead
### Calendar
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/calendar
Description: View upcoming meetings, join calls instantly, and manage your day from Raycast — a built-in calendar always one shortcut away.
Platforms: Mac
Last updated: 03 September 2026
Raycast makes it easy to check your upcoming schedule, create events, and join conference calls without switching context. Raycast's Calendar features are built on the native macOS Calendar via EventKit, so any accounts already configured in the macOS Calendar app — Google, iCloud, Microsoft/Exchange, and more — work automatically.
#### Check Your Schedule
Use the My Schedule command to quickly check your availability, block focus time, or get an overview of your day.
- The summary at the top shows your next upcoming meeting.
- The sections below are dynamic. They help you focus on the here and now: this week is represented as days, followed by sections for the next week, the rest of the month, and the upcoming months.
- Press `⌘ K` to open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) to join conference calls, accept or decline invitations, block time, email attendees, or copy your availability.
- Use the Search Bar to filter events by title.
- Configure which calendars appear in the extension's preferences. You can fine-tune exactly which calendars show up in My Schedule.
#### Create Events
Use the Create Event command to quickly add a new event without leaving Raycast.
- Set the title, start and end times, target calendar, attendees, location, URL, notes, and reminders.
- Events are written to the macOS Calendar and sync with whichever account the chosen calendar belongs to.
#### Ask Calendar (AI)
Type `@calendar` in [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) to ask natural-language questions about your schedule or make changes hands-free. Examples:
- What's on my calendar tomorrow?
- Schedule a meeting with Sam at 3pm on Thursday
- Move my 2pm meeting to 4pm
- Block off Friday afternoon
- Who's attending my next meeting?
Ask Calendar can read, create, edit, and delete events on your behalf.
#### Join Events
Raycast shows your next event at the top of [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) to make it convenient to join. Just hit `⏎` to open the conference call. If a native app is installed for the conference service (for example the Zoom or Microsoft Teams desktop client), the app is opened directly without an extra browser tab.
- Google Meet links can be configured to open in a specific browser via the extension preferences — useful if you prefer Chromium-based browsers for Google features.
#### Auto-Join Events
Raycast can automatically join events when they are about to begin. When enabled, Raycast will automatically join events with meeting links in your enabled calendars that you are attending.
- Confirmation alert: by default an alert with a confirmation prompt is shown before joining. Disabling this is useful if your conferencing app already has its own confirmation screen.
- Open camera before joining: optionally open the Mac's camera (preview) just before a meeting starts, so you can check framing before you're live.
- Auto-transcribe meetings: optionally transcribe meetings automatically as they happen, with an exclusion list so specific meetings (matched by keyword) are skipped.
Auto-join is disabled initially but can be enabled in the preferences of the My Schedule command, alongside the options above.
#### Menu Bar Agenda
Raycast can show your next event in the macOS menu bar so you always know what's coming up. Configure in the Calendar extension preferences:
- Choose when to show the next event: never, always, only when an event is upcoming, or when it starts within a set number of minutes.
- Meetings only: filter out all-day and non-meeting events so only joinable meetings appear.
- Auto-hide after the event ends or after a custom number of minutes.
- Menu actions include: Open My Schedule, Open the Calendar app, Join meeting, and Dismiss event.
#### Supported Conference Providers
Raycast detects and launches conference links for the following providers from event URLs, locations, and descriptions:
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams
- Slack Huddles
- Webex
- FaceTime
- Skype
- BlueJeans
- Amazon Chime
- Whereby
- Jitsi
- Around
- Chorus
- Riverside
- StreamYard
#### Keyboard Shortcuts
- `⏎` to open the event in the macOS Calendar app
- `⌘ ⏎` to join a conference call
- `⌃ A` to accept the event (when RSVP is pending)
- `⌃ D` to decline the event (when RSVP is pending)
- `⇧ ⌘ B` to block time
- `⇧ ⌘ E` to email all attendees
- `⌃ ⌥ A` to copy your availability
- `⌘ .` to copy event details
- `⇧ ⌘ .` to copy event title
- `⇧ ⌘ ,` to copy event attendees
- `⌃ X` to delete event
#### Troubleshooting
The Calendar extension accesses the native macOS calendars. If you can't see events or can't join meetings:
1. Make sure Raycast has access to your calendars in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Calendars**.
2. Make sure the accounts you want are set up and syncing in the native macOS **Calendar** app.
3. Make sure the individual calendars you're interested in are enabled in **Settings → Extensions**. You can fine-tune exactly which events appear in the My Schedule command.
4. If Auto-Join doesn't trigger, make sure the event has a valid conference URL in its Location, URL, or Notes field — Raycast looks for a recognized provider URL in any of these.
5. If Open-Camera-Before-Joining doesn't work, grant Raycast camera access in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera**.
6. If your next event doesn't show up in the menu bar even though **Menu Bar Agenda** is enabled in the extension preferences, make sure Raycast is allowed in **System Settings → Menu Bar → Allow in the Menu Bar**. On macOS 26 (Tahoe), macOS keeps an app's menu bar icon hidden until you switch it on there, so turning the setting off and on again inside Raycast won't bring the icon back on its own.
### Calculator
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/calculator
Description: Use Raycast's built-in calculator to do math, convert currencies and units, calculate dates, and more — right from search.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Last updated: 10 September 2026
What's 3% of $123? In £? Invested at 7% after 3 years? No more guessing.
Raycast solves complex math expressions and supports time zones, unit conversions, dates, and currency — including crypto. The best thing is, it understands your natural language.
#### Get Started
The Calculator is a special command. It's always available in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) — just type any expression. You'll see your expression displayed on the left, and the answer on the right.
#### What Raycast Understands
The Calculator solves complex math expressions and supports time zones, unit conversions, dates, and currencies. Expressions now show with syntax highlighting so they're easier to read at a glance.
- Convert units and currencies like a breeze. For example, type `10ft in m` or `100 usd in gbp`.
- Get the % between two different values. For example, type `52% of 900`.
- Check the time of your teammates in different time zones. For example, type `5pm ldn in sf` or `time in tokyo`.
- Get the date for your next event, like `monday in 3 weeks`.
- Find out how many days are left in the quarter, like `days until 31 Mar`.
- Answer math questions like `square root of 625` or `2 power 10`.
- Convert a duration into a human-readable timespan, like `145 mins to timespan`.
- Plan your work week. For example, type `workhours in 2023` or `55h in workdays`.
- Convert sizes for design work. For example, type `2 inches in px at 72 ppi`.
- Solve advanced trigonometry, including `cot`, `csc`, and their hyperbolic and inverse variants like `sinh` or `acos`.
- Compare the time between you and a teammate. For example, type `time diff Paris` or the shortcut `diff Paris`.
- Find out what time it'll be after a delay. For example, type `time in 4 hours` or `time in 4 hours in San Francisco`.
- Work with ISO 8601 timestamps in Zulu format, like `2024-03-15T14:30:00Z`.
- Add days or hours to a date. For example, type `August 5 + 5` for days or `3:45pm + 5` for hours.
- Work out a discount, tip, or ratio. For example, type `20% off 80`, `15% tip on 42`, or `ratio of 3 to 5`.
- Write currency in shorthand. For example, type `USD1K` or `10K`.
- Look up times in cities, airports, and tourist destinations — including multi-word names like `time in São Paulo` or `time in JFK`.
- Type `now`, `today`, `tomorrow`, `yesterday`, or `time` on its own in Root Search to get the date or time straight away.
#### Keyboard Shortcuts
- `↵` to copy the answer to your clipboard
- `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵` to copy the unformatted answer to your clipboard
- `⇧ ⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl Shift ↵` to copy the question and answer to your clipboard
#### Settings
The decimal separator used in the Raycast calculator is set by your system. If you want, you can change this.
1. Open your system settings and choose **Language and Region**.
2. Select **Number format** and set your preferred decimal separator and number grouping separator.
3. Your changes will be available immediately in the Raycast calculator. If they aren't, restart Raycast.
### Screenshots
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/screenshots
Description: Search and browse your screenshots instantly from Raycast — find, preview, copy, and open any capture without digging through folders.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
The Search Screenshots command lets you find, preview, and reuse any screenshot or screen recording on your computer without leaving Raycast. Raycast indexes the contents of your screenshots with on-device OCR, so you can search by what's *in* an image, not just the filename.
Open Search Screenshots from [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) by typing `Search Screenshots` and pressing `↵`. For faster access, assign an alias (like `sc`) or a hotkey from the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`).
A separate **Paste Latest Screenshot** command pastes your most recent screenshot directly into the active app, without opening the full view.
#### Search Filters
Combine free text with prefix-based filters to narrow your results:
- `name:` filters by filename. Example: `name:invoice`.
- `text:` filters by text recognized inside the image (OCR). Example: `text:invoice number`.
- `date:` filters by capture date using natural language. Examples: `date:yesterday`, `date:last week`.
#### Settings
- **Column Count**: choose how many columns the grid in the Search Screenshots command uses: 3, 4, 5, or 6. Fewer columns mean larger thumbnails; more columns let you scan more screenshots at a glance. You can adjust the number of columns in the Search Screenshots view by using `⌘ -`/`Ctrl -` / `+` to decrease or increase the column count, or `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` to return to the default, or in **Settings → Screenshots → Column Count**.
- **Search Scopes**: the folders Raycast watches and indexes for screenshots. Defaults include the system screenshot location (`com.apple.screencapture`), CleanShot X (`com.getcleanshot.app`), and `~/Desktop`. Use the `+` button to add more folders.
- **Include All Media**: when enabled, all images and videos in the watched folders are indexed, not just screenshots. Captures named by a localized macOS, such as `Bildschirmfoto` or `Capture d'écran`, are recognized as screenshots without this setting.
- **Text Recognition**: when enabled, text content in screenshots is automatically extracted (OCR) and made searchable. Required for the `text:` filter and the Copy Text from Image action.
- **Recognition Mode**: choose between **Fast** (default) and **Accurate**. Accurate catches more text but uses more CPU.
- **Allow Text Recognition for Cloud Files**: when enabled, Raycast downloads cloud-only files (e.g. OneDrive, Dropbox) so it can extract their text.
- **Storage Duration**: automatically removes older screenshots after the chosen retention window (1 Day, 1 Week, 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months, 1 Year, or Unlimited). Pinned screenshots are kept regardless of this setting.
- **Commands**: manage the two screenshot commands (Search Screenshots and Paste Latest Screenshot). For each one you can assign an alias, record a global hotkey, or enable/disable the command.
#### Permissions
Screenshots needs file access to read and preview images. Grant Full Disk Access in **System Settings → Privacy & Security**, or at minimum allow access to Desktop, Documents, and Downloads. Raycast prompts on first launch if permissions are missing.
### Window Management
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/window-management
Description: Manage your windows without third-party tools. Raycast's built-in window management lets you split, tile, center, resize, and save layouts across any monitor setup.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: More with Pro
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast lets you resize, organize, and move the focused window from your keyboard.
[Window Management in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1RIZCrZN8)
#### Commands
Give your workspace a refresh and reorganize windows instantly:
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Toggle Fullscreen:** Toggles the focused window to fullscreen.
- **Maximize:** Expands the focused window to fill the whole screen.
- **Maximize Height:** Maximizes the window’s height.
- **Maximize Width:** Maximizes the window’s width.
- **Left/Right/Bottom/Top Half:** Moves the focused window to occupy half of the screen in any direction — perfect for comparing two documents.
- **Center:** Centers the focused window on the screen, maintaining its size.
- **Move Up/Down/Left/Right:** Moves the focused window to any screen edge.
- **Move Window:** Moves the focused window to an exact position you type, such as `100,100`.
- **Restore:** Restores the window to its previous size and position.
- **Reasonable Size:** Resizes the window to 60% of the screen (up to 1025x900px).
- **Resize Window:** Resizes the focused window to the exact **Width** and **Height** you type.
- **Minimize on This Display:** Minimizes all windows on the display where Raycast is open.
- **Move to Previous/Next Display:** For multi-monitor setups, quickly move windows between screens.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Move to Previous/Next Space:** Move windows between different macOS Spaces.
- **First, First Two, Center, Last Two, Last Third:** Resize and place the window to occupy a third of the screen.
- **First, Second, Third, Last Fourth:** Move the window to one-fourth of the screen.
- **Top Left/Top Right, Bottom Left/Bottom Right Quarter:** Position the window in any quarter of the screen.
- **Top Left/Top Center/Top Right Sixth:** Align and size the window into a sixth at the top of the screen.
- **Bottom Left/Center/Right Sixth:** Align and size the window into a sixth at the bottom of the screen.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Open Desktop 1…9:** Opens a new or switches to an existing virtual desktop by number.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Close Desktop 1...9:** Closes a specified desktop.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Close Desktop Active:** Closes the current virtual desktop.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Rename Desktop 1…9:** Label a specific desktop for easy reference.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Rename Desktop Active:** Label your current desktop.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Move to Desktop 1…9:** Move your active window to a specified virtual desktop.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Focus Next/Previous App Window:** Cycle through the windows of the app you're using. Press repeatedly to reach each one.
> [!TIP]
> Assign a Hotkey to the window management commands you use often. For example, set a Hotkey for **Left Half** to position and resize the focused window.
##### Exact Sizes and Positions
**Resize Window** and **Move Window** take the numbers you type instead of a share of the screen, which is what you want when a window has to be a specific resolution for a recording, a screenshot, or a demo.
**Resize Window** asks for a **Width** and a **Height**, such as `1920` and `1080`. **Move Window** takes a position such as `100,100`.
#### Settings
Tailor your workspace:
- Adjust the gap between windows, or between windows and the edge of your desktop.
- Set **Left Half** and **Right Half** commands to cycle through different window sizes or even move between screens.
##### macOS
- **Respect Stage Manager:** Enable this option to ensure window management commands leave space for Stage Manager, letting you see your other open apps.
- **Presets:** Instantly apply hotkeys from other popular window management apps.
- **System Spaces Shortcuts:** Override macOS’s system keyboard shortcuts to control Raycast Window Management instead.
##### Windows
- **Auto Close Empty Desktops:** Virtual desktops are closed automatically when nothing is on them.
#### Custom Commands
##### Create Command
Set up personalized window commands by customizing window size, pinned position, and offsets with **Create Command**—using absolute values (points) or percentages (relative to display size).
> [!TIP]
> The **Offset** **X** and **Y** fields accept negative percentages, so you can shift a window left or up. A relative offset can be anywhere from −100% to +100% of the display's width or height. Sizes still can't be negative.
##### Create Layout
Go beyond single-window commands. With **Create Layout**, arrange multiple app windows on any display — up to eight windows per display — each with its own size, offset, and position.
Every entry in a layout can also tell its app what to open, using the **Argument** dropdown:
- **Quicklink:** One of your [Quicklinks](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks).
- **File or Folder:** A path on your machine.
- **URL:** A link for the app to open.
- **Command Line Arguments:** The arguments Raycast passes to the app when it opens it.
The **Other Windows** option decides what happens to windows the layout doesn't place: **None** leaves them alone, **Minimize Others** minimizes them, and **Close Others** closes them. Closing goes through the app itself, so any unsaved-changes prompt still appears. The setting syncs and exports with the layout. The entries themselves live in the **Windows** panel on the right of the editor.
_(Only on Windows)_ When a layout places windows into adjacent tiled regions — two halves side by side, for example — Raycast arranges them the way Windows' own snapping does, so their shared edge gets a divider you can drag to resize both windows at once.
##### Save Current Layout
Already have everything where you want it? **Save Current Layout** turns the current arrangement into a layout: Raycast reads the windows on screen and opens the layout editor with a draft already filled in, so you only adjust what you want to change before saving.
To pick up the current arrangement in a layout you're already editing, choose **Add Visible Windows** from the plus button menu in the layout editor.
##### Duplicate a Command or Layout
**Duplicate Command** uses a built-in command's layout as the starting point for a custom one. Find it in the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar), or in ellipsis menu on the command's row in **Settings → Window Management**.
Nothing is saved right away: Raycast opens the **Create Command** form pre-filled with the built-in's position, size, and offset. Your own custom commands and layouts duplicate the same way. Only built-ins with a fixed layout can be duplicated, so commands that depend on the current window or your displays have no Duplicate action.
##### Deeplinks
Custom commands support *Deeplinks*, which can be used outside Raycast. Create links with absolute or relative window values, for example:
```jsx
raycast://customWindowManagementCommand?&name=MyCommand&position=center&absoluteWidth=500.0&relativeHeight=0.5&absoluteXOffset=0.0&absoluteYOffset=0.0
```
| Argument | Description | Required |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| `name` | Command name. If a matching custom single-window command is found, other arguments are ignored. No name means Raycast creates a temporary command. | No |
| `position` | Pin window to this position. If omitted (with a temporary command), defaults to top left. | No |
| `absoluteWidth` | Width in points. | No |
| `relativeWidth` | Width as a % of the screen width. Ignored if absolute width is set. | No |
| `absoluteHeight` | Height in points. | No |
| `relativeHeight` | Height as a % of the screen height. Ignored if absolute height is set. | No |
| `absoluteXOffset` | Horizontal offset in points. | No |
| `relativeXOffset` | Horizontal offset as a % of the screen width. Ignored if absolute x offset is set. | No |
| `absoluteYOffset` | Vertical offset in points. | No |
| `relativeYOffset` | Vertical offset as a % of the screen height. Ignored if absolute y offset is set. | No |
To create a one-time Deeplink, omit the `name`—Raycast generates a temporary command that positions or resizes the window on the fly.
For Window Layout Deeplinks, only the `name` argument is supported, so only existing window layouts can be used.
##### Additional Notes
- Custom commands don't support window gaps.
- With Stage Manager enabled, using Window Layout only shows the top window; as a workaround, group the apps (hold `Shift`) before applying the layout, to keep all windows visible.
#### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
Window Management needs Accessibility access to move and resize windows. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). The first time you use a command, Raycast prompts you to enable it if the permission is missing.
#### Troubleshooting
Window Management lets you resize and position windows with commands and hotkeys. Most issues come down to macOS permissions or hotkeys not firing. Here are the common ones.
##### Window commands do nothing
Window Management needs Accessibility permission. Open **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** and make sure Raycast is enabled. If it's already listed, toggle it off and on, then restart Raycast.
##### A window-management hotkey isn't firing
Another app or a macOS shortcut may be bound to the same combination. Check for conflicts, and confirm the hotkey is set in **Settings → Window Management**. If the key is an fn/Globe or function key (F1–F12) and doesn't register, disable "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" in **System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Function Keys**.
##### Windows snap to the wrong screen or size on a multi-monitor setup
Positioning is relative to the display the window is currently on. Move the window to the target display first, then run the command. For mixed-resolution or scaled displays, results can differ between screens, so set the hotkey on the screen you use most.
##### Some apps ignore resize or position commands
A few apps don't expose standard window controls to macOS (some Electron apps, full-screen apps, and apps in native full-screen mode). Take the app out of full-screen first. If it still won't resize, it likely isn't reporting a resizable window to the system.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. The **app** and the **command or hotkey** involved.
4. Your **monitor setup**.
5. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
6. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Navigation
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/navigation
Description: Move around your computer without lifting your hands from the keyboard. Jump between open windows and trigger any app's menu actions in seconds.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 01 September 2026
Navigation commands help you move around your computer without lifting your hands from the keyboard, jumping between open windows and triggering any app's menu actions in seconds. Instead of reaching for the mouse, cycling through `⌘ Tab`/`Alt Tab`, or digging through nested menus, you can find and act on what you need straight from Raycast.
#### Search Menu Bar Items
_(Only on Mac)_
**Search Menu Bar Items** turns Raycast into the fastest way to trigger any menu action of the app you're currently using, with no reaching for the mouse or digging through nested menus.
##### Getting started
Open **Search Menu Bar Items** and start typing the name of the action you're after, like "Export as PDF" or "Merge Cells". Raycast surfaces matching items from the frontmost app's menu bar and runs the one you select, all from the keyboard.
##### Everything in one place
The command groups all of the active app's menu actions into a single searchable section. Instead of hunting through separate top-level menus (File, Edit, View, and so on), every available action lives in one list you can filter instantly.
It also respects each item's current state, so dynamically enabled or disabled actions appear exactly as the app exposes them.
> [!TIP]
> Assign an alias or hotkey to the command for instant access from any app. Because results follow the frontmost app, the same command adapts to whatever you're working in.
##### Permissions
Search Menu Bar Items needs Accessibility access to read and trigger menu items in other apps. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). Raycast prompts on first launch if permissions are missing.
#### Switch Windows
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
**Switch Windows** turns Raycast into the fastest way to jump to any open window across all your apps, with no cycling through `⌘ Tab`/`Alt Tab` or hunting across desktops.
Each result shows the window's title alongside the app it belongs to, so a Chrome tab, a Terminal session, and a Slack channel are all equally easy to tell apart. Press `Enter` to switch to the selected window.
##### Getting started
Open **Switch Windows** and start typing the name of the app or window you're after, like "Figma" or a specific document title. Raycast surfaces matching open windows and brings the one you select to the front, all from the keyboard.
##### Everything in one place
The command lists every open window in a single searchable view, including multiple windows of the same app. Instead of cycling blindly through `⌘ Tab`/`Alt Tab` or scanning all your open windows, every window lives in one list you can filter instantly.
It also reflects your windows as they currently are, so newly opened or closed windows appear exactly as your system exposes them.
##### Window actions
You can do more than switch. Open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) on any result to act on that window without bringing it to the front — minimize it, close it, enter fullscreen, or hide the whole application, each with its own shortcut.
> [!TIP]
> Assign an alias or hotkey to the command for instant access from any app. Type part of a window's title, not just the app name, to land directly on the right window.
##### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
Switch Windows needs Accessibility access to read and switch between your open windows. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). Raycast prompts on first launch if permissions are missing.
## Power Features
### Hyper Key
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/hyper-key
Description: Give your keyboard a whole new layer of shortcuts by turning Caps Lock, a function key, or a single modifier into a dedicated Hyper Key that never clashes with your existing ones.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Hyper Key adds an extra modifier to your keyboard by remapping a key you don't use often. Once it's set, you can record shortcuts on top of it that won't overlap with existing system or app shortcuts. Choose from a left or right modifier, Caps Lock, or a function key.
#### Get Started
1. Open **Settings → Keyboard → Hyper Key**.
2. Pick the key you want to use — a left or right modifier, Caps Lock, or a function key.
3. Assign Hyper Key shortcuts to your favorite commands. They appear in Raycast with the ✦ glyph.
#### Settings
- **Hyper Key**: The physical key remapped to the Hyper Key modifiers. Choose **None** to turn it off, **Caps Lock** (`⇪`), any left or right modifier (`⌃ ⌥ ⇧ ⌘`, or `win Ctrl Alt Shift` on Windows), or a function key (`F1`–`F12`).
- macOS Hyper Key triggers `⌃ ⌥ ⌘`
- Windows Hyper Key triggers `win Ctrl Alt`
- **Include Shift (⇧)**: Adds Shift to the Hyper Key combo.
- **Quick Press**: Available when your Hyper Key is a non-modifier (Caps Lock or a function key). Choose what a single tap does on its own — **Does Nothing**, **Trigger** the original key (for example, send a real Caps Lock), or **Trigger Escape**.
- **Replace ⌃⌥⌘ with ✦**: Shown when no Hyper Key is set. Raycast still displays your existing `⌃ ⌥ ⌘` (or `win Ctrl Alt`) shortcuts using the `✦` glyph in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar).
- **Secure Input Compatibility** _(Only on Mac)_: Some apps turn on macOS Secure Input (for example when you focus a password field), which normally blocks the Hyper Key from working until Secure Input is released. Turn this on to keep your Hyper Key shortcuts working in those contexts, without needing a keyboard driver like Karabiner. It's off by default because there are two tradeoffs:
- While it's on, Right Control (`⌃⏵`) is reserved for the Hyper Key, so you can't use Right Control in your own shortcuts.
- While Secure Input is active, only your Raycast Hyper Key shortcuts work — other apps' Hyper shortcuts won't fire until Secure Input is released.
If you frequently hit Secure Input issues with the Hyper Key, it's worth enabling. Otherwise, leave it off to keep Right Control free.
#### Troubleshooting
If your Hyper Key isn't firing, first make sure no other app is mapping the same physical key. Karabiner-Elements virtual keyboards, exclusive HID drivers, and other keyboard utilities can intercept the key before Raycast sees it. Turn these off and try again.
If an app is holding Secure Input and your Hyper Key stops working, you can either quit the app holding it, or turn on **Secure Input Compatibility** (in [Settings](#settings)) to keep your Raycast Hyper Key shortcuts working while Secure Input is active.
_(Only on Mac)_ With several keyboards connected, Hyper Key applies to each one independently, skipping any that can't be remapped, such as a keyboard shared over Universal Control. Turning it off restores Caps Lock on all of them.
Raycast includes a built-in diagnostic. From **Settings → Keyboard** with a Hyper Key configured, press the green dot to reveal the **Hyper Key Diagnostic** panel. It shows whether the Hyper Key is currently active, which key it's bound to, and any conflicts it detects, such as other apps, Karabiner, exclusive HID access, or Caps Lock mapping. Use the `↻` button next to **Active** to restart Hyper Key without quitting Raycast.
#### FAQ
##### Why doesn't Hyper Key work in password fields on macOS?
This is a macOS limitation. Password fields use secure input, which apps can't monitor for security reasons. The only way around it would be to load a kernel driver, which we won't do. It only affects macOS.
##### Why isn't Hyper Key working with Caps Lock on macOS?
Open **System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts… → Modifier Keys** and make sure the Caps Lock action is set to **Caps Lock** (not **No Action** or anything else). The Hyper Key Diagnostic panel flags this as a Caps Lock Mapping Conflict and includes a button that jumps straight to the right macOS setting. If it still doesn't work, copy the log file from the diagnostic panel and send it through **Send Feedback**.
### Cloud Sync
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync
Description: Cloud Sync keeps your Raycast data — Quicklinks, Snippets, Notes, AI chats, themes, and more — consistent across all your devices and apps.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Cloud Sync keeps your Raycast setup consistent on every device where you're signed in. The things you create — [Quicklinks](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks), [Snippets](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets), [Notes](https://manual.raycast.com/notes), AI chats, themes, window management layouts, and more — sync continuously in the background, so a Snippet you add on your Mac at work is ready on your Windows machine at home. Even devices that have been offline catch up automatically, with nothing to export or merge by hand.
#### Get Started
> [!WARNING]
> Before turning on Cloud Sync, run the **Export Settings & Data** command to create a backup of your current setup. This makes sure you have a safe copy of your data to restore from in case anything goes wrong during the initial sync. We also recommend enabling [scheduled exports](https://manual.raycast.com/import-export#scheduled-exports) so you always have a recent backup.
1. If you're a macOS v2 user who hasn't run the **Migrate from Raycast v1** command yet, do so first to bring your v1 data across. Skip this on Windows or if your app is already set up.
2. Sign in to your Raycast account in **Settings → Account** — Cloud Sync requires a Pro subscription.
3. Open **Settings** (`⌘ ,`/`Ctrl ,`) and select **Cloud Sync** from the sidebar.
4. Under **Sync Preferences**, choose which categories to include when Cloud Sync turns on. You can change your selection at any time later.
5. Turn Cloud Sync on with the toggle in the top-right corner and confirm.
> [!NOTE]
> Cloud Sync requires a signed-in Raycast Pro account. If your session expires, syncing pauses and resumes once you sign in again. If you sign out, Cloud Sync turns off, and you'll need to re-enable it after signing back in.
Once Cloud Sync is on, the settings page shows two screens: **Synced Devices**, listing every device connected to your account, and **Synced Content**, where you control what's kept in sync.
#### Choose What to Sync
The **Synced Content** screen is where you control what's kept in sync. Each content category shows a live count of its synced items and a toggle to turn it on or off. While a device is still catching up, the count shows how many items are on this device out of how many are in the cloud.
##### Content categories
- **AI Commands & Agents**
- **AI Chat History**
- **MCP Servers**
- **Quicklinks**
- **Raycast Notes**
- **Snippets**
- **Themes**
- **Transcription Styles**
- **Window Management Layouts**
- **Extensions**: Extensions and commands sync across devices, but need to be enabled per device.
##### General Settings categories
- **Open at Login**
- **Show in Menu Bar** (Show in System Tray on Windows)
- **Appearance**
- **Interface Size**
- **Window Mode**
> [!TIP]
> Some preferences are synced by default and can't be turned off: **Some General Settings** and **Root Search Ranking**. AI Chat History also always keeps the AI models and projects it depends on in sync, even if you turn off AI Commands & Agents.
##### Not Synced
Some data always stays on your device:
- **Clipboard History**
- **Script Commands** (scripts only; their settings sync)
- **Credentials and Passwords**: never synced, for security reasons
- **Some General and Advanced Settings**: device-specific settings stay on this device
Anything that doesn't appear in Synced Content — such as Screenshots, Search History, and your Export & Backup settings — is also not synced.
#### Manage Synced Devices
The **Synced Devices** screen lists every device connected to your account. Each entry shows the device name, its platform, OS and app version, and when it last synced. From there you can:
- **Rename a device** so it's easy to recognize — click its name and type a new one.
- **Remove a device** with the x button next to it to stop it from syncing and revoke its access. The removed device stops syncing and clears its local synced state; the local data itself stays on that device.
Your current device is marked **This Device**, always appears at the top, and can't be removed.
> [!NOTE]
> **Legacy Raycast & iOS Devices** groups all of your Raycast v1 and iOS devices into a single entry. They sync through legacy Cloud Sync and can't be shown, renamed, or removed individually. The Cloud Sync settings shown here are exclusively part of v2, and Cloud Sync v2 for iOS is coming soon.
#### Turn Cloud Sync Off
Turning Cloud Sync off on a device stops data from syncing. Any data previously synced to that device remains on it — only the device's local sync state is cleared. Your data stays available in the cloud and on your other synced devices, and is restored to the device when you re-enable Cloud Sync.
#### Delete Your Cloud Sync Data
Turning Cloud Sync off only stops a device from syncing — your synced data stays on Raycast's servers and on your other devices. If you want to remove that data from the cloud entirely, open **Settings → Cloud Sync** and, under the **Danger Zone**, use the **Delete Cloud Sync Data & Devices** button.
This permanently removes the data your account has synced to Raycast's servers, disconnects your synced devices, and turns off syncing on this device. Your local Raycast data stays on your devices. The button is available whenever your account still has synced data on the server, whether Cloud Sync is currently enabled or disabled on this device — so even if you've already turned Cloud Sync off here, you can still delete the data your account has previously synced to the cloud.
> [!WARNING]
> **Delete Cloud Sync Data & Devices** permanently removes your synced data from Raycast's servers and cannot be undone. This is different from turning Cloud Sync off, which leaves your server data intact. Make sure you have a recent backup (**Export Settings & Data**) before deleting.
#### Privacy & Security
Synced data is tied to your Raycast account and is encrypted in your device's local database, in transit, and in the server's database. Credentials and passwords are never synced. Raycast for Enterprise organizations can disable Cloud Sync for their members entirely with the [Cloud Sync Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/cloud-sync-control) admin setting.
#### FAQ
##### Do I need a Raycast Pro subscription?
Yes. Cloud Sync is a Pro feature. It also requires being signed in to your Raycast account.
##### Can I choose what gets synced?
Yes. Each category (Quicklinks, Snippets, Notes, AI history, themes, and more) can be turned on or off independently in the Cloud Sync settings — either before you enable Cloud Sync via **Sync Preferences**, or at any time afterwards via **Synced Content**.
##### What happens to my data if I turn Cloud Sync off?
Your data remains in the cloud and on your other synced devices. Only the local synced state on the device you disabled is cleared; it is restored when you re-enable Cloud Sync.
##### How do I remove my data from the cloud entirely?
In **Settings → Cloud Sync**, under the **Danger Zone**, use the **Delete Cloud Sync Data & Devices** button. This permanently removes your synced data from Raycast's servers and disconnects your synced devices, and is different from turning Cloud Sync off, which leaves your server data intact. The button is available whether Cloud Sync is currently enabled or disabled on the device, as long as your account still has synced data on the server. Because it's hard to undo, make sure you have a recent backup first.
##### Which platforms are supported?
Cloud Sync works across the Raycast for Mac v1 and v2 apps, the Raycast for Windows app, and the Raycast for iOS app. Data you create or change in any one of them is kept in sync with all the others. v1 and iOS devices sync through legacy Cloud Sync and appear as a single **Legacy Raycast & iOS Devices** entry in the Synced Devices list.
##### Why does Raycast say my organization has disabled Cloud Sync?
Raycast for Enterprise organizations can turn off Cloud Sync for all members via the [Cloud Sync Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/cloud-sync-control) admin setting, typically for data privacy reasons. If you see this message, reach out to your organization's admin.
#### Troubleshooting
Cloud Sync is designed to be hands-off, but a few rough edges remain — especially around bridging data between v1 and v2 devices. Here are the known issues and what to do about them.
##### Cloud Sync says my network requires an extra security certificate
Some networks, often managed or corporate ones, intercept TLS traffic with their own certificate. When that happens, Cloud Sync goes offline with **Your network requires an extra security certificate** instead of a generic connection error, and links you to where you can fix it.
Add your network's certificate as an **Additional Certificate Authority** in **Settings → Advanced → Connection**, then reconnect. If you don't have the certificate, ask whoever manages your network for it.
##### Content looks stale or missing on another device
Cross-device data can look stale or missing while a device is catching up on changes. Check the item counts in **Settings → Cloud Sync → Synced Content** — while a category is still syncing, the count shows how many items are on this device out of how many are in the cloud. Give it a moment to finish before assuming data is lost.
##### A Quicklink opens with a different app on another device
The Quicklink **Open With** app is not synchronized between Windows and macOS, since apps on the Mac are not the same as on Windows. Raycast falls back to the default app for the link; once you assign an app on a specific platform, it's remembered for that platform.
The same applies between v1 and v2 devices: v1 identified apps by bundle identifier while v2 uses file paths (to handle multiple installed copies of the same app, e.g. Xcode), so the assigned app is not bridged between v1 and v2 — although it does sync between v2 devices.
##### A hotkey or setting reverted to its default after setting up a new device
Settings, categories, hotkeys, and extension state can be clobbered when a new device first merges into your synced data. We are working on mitigating these enrollment issues. Note that hotkey conflict detection is also incomplete: same-platform hotkey sync is supported, but cross-platform behavior and conflict handling still need clearer UX.
##### I see duplicate items after migrating from v1
Duplicate entities may appear due to the v1-to-v2 migration. Cloud Sync has a de-duplicator, but it is intentionally conservative to avoid removing data it shouldn't.
##### Newer edits to a note were overwritten
Opening an unchanged note has been reported to overwrite newer edits made on another device. This commonly happens on iOS devices. We will fix this soon — until then, a recent backup (**Export Settings & Data**) is the safest way to recover lost note content.
##### Window layouts lose details between v1 and v2
Window-layout bridging between v1 and v2 is lossy: app identity, Quicklink arguments, and some file URL names can be dropped. Layouts sync fully between v2 devices.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command so we can investigate (see [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) for more ways to get in touch):
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. The **devices involved** and their platforms, and whether the issue affects one device or all of them.
4. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
5. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Dynamic Placeholders
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders
Description: Insert clipboard contents, dates, cursor position, and calculated values automatically into Snippets and Quicklinks with Dynamic Placeholders.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
You can make your [Quicklinks](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks), [Snippets](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets), and [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands) dynamic with placeholders. The supported placeholders are:
| Name | Placeholder | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Clipboard Text | `{clipboard}` | Inserts your last copied text. The placeholder is removed if no text has been copied recently. |
| Snippets | `{snippet name="…"}` | Inserts the content of the referenced snippet. Only snippets that don't reference other snippets can be inserted. |
| Cursor Position ¹ | `{cursor}` | Moves the cursor to this position when pasted or injected. A snippet can contain only one `{cursor}` placeholder. |
| Date ¹ ³ | `{date}` | Inserts the current date, e.g. 1 Jun 2022. |
| Time ¹ ³ | `{time}` | Inserts the current time, e.g. 3:05 pm. |
| Date & Time ¹ ³ | `{datetime}` | Inserts both date and time, e.g. 1 Jun 2022 at 6:45 pm. |
| Weekday ¹ ³ | `{day}` | Inserts the day of the week, e.g. Monday. |
| UUID ¹ ³ | `{uuid}` | Inserts a universally unique value, e.g. `E621E1F8-C36C-495A-93FC-0C247A3E6E5F`. |
| Selected Text ² ³ | `{selection}` | Inserts the selected text from the frontmost application. In AI Chat, the previous message is inserted instead. |
| Argument | `{argument}` | Prompts for input in the search bar. Replaced by the argument's value. You can add a maximum of 3 different arguments. |
| Calculator ¹ ² ³ | `{calculator}` | Evaluates a math expression. |
| Focused Browser Tab ² ⁴ | `{browser-tab}` | Inserts the content of the focused browser tab. |
¹ Only available in Snippets
² Only available in AI Commands
³ Only available in Quicklinks
⁴ Only available when the [Browser Extension](https://raycast.com/browser-extension) is installed
#### Modifiers
Using modifiers, you can transform the value of a placeholder with the `{clipboard | uppercase}` syntax. Modifiers work on all placeholders.
Available modifiers:
- `uppercase` → transforms `Foo` into `FOO`
- `lowercase` → transforms `Foo` into `foo`
- `trim` → transforms ` Foo Bar ` into `Foo Bar` — removes whitespace from the beginning and end
- `percent-encode` → transforms `Foo Bar` into `Foo%20Bar` — replaces [special characters](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Percent-encoding) with percent-encoded equivalents
- `json-stringify` → transforms `Foo "Bar"` into `"Foo \"Bar\""` — ensures the value can be safely used as a JSON string
You can chain multiple modifiers: `{clipboard | trim | uppercase}`.
Depending on where the placeholder is used, Raycast may apply default formatting automatically:
- **Quicklinks** → Special characters are percent-encoded to keep the link valid.
- **AI Commands** → Placeholders are wrapped with `"""` to delimit them for the AI.
To opt out of this default formatting, use the `raw` modifier: `{clipboard | raw}`.
#### Date & Time Offset
By default, date and time placeholders use the current date/time when the snippet is inserted. To use a relative date/time, add an offset modifier.
An offset modifier has three parts:
- A `+` or `-` sign for the direction
- A number
- A unit letter: `m` (minutes), `h` (hours), `d` (days), `M` (months), `y` (years)
> [!NOTE]
> `m` (lowercase) is minutes and `M` (uppercase) is months. All units are case-sensitive.
Separate the modifier from the keyword with spaces. You can combine multiple offsets in a single placeholder:
- `{date offset="+2y +5M"}`
- `{time offset="+3h +30m"}`
- `{day offset=-3d}`
- `{datetime offset=+1h}`
> [!NOTE]
> There must be no space after the sign. `{date offset="+ 2d"}` is not valid — the correct form is `{date offset="+2d"}`.
When you type a valid placeholder, the curly braces turn blue. If the keyword or modifier is unrecognized, the braces remain unstyled.
#### Custom Date Formats
The default format of date/time placeholders follows your system preferences. You can create a custom format with `{date format="yyyy-MM-dd"}`.
| Placeholder | Output |
| --- | --- |
| `{date format="EEEE, MMM d, yyyy"}` | Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022 |
| `{date format="MM/dd/yyyy"}` | 06/15/2022 |
| `{date format="MM-dd-yyyy HH:mm"}` | 06-15-2022 13:44 |
| `{date format="MMM d, h:mm a"}` | Jun 15, 1:44 PM |
| `{date format="MMMM yyyy"}` | June 2022 |
| `{date format="MMM d, yyyy"}` | Jun 15, 2022 |
| `{date format="E, d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss Z"}` | Wed, 15 Jun 2022 13:44:39 +0000 |
| `{date format="yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssZ"}` | 2022-06-15T13:44:39+0000 |
| `{date format="dd.MM.yy"}` | 15.06.22 |
| `{date format="HH:mm:ss.SSS"}` | 13:44:39.945 |
Notes:
- You can mix date modifiers with custom formats: `{date format="yyyy-MM-dd" offset="+3M -5d"}`.
- `format` can't be combined with [`locale`](#date-and-time-locale). Pick one or the other.
- All characters inside the format string are **case-sensitive**.
- Wrap literal text in single quotes to include it verbatim: `{date format="h:mm 'on the eve of' MMMM d"}` outputs **8:30 on the eve of June 5**.
##### Reference for supported alphabets in custom date format
The following table contains the alphabets you can use in a custom date format and their output. Examples are based on June 15th, 2022 2:45 PM UTC.
> [!NOTE]
> All letters within the double quotes are case-sensitive.
| Alphabet | Output | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **YEAR** | | |
| `y` | 2022 | Year, no padding |
| `yy` | 22 | Year, two digits (padding with a zero if necessary) |
| `yyyy` | 2022 | Year, minimum of four digits (padding with zeros if necessary) |
| **QUARTER** | | |
| `Q` | 2 | The quarter of the year. Use `QQ` if you want zero padding. |
| `QQQ` | Q2 | Quarter including "Q" |
| `QQQQ` | 2nd quarter | Quarter spelled out |
| **MONTH** | | |
| `M` | 6 | The numeric month of the year. A single `M` will use '6' for June. |
| `MM` | 06 | The numeric month of the year. A double `MM` will use '06' for June. |
| `MMM` | Jun | The shorthand name of the month |
| `MMMM` | June | Full name of the month |
| `MMMMM` | J | Narrow name of the month |
| **DAY** | | |
| `d` | 15 | The day of the month. A single `d` will use 1 for June 1st. |
| `dd` | 15 | The day of the month. A double `dd` will use 01 for June 1st. |
| `F` | 3 | The day of week in month (numeric). |
| `E` | Wed | The abbreviation for the day of the week |
| `EEEE` | Wednesday | The wide name of the day of the week |
| `EEEEE` | W | The narrow day of week |
| `EEEEEE` | We | The short day of week |
| **HOUR** | | |
| `h` | 2 | The 12-hour hour |
| `hh` | 02 | The 12-hour hour, padded with a zero if there is only 1 digit |
| `H` | 14 | The 24-hour hour |
| `HH` | 14 | The 24-hour hour, padded with a zero if there is only 1 digit |
| `a` | PM | AM / PM for 12-hour time formats |
| **MINUTE** | | |
| `m` | 45 | The minute, with no padding for zeroes |
| `mm` | 45 | The minute with zero padding |
| **SECOND** | | |
| `s` | 6 | The seconds, with no padding for zeroes |
| `ss` | 06 | The seconds with zero padding |
| `SSS` | 753 | The milliseconds |
| **TIME ZONE** | | |
| `zzz` | IST | The 3-letter name of the time zone. Falls back to GMT-08:00 if the name is not known. |
| `zzzz` | Indian Standard Time | The expanded time zone name. Falls back to GMT-08:00 if name is not known. |
| `ZZZZ` | IST+05:30 | Time zone with abbreviation and offset |
| `Z` | +0530 | RFC 822 GMT format. Can also match a literal Z for Zulu (UTC) time. |
| `ZZZZZ` | +05:30 | ISO 8601 time zone format |
You can read more about date format patterns in the [Unicode Date Format Patterns reference](https://www.unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-31/tr35-dates.html#Date_Format_Patterns).
#### Date & Time Locale
By default, date and time placeholders follow your system's regional settings. To format the output for a specific region instead, add a `locale` parameter: `{date locale="fr-FR"}` renders today's date using French conventions.
`locale` works on `{date}`, `{datetime}`, `{time}`, and `{day}`, and combines with an offset:
- `{date locale="fr-FR"}` → 15 juin 2022
- `{date locale="fr-FR" offset="+1d"}` → tomorrow's date, formatted for French
- `{time locale="en-US-u-hc-h23"}` → 13:44. Unicode extensions are supported, so this forces 24-hour time
> [!NOTE]
> Write locales with hyphens, not underscores (`en-US`, not `en_US`), and use a locale your system supports. If the locale isn't recognized, the placeholder isn't valid and won't expand.
> [!WARNING]
> `format` and `locale` can't be used together. A custom format already fully specifies the output, so combining the two is rejected.
#### Arguments
##### Argument Name
By default, each `{argument}` placeholder creates a new input field in the search bar (up to 3). To reuse the same value across multiple placeholders, give them the same name: `{argument name="tone"}`. Placeholders with matching names are replaced by the same value.
##### Argument Default Value
By default, an argument is required and the command cannot run until a value is entered. To make it optional, set a default value: `{argument default="happy"}` or `{argument name="sport" default="skiing"}`.
##### Argument Options
To present a predefined set of choices, use the `options` parameter: `{argument name="tone" options="happy, sad, professional"}`.
#### Clipboard Offset
By default, `{clipboard}` inserts your most recently copied text. To access older clipboard entries, use an offset:
- `{clipboard offset=1}` → second most recent
- `{clipboard offset=2}` → third most recent
> [!NOTE]
> Using a clipboard offset placeholder requires [Clipboard History](https://manual.raycast.com/clipboard-history) to be enabled.
#### Browser Tab
##### Browser Tab Format
By default, the tab content is converted to Markdown. You can specify a different format:
- `{browser-tab format="markdown"}` — default
- `{browser-tab format="text"}` — plain text content of the tab, without any styling
- `{browser-tab format="html"}` — full HTML content of the tab
##### Browser Tab Selector
To extract a specific part of the page, use a CSS selector: `{browser-tab selector="a.author.text-bold"}`. This lets you create highly targeted commands for specific websites.
### System Commands
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/system-commands
Description: Control your system from Raycast — lock the screen, sleep, restart, empty the trash, toggle Wi-Fi, and run dozens of system actions instantly.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
System Commands give you a Raycast command for the actions you'd otherwise dig through menu bars, system menus, or keyboard shortcuts for. Lock the screen, restart, toggle the system appearance, mute the volume; they're all one search away, and pair perfectly with hotkeys and aliases.
#### Discover System Commands
System Commands are organized into the **System Actions** built-in extension. They're available out of the box on both Mac and Windows, with a few platform-specific extras on each.
##### Power & Session
- **Lock Screen**: Lock the screen of your computer.
- **Sleep**: Put your computer to sleep.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Hibernate**: Hibernate your computer.
- **Sleep Displays**: Put the displays of your computer to sleep.
- **Restart**: Restart your computer.
- **Shut Down**: Shut down your computer.
- **Log Out**: Log out from the current user.
- **Show Screen Saver**: Start the screen saver.
##### Audio & Media
- **Play / Pause**: Play or pause the current track.
- **Next Track**: Play the next track.
- **Previous Track**: Play the previous track.
- **Toggle Mute**: Mute or unmute your computer's speaker.
- **Turn Volume Up** / **Turn Volume Down**: Step the volume up or down.
- **Set Volume**: Set the volume to a specific value.
- **Set Volume to 0% / 25% / 50% / 75% / 100%**: Jump straight to a preset level.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Volume Mixer**: Adjust or mute the volume of individual apps that are playing audio. See [Volume Mixer](#volume-mixer).
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Toggle Mute for Current App**: Mute or unmute the app in front of Raycast.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Turn Current App Volume Up** / **Turn Current App Volume Down**: Step the volume of the app in front of Raycast.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Toggle Microphone Mute**: Mute or unmute every connected microphone.
##### Display & Appearance
- **Show Desktop**: Hide every window and reveal the desktop.
- **Toggle System Appearance**: Switch between light and dark mode.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Toggle Stage Manager**: Turn Stage Manager on or off.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Toggle HDR**: Turn HDR on or off.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **Toggle Night Light**: Turn Night Light on or off.
##### Files & Storage
- **Open Trash**: Open the Trash in Finder or File Explorer.
- **Empty Trash**: Empty the Trash.
- **Show Warning Before Emptying Trash**
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Eject All Disks**: Eject every mounted disk image.
- **Toggle Hidden Files**: Show or hide hidden files in the file browser.
##### Apps & Notifications
- **Hide All Apps Except Frontmost**: View the front app and hide everything else.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Unhide All Hidden Apps**: Bring every hidden app back into view.
- **Quit All Apps**: Quit every running application.
- **Show Warning Before Quitting Applications**
- **Excluded Applications**: Choose specific apps that remain open when quitting all applications.
- **Quit All Apps Except Frontmost**: Same as above, but keep the front app open.
- **Show Warning Before Quitting Applications**
- **Excluded Applications**: Choose specific apps that remain open when quitting all applications.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Dismiss Notifications**: Clear every notification on screen.
##### Connectivity
- **Toggle Bluetooth**: Turn Bluetooth on or off.
#### Using System Commands
Search for any System Command in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) and hit `Enter` to run it. Most are one-shot, with no follow-up screen, the action just happens.
System Commands shine when you assign them aliases or hotkeys. Open any command's [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) and choose **Configure Command** (or see [Aliases & Hotkeys](https://manual.raycast.com/command-aliases-and-hotkeys)) to set:
- An **Alias** so typing `lock`, `mute`, or `restart` jumps straight to the command.
- A **Hotkey** for true one-press triggering, even when Raycast isn't open.
Common patterns:
- **Lock Screen** with a global hotkey for stepping away from your machine.
- **Toggle System Appearance** on a hotkey for quick light/dark switching.
- **Toggle Mute** on a hotkey when you join a call from any app.
- **Empty Trash** with the alias `et` for occasional clean-ups.
#### Volume Mixer
_(Only on Windows)_
**Volume Mixer** lists every app with an audio session, split into **Playing** and **Idle** sections. Type in the **Search apps…** field to filter the list. With an app selected:
- Press `+` or `=` to run **Increase Volume**, and `-` to run **Decrease Volume**.
- Press `Ctrl M` to mute or unmute the app.
- Press `←` or `→` to slide the volume while the search field is empty.
- Open the Action Panel for the **Set Volume to 0% / 25% / 50% / 75% / 100%** presets.
#### Quit All Apps
- **Show warning before quitting applications**: When enabled (default), Raycast asks for confirmation before quitting everything. Disable it for instant quitting.
- **Excluded Applications**: A list of apps that should stay open when you run **Quit All Apps**. Useful for keeping browsers, music players, or chat apps running while clearing everything else.
The same preferences apply to **Quit All Apps Except Frontmost**.
### Script Commands
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/script-commands
Description: Turn your scripts into Raycast commands with Script Commands. Run Bash, Python, Ruby, Swift, AppleScript, and more to automate any workflow.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Script Commands let you tailor Raycast to your needs. They allow you to run your frequently used scripts in a few keystrokes, or bind them to a hotkey.
Script Commands let you bring your own automation into Raycast by writing simple scripts in any language you prefer, whether it's C#, Bash, PowerShell, Python, Node.js, or others. Define a title, description, and other metadata at the top of your script file, and Raycast turns it into a fully searchable command, just like a built-in one.
Quickly create a new script with **Create Script Command** or import existing scripts by adding a **Script Directory** from Settings. You can learn more about the metadata format in the [Script Commands repo](https://github.com/raycast/script-commands#metadata).
#### Overview
Reach for a Script Command when you want to:
- Trigger a system action you do all day: toggle hidden files, switch audio output, eject all disks.
- Run a personal dev workflow: kick off a deploy, open the staging dashboard, paste a templated commit message.
- Talk to home automation, IoT, or an internal API without writing a full extension.
- Turn ten lines of shell or Python into a first-class Raycast command.
#### Adding Script Commands
##### Create a new script
Open Raycast, run **Create Script Command**, pick a language template, and Raycast scaffolds a new file with the metadata header pre-filled. Save it to any folder you've added as a Script Directory.
##### Import existing scripts
Open **Settings → Script Commands → Add Script Directory** and pick any folder. Raycast indexes every script file inside it as a command. Edits to a script's metadata (rename, add an argument, change mode) are picked up automatically — no restart needed.
For the full metadata reference (directives, modes, arguments, refresh time, and language-specific examples), see the [Script Commands repo](https://github.com/raycast/script-commands).
#### Tips
##### Bind frequently-used scripts to a hotkey
Any Script Command can be triggered from a global hotkey. Find your script in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar), press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel), pick **Configure Command**, then **Record Hotkey**. Now the script runs from anywhere on your system, even when Raycast isn't open.
##### Use a script as a Fallback Command
A Script Command whose first argument is text, with any other arguments optional, can be a [Fallback Command](https://manual.raycast.com/settings#fallback-commands). Enable it in **Settings → Launcher → Fallback Commands**, and whatever you typed in Root Search is passed to the script as its first argument.
##### Keep scripts idempotent
If a script will be triggered repeatedly (especially from a hotkey or a refresh interval), make it safe to run twice in a row. Toggle commands beat on/off pairs; "ensure X exists" beats "create X".
#### Platform Support
##### macOS
_(Only on Mac)_
Script Commands run with whatever interpreter your shebang points to. Built-in support covers AppleScript (`.applescript`, `.scpt`), shell (`bash`, `zsh`), Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, and Swift.
> [!TIP]
> The first time a script touches Accessibility, Automation, or Full Disk Access, macOS shows a system permission prompt. Grant it to the **Raycast** app, not Terminal — Raycast is the process running the script.
> [!TIP]
> For AppleScript, prefer `.applescript` over compiled `.scpt` when you can. Plain text plays nicer with version control and is much easier to diff and review.
##### Windows
_(Only on Windows)_
On Windows, Script Commands run with whatever interpreter is on your PATH. Common runtimes include PowerShell (`.ps1`), C#, Python, Node.js, and Bash (under WSL or Git Bash).
> [!TIP]
> If a `.ps1` script won't run, check your PowerShell execution policy with `Get-ExecutionPolicy`. The default `Restricted` blocks every script; `RemoteSigned` is the usual setting for personal machines.
> [!TIP]
> Forward slashes work in most paths and survive copy/paste between machines better than backslashes. Prefer `C:/Users/you/scripts/foo.ps1` over the escaped backslash form.
#### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
The first time a script touches Accessibility, Automation, or Full Disk Access, macOS shows a system permission prompt. Grant it to the **Raycast** app, not Terminal — Raycast is the process running the script. You can review what's been granted in **System Settings → Privacy & Security** (Accessibility is renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27).
#### Learn More
For the full metadata reference and examples in every supported language, see the [Script Commands repo](https://github.com/raycast/script-commands).
Here are two example scripts to get you started:
##### Build Xcode
_(Only on Mac)_
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# Required parameters:
# @raycast.schemaVersion 1
# @raycast.title Build XCODE
# @raycast.mode compact
# Optional parameters:
# @raycast.icon 🤖
osascript <<'EOF'
tell application "Xcode"
activate
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "Xcode"
keystroke "r" using {command down}
end tell
end tell
EOF
```
##### Open in CleanShot X
_(Only on Mac)_
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# Required parameters:
# @raycast.schemaVersion 1
# @raycast.title Open in CleanShot X
# @raycast.mode silent
# Optional parameters:
# @raycast.icon 🖼️
# @raycast.packageName Finder
# Documentation:
# @raycast.description Opens the currently selected Finder file with CleanShot X
selected_file=$(osascript -e '
tell application "Finder"
if (count of (selection as alias list)) > 0 then
set selectedItem to item 1 of (selection as alias list)
return POSIX path of (selectedItem as text)
else
return ""
end if
end tell
')
if [ -z "$selected_file" ]; then
echo "No file selected in Finder."
exit 1
fi
open -a "CleanShot X" "$selected_file"
echo "Opened $(basename "$selected_file") in CleanShot X"
```
#### Troubleshooting
For issues with Script Commands, refer to the [troubleshooting and FAQs](https://github.com/raycast/script-commands#troubleshooting-and-faqs) section in the Script Commands repo.
### Themes
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/themes
Description: Customize how Raycast looks with Themes — choose from a curated collection or design your own in Theme Studio with custom backgrounds, colors, and more.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 30 July 2026
**Themes** let you customize the look and feel of Raycast to match your vibe. You can adjust the background, primary text, and support colors, which adapts across Raycast in Light and Dark mode.
#### Theme Studio
Theme Studio is the built-in editor where you can choose from a curated collection of included themes, tweak existing ones to suit your preferences, or design a completely custom theme from scratch. Every color adjustment is previewed in real-time, so you can see exactly how your changes will look before applying them.
When creating a custom theme in Theme Studio, you can:
- Name your theme and select whether it is a Light or Dark mode theme
- Adjust the appearance, including background color or gradient, primary colors, and support colors. You can paste hex values directly or pick colors using the color picker.
- Save your theme or copy as URL to share with others.
You can also right-click a theme in the sidebar to see more options such as set as Light or Dark mode theme, duplicate, copy as JSON, or delete theme.
#### Switch Theme Command
Use the **Switch Theme** command to browse all installed themes and apply one as your current theme. You can also use the **Set as Light Theme** or **Set as Dark Theme** actions in the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) to adjust your theme settings separately for each system appearance.
#### Theme Settings
Theme preferences can be found in the Appearance section under General in **Settings**. From here, you can browse and switch between installed themes, set separate themes for Light and Dark Mode, and open Theme Studio.
#### Share & Import Themes
Themes are shared as URLs that encode their colors, appearance, and creator information. Export a theme from Theme Studio by right-clicking it in the sidebar and selecting **Copy as URL** to share a [themes.ray.so](https://themes.ray.so) link, or **Copy as JSON** to copy the theme data to your clipboard.
Browse community-created themes at [**themes.ray.so**](https://themes.ray.so) and click **Add to Raycast** on any theme.
### Auto Quit
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/auto-quit
Description: Free up memory by quitting apps automatically after a period of inactivity. Select the apps, set a timeout, and Raycast handles the rest.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Some apps you only check occasionally, but they sit open all day eating memory anyway. Auto Quit closes them a few minutes after you stop using them and gets out of your way until you open them again. Pick the apps, set a timeout, and Raycast handles the rest.
#### Get Started
1. Open Raycast and search for an app you'd like to configure with **Auto Quit**.
2. Press `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K` to open the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel) and select **Enable Auto Quit**.
3. The next time the app sits in the background for 3 minutes (by default), Raycast quits it.
To turn it off, select **Disable Auto Quit** from the Action Panel when viewing the app in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar). You can also add or remove apps directly in **Settings → Applications → Auto Quit**.
#### Manage Auto Quits
All Auto Quit settings live under **Settings → Applications → Auto Quit**. From here you can change the default duration for all apps, set a different timeout per app, and add or remove apps from the list.
##### Duration
The **Default Auto Quit Duration** is the timeout used when you use **Enable Auto Quit** from the Action Panel. Pick from **1**, **3** (Default), **5**, **10**, or **15 minutes**. Changing the default also updates every app currently using it. One change adjusts your whole list at once.
Each app can have its own timeout instead of following the default. Apps still using the default show a **Default** label next to their interval, making it clear which ones will update when you change it.
##### Add or Remove Apps
Click the **plus button** button at the top of the settings page to add an app, or the **minus button** button beside any app to remove its rule. You can also toggle Auto Quit for any app from Root Search using the **Enable Auto Quit** / **Disable Auto Quit** action.
#### When Auto Quit Waits
Auto Quit avoids closing apps in situations where it would interrupt you. When any of these apply, the timer reschedules itself and tries again later:
- The system is **recording audio or video** (macOS only). Auto Quit pauses for every scheduled app while a recording is active.
- A **media player** is playing. On macOS, this covers **Spotify** and **Apple Music**, and the player keeps running until playback stops. On Windows, an app is left alone for as long as it's the one actively reporting media playback.
- The app is **currently frontmost**. The timer is reset while you're in the app and starts again when it's hidden or deactivated.
Background-only apps, such as menu bar utilities, daemons, and similar, usually never trigger an Auto Quit because they don't go through the active/inactive lifecycle the timer listens for.
> [!NOTE]
> Raycast is always excluded from Auto Quit, along with the system file manager (Finder on macOS, File Explorer on Windows) — even if you try to enable it on them.
#### Tips
- Pair Auto Quit with [**Quit All Apps**](https://manual.raycast.com/system-commands#quit-all-apps) for an end-of-day reset. **Quit All Apps** clears everything in one shot, while Auto Quit handles stragglers throughout the day.
- Avoid Auto Quit for apps that need to keep running, such as sync clients or mail apps you rely on for notifications, or music players you control from elsewhere.
### Run
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/run
Description: Replace the Windows Run dialog with Raycast — launch apps, Control Panel applets, MMC snap-ins, paths, and shell URIs by name.
Platforms: Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Run is a modern replacement for the classic Windows Run dialog. Instead of memorising commands, you can browse, discover, and run everything your system offers, directly from Raycast.
#### Getting Started
1. **Open Raycast** and search for **Open Run**.
2. **Browse or type**: Start typing or choose from previously run commands. Applications, system tools, Control Panel applets, Management Console, paths, and registered URIs you've run before will appear here as well.
3. **Execute**: Press `Enter` to run the selected item. Raycast records it in your history so you can rerun it later.
> [!TIP]
> Prefer to skip the list? Use **Execute Run Command** from [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar): press `Tab` to enter a command and run it instantly, when you know exactly what you need to launch.
##### Commands
- **Open Run** – Browse and execute Windows commands, applications, Control Panel applets, MMC snap-ins, directories, and shell URIs. Your Run history is displayed in this command
- **Execute Run Command** – Run a Windows command directly from Root Search using `Tab`
- **Search Run Commands** – Browse and manage your custom Run Command aliases
- **Create Run Command** – Create a custom Run Command with an alias, icon, description, tags, and optional shell override
##### Capabilities
With Raycast Run, you can:
- Search and launch applications and system tools (`notepad`, `calc`, `regedit`, `taskmgr`)
- Open Control Panel applets and MMC snap-ins (`appwiz.cpl`, `certmgr.msc`, `diskmgmt.msc`)
- Navigate to directories using paths, network shares, and environment variables (`C:\Users`, `\\server\share`, `%appdata%`)
- Execute shell URIs to access special locations (`shell:Recent`, `shell:startup`, `shell:RecycleBin`)
- Access and manage your run history with full backwards compatibility with the Windows Run dialog
#### How Run Works
Run classifies what you type into one of these kinds:
- **Executable** – `.exe`, `.cmd`, `.bat`, `.com`, or an unrooted command like `notepad`
- **Control Panel Applet** – `.cpl` files such as `appwiz.cpl` or `ncpa.cpl`
- **Management Console** – `.msc` snap-ins such as `certmgr.msc` or `diskmgmt.msc`
- **Environment Variable** – `%VAR%` style values such as `%APPDATA%`
- **Path** – Rooted drive paths (`C:\Users`), UNC paths (`\\server\share`), and env-var paths (`%appdata%\Microsoft`)
- **URI** – Registered schemes like `shell:Recent`, `shell:startup`, or `ms-settings:`
- **Run Command** – Custom aliases you've created
History is shared with the built-in Windows Run dialog, so anything you've run there shows up here, and anything you run from Raycast stays available in both places.
##### Run Commands
Run Commands are custom aliases for frequently used commands you build on top of anything Run already knows how to execute. A Run Command includes:
- Alias & Icon
- Description (optional)
- Command
- Tags (optional)
- Shell (defaults to system shell)
- Non-default shells may not support URI commands, Control Panel applets, or Management Consoles.
Once saved, a Run Command appears in Root Search under its alias and in the **Open Run** list. You can create one at any time from the **Create Run Command** command or from the action in the [Action Panel](https://manual.raycast.com/action-panel).
#### Tips
- Bind **Open Run** to `win R` to replace the built-in Windows Run dialog with the Run commands in Raycast
- Use the **Run as Administrator** action with a Run Command or executable selected to run with elevated permissions
- Use the **Delete from History** action on any History entries in the **Open Run** command to remove it from both Raycast and Windows Run history
### Games
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/games
Description: Launch every game on your PC from Raycast — automatically discovers titles from Steam, Epic, GOG, and more, with Game Mode to silence hotkeys while you play.
Platforms: Windows
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Games turns Raycast into a single launcher for the games installed on your PC. Grouped with your apps, per-game actions for launching, and smart enough to step out of the way while you play by silencing global hotkeys in Game Mode.
#### Getting Started
- Open **Settings → Games**. The extension is enabled by default. If you've disabled it previously, toggle it on in the top right.
- Type a game's name in [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) to Open it.
- Run the **Game Launcher** command to browse every installed game and launcher in one place.
- (Optional) On the Games settings page, turn on **Game Mode** to pause Raycast hotkeys while a game window is detected in the foreground.
#### Discovery
When Raycast is open on your system, it will automatically scan your system for games installed through the following launchers:
- Steam
- Epic Games Launcher
- GOG Galaxy
- Battle.net
- Ubisoft Connect
- EA (EA app / Origin)
- itch.io
- Xbox app (Microsoft Store / MSIX titles)
- NVIDIA GeForce NOW
- Riot Games
- Rockstar Games
- Battlestate Games
- Roblox
In addition to these launchers, Raycast will treat any app as a game when registered with Windows' Game Config Store.
##### Game Mode
When Game Mode is enabled, Raycast monitors the active foreground window. If it detects a game (either from Raycast's classification, the Windows Game Config Store, or a full-screen exclusive Direct3D window), it temporarily pauses all Raycast hotkeys. As soon as you switch windows or the game loses focus, hotkeys are resumed.
> [!NOTE]
> Game Mode only pauses hotkeys for the active window. Running a game in the background won't pause the Raycast hotkeys.
#### Tips
Search "Games" in Raycast to view all your games and game launchers. If a game is mistreated as an Application, press `Ctrl K` and select **Mark as Game** to update the classification. You can also use this to reclassify Applications that are incorrectly marked as Games.
#### FAQ
##### Do I need to connect Raycast to the launchers?
No. Game discovery is local on your system and Raycast reads installed-game metadata from disk and the registry, not from online libraries.
##### What exactly does Game Mode do?
It pauses all hotkeys, including the Raycast hotkey, whenever a game window is in the foreground. As soon as the game window loses focus, hotkeys are resumed.
##### Can I exclude a specific game from Game Mode?
Not directly. The best option to do this would be to reclassify the game as an application by using the **Treat as Application** action. Once an item is reclassified as a regular app, it no longer trips the foreground-game check.
##### Why don't I have the Games settings page?
The Games settings page (and Game Mode) is only shown in Raycast for Windows version 0.35 and above. On macOS, there's no Games extension to configure.
## AI
### AI
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai
Description: Raycast AI brings leading models and powerful extensions to Mac, Windows, and iOS — chat, draft, research, and code without leaving your current context.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast AI combines leading models with powerful extensions, accessible across your operating system. From drafting content to researching ideas to debugging code, Raycast AI adapts to your needs without leaving your current context.
#### Talk to AI
- [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai): Ask a one-off question from Root Search
- [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat): Start a conversation with Raycast AI
- [Dictation](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation): Speech to text, anywhere on your system
#### Put AI to Work
- [Screen Awareness](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness): Ask AI about whatever you're looking at
- [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands): Turn favorite prompts into one-press commands
- [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions): Talk to extensions, get things done
- [Projects](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects): Share instructions and memory between chats
- [Automations](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations): Run AI prompts on a schedule
- [Agents](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents): Save reusable AI setups for recurring tasks
- [Skills](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills): Give AI reusable instructions and knowledge
- [MCP](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/model-context-protocol): Connect MCP servers to extend Raycast AI
#### Make AI Yours
- [Personalization](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization): Customize your Raycast AI experience
- [Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models): Run AI models on your own machine
- [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers): Connect any OpenAI-compatible provider
- [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key): Use your own Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, or OpenRouter key
- [Bring Your Own Subscription](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription): Connect your Claude or ChatGPT subscription
- [Usage Limits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits): Understand monthly credits, usage, and top-ups
- [Privacy & Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security): See how we protect your data
### Quick AI
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai
Description: Ask Raycast AI a one-off question from Root Search and get an answer in the same window, with follow-ups and context when you need them.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Quick AI lets you ask Raycast AI a one-off question from [Root Search](https://manual.raycast.com/search-bar) and get the answer in the same window. Type your question, press `Tab`, and read the response without interrupting your flow. When a question grows into something bigger, hand the whole conversation over to [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) with a single keystroke.
#### Open Quick AI
There are three ways to start:
- From Root Search: Start typing your question, then press `Tab`. Raycast hands your text to Quick AI and submits it.
- Run the **Quick AI** command directly from Root Search to open with an empty prompt.
- Set Quick AI as a fallback command in **Settings → Launcher → Fallback Commands** to send any unmatched Root Search text straight to Quick AI when you press `↵`.
Pressing `Tab` from Root Search always opens Quick AI, even with no text typed, so you can start fresh.
#### Ask a Question
Type your prompt and press `↵` to submit. Quick AI streams the answer back in the same window.
On the response, `↵` pastes the answer into the previously focused app by default. To swap the default to copy instead, open **Settings → AI → Commands → Quick AI → Primary Action**.
When a response includes code, it appears in a code block with the detected language and a copy button. Long lines scroll sideways by default. Click **Enable line wrap** in the top right of the block to wrap them to the response width, and click again to switch back.
#### Follow-ups
Keep typing after a response to ask a follow-up. Quick AI is a full conversation, not a single-shot Q&A.
- Regenerate the last response with the same model: `⌘ R`/`Ctrl R`
- Regenerate the last response with a different model: `⇧ ⌘ R`/`Ctrl Shift R`
- Start a fresh conversation: `⌘ N`/`Ctrl N`
- Navigate between recent Quick AI chats: `⌘ [`/`Ctrl [` and `⌘ ]`/`Ctrl ]`
#### Attach Context
Open the ** Add Context** menu to the left of the composer, or type `@`, to attach something to your question.
Quick AI can capture what you're looking at through Screen Awareness:
- **Focused Window**: A full capture of the app in front of you, including its content, your selection, and a screenshot.
- **Selected Text**: Whatever you've highlighted in another app.
- **Selected Area** or **Entire Screen**: A screenshot captured from your desktop.
Attachments are scoped to the message you send them with, and they come along if you continue the conversation in AI Chat, which accepts a wider set of context. Learn more on the [Screen Awareness page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness).
**Send to AI** commands open AI Chat by default. To have them go to Quick AI instead, change the command's **Primary Action** in **Settings → Screen Awareness**.
#### Collapsed Messages
To keep conversations easy to scan, long messages you send are collapsed in both Quick AI and AI Chat. A collapsed message shows its first part with a **Show more** control to expand it, and a **Collapse** control to fold it back once expanded.
Only long messages collapse: A message over 10 lines (or a comparably long single paragraph) is collapsed, while shorter messages are always shown in full.
#### Ask User Question
Sometimes the AI needs a bit more direction. When a request is ambiguous or the model isn't sure how to proceed, it can pause and show you a short multiple-choice question right in the conversation. Pick an option and it continues with your answer. This works in both Quick AI and AI Chat and is always on — there's no setting to turn it off.
To reliably trigger it, ask for it in your prompt: Either name the tool directly ("use the ask questions tool") or describe the flow ("do X, then ask me to choose Y").
Try it: Paste either of these into Quick AI:
```text
Set up a new project folder for me and ask me to choose from the available options
```
```text
Use the ask questions tool and quiz me about who are the cofounders of Raycast
```
Because these requests leave out details (where to create the folder and what to call it, or how many questions and how hard), the AI will typically ask a clarifying question with a few options before doing anything.
To speak a prompt instead of typing it, press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M` or choose **Start Dictating** from the Action Panel. Your words appear in the composer as you speak. Press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M` or `↵` to **Accept Dictation**, or `Esc` to **Cancel Dictation**. Learn more on the [Dictation page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
#### Models
Configure the AI models used across Quick AI, AI Chat, and Custom AI Commands from **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**, or use the **Manage Models** command to jump straight there. Learn more on the [AI Commands page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands).
##### Switch Models
Open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) and pick **Change Model** to switch the active model mid-conversation, or **Regenerate with Model…** to try the last answer on a different model.
You can also set a default in **Settings → AI → Commands → Quick AI → Default Model**.
##### Default Models
Pick the default model for each surface:
- **Quick AI**: The model used when you ask a quick question from Root Search.
- **AI Chat**: The default for new chats. Set to **Last Used Model** to continue with whichever model you used most recently.
- **Custom AI Commands**: The default for any AI Command that doesn't specify its own model.
When a model supports reasoning effort, each row also shows a dropdown for it, with the recommended option marked **Default**. Your choice carries over between models that support it, or resets to the new model's default. The same control appears in Custom AI Command settings whenever a specific model is used instead of **Last Used Model**.
##### Manage Models
Choose which models appear in the model pickers across Quick AI, AI Chat, and Custom AI Commands:
- **Review model details**: Each model lists its Speed, Intelligence, and Context window so you can compare capabilities at a glance.
- **Enable or disable models**: Toggle the checkbox next to a model to control whether it shows up in pickers. Disabled models are hidden everywhere AI models can be selected.
- **Group by Provider**: Models are grouped by their provider (e.g. Raycast, Anthropic). Expand or collapse a provider to focus on a subset.
- **Sort the list**: Use the sort menu in the top-right to order models by Brand, Alphabetically, Speed, Intelligence, or Context Window.
#### Continue in AI Chat
When a question grows into something bigger, press `⌘ J`/`Ctrl J` to move the conversation into AI Chat. The full history, model, and any attachments come with it, and you get the chat workspace, longer context, and tools. Learn more on the [AI Chat page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat).
#### Auto-new Chat
Quick AI starts a fresh chat after a period of inactivity, so you don't accidentally tack new questions onto an older conversation. Adjust the timeout in **Settings → AI → Chat → Start New Chat** (options: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, always, never).
This same inactivity timer also determines whether a [Send to AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat#attach-context) command reuses your active chat or starts a new one when AI Chat is closed.
#### Settings
Tune Quick AI from **Settings → AI → Commands → Quick AI**:
- **Quick AI Default Model**: Default model used when opening Quick AI.
- **Primary Action**: Paste to active app or copy the response to clipboard on `↵`.
- **Tab Shortcut**: Hide the `Tab` hint in Root Search (the shortcut still works).
A few settings under **Settings → AI → Chat** apply to Quick AI as well as AI Chat:
- **Start New Chat**: Start a new chat after the specified timeout when opening Quick AI.
- **Conversation History**: Show conversations from AI Chat and Quick AI combined or keep them separate.
#### Troubleshooting
Quick AI lets you talk to a model from Root Search. Most reports come down to the trigger key, model selection, sync, or hitting a usage or context limit. Here are the common ones.
##### Tab doesn't open Quick AI, or stops working
Quick AI opens by typing your question in Root Search and pressing Tab. If Tab doesn't enter Quick AI, check that no other Tab-completion behavior is taking priority. Tab also opens Quick AI with an empty search, so you can start fresh.
##### The model keeps resetting or picks the wrong one
Set your preferred model in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Default Models**. Quick AI and AI Chat can use different defaults, so set both.
##### AI chats aren't syncing between devices
AI Chat History syncs through [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync), which requires a signed-in Raycast Pro account with **AI Chat History** turned on in **Settings → Cloud Sync → Synced Content**. v1 and iOS devices sync through legacy Cloud Sync and appear as a single **Legacy Raycast & iOS Devices** entry, so bridging chats between a v1 device and a v2 device can lag behind syncing between two v2 devices. If it still looks stuck, see [Cloud Sync Troubleshooting](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync#troubleshooting).
##### Code or formatting comes out wrong (backslashes stripped, malformed blocks)
If code in a response drops backslashes or breaks formatting, copy it using the code block's copy action rather than selecting text by hand, which can pick up rendering artifacts. If the model itself is producing broken output, try a different model.
##### I ran out of credits or hit a provider limit
Raycast AI uses your plan's monthly credits and any top-ups. If your balance is empty, top up or wait for your next allowance. When using your own AI through subscription, API key, or custom provider, follow the provider's usage limits. For a rate-limit error, follow the retry or reset information shown in the message. Learn more on the [Usage Limits page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits).
##### I hit a context limit, or the chat says the conversation is too long
Each model has a fixed context window, and a long conversation (or large attachments) can fill it, which trims earlier messages or blocks new ones. Start a fresh conversation for a new topic (`⌘ N`/`Ctrl N`), or switch to a model with a larger context window. Context windows vary by model. You can compare them at [raycast.com/core-features/ai/models](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai/models) or in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Manage Models** (also available via the **Manage Models** command).
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. Whether it's **AI Chat or Quick AI**, the **model** you're using, and whether the issue reproduces across models.
4. **Your Raycast logs**: Use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
5. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### AI Chat
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat
Description: Have ongoing conversations with Raycast AI using history, memory, attachments, agents, and tools in a dedicated workspace beside your work.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Status: Updated
Last updated: 10 September 2026
AI Chat is Raycast's full chat workspace, with persistent history, Memory, rich attachments, and tool use so you can start a multi-turn conversation, attach context, and pick up where you left off across sessions. For fast, one-off questions straight from Root Search, use [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) instead.
There are a few ways to start:
- Use the **AI Chat** command from Root Search to open the chat workspace.
- Press `⌘ J`/`Ctrl J` from a [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) conversation to continue it in AI Chat with the full history.
- Use a **Send to AI** command to send content into your active AI Chat from anywhere: **Send Focused Window to AI**, **Send Selected Text to AI**, **Send Screen Area to AI**, or **Send Screen to AI**. Learn more on the [Screen Awareness page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness).
AI Chat lives in its own window, so you can keep it alongside whatever you're working on.
#### Start a Conversation
Type your prompt in the composer and press `↵` to send. `⇧ ↵` adds a new line. AI Chat streams the response back and remembers the whole thread, so each follow-up can build on earlier turns.
- Edit any previous message to re-run the conversation from that point.
- Regenerate the last response with `⌘ R`/`Ctrl R`.
- Start a fresh chat with `⌘ N`/`Ctrl N`.
- With an empty composer, press `↑` to edit your last message, then keep pressing `↑` or `↓` to step through earlier and later messages. See [Edit a Message](#edit-a-message).
When a response includes code, it appears in a code block with the detected language and a copy button. Long lines scroll sideways by default. Click **Enable line wrap** in the top right of the block to wrap them to the response width, and click again to switch back.
> [!TIP]
> You can adjust the zoom level of the AI Chat window by using `⌘ -`/`Ctrl -` / `+` to zoom out or in, or `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` to return to actual size, or in **Settings → AI → Chat → Zoom**.
#### Dictate a Message
Speak your prompt instead of typing it. Click the microphone button in the empty composer, or press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M`. Your words appear as you speak. Press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M` again to **Accept Dictation**, or `Esc` to **Cancel Dictation**. Learn more on the [Dictation page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation).
#### Steer or Queue Follow-ups
While a response is streaming, you can **Queue** a follow-up to run when it finishes, or **Steer** to inject your message into the current run without restarting. The send button shows **Steer Message** or **Queue Message** for the active mode. Default is **Queue**. Change it under **Follow-up Behavior** in [Settings](#settings).
- **Do the opposite once**: `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵` applies the other behavior for one message (`⌥ ↵` if that's your primary **Send Message** shortcut).
- **Promote a queued message**: Click **Steer** on a queued message to inject it into the current run. With no active run, it simply sends.
Canceling is unchanged (empty input still cancels a run). Pending tool confirmations still pause the run; steered messages apply once it resumes.
#### Edit a Message
Change a message you already sent and re-run the conversation from that point with the new text. Hover a previous message to reveal its actions, click the edit (pencil) icon, update the text in the composer (it shows **Editing Message** while you do), and resend.
You can also edit from the keyboard. With an empty composer, press `↑` to load your last message. Keep pressing `↑` or `↓` to move between earlier messages. Once you change the text, the arrow keys move the caret again. Press `Esc` to cancel and get your draft back.
Editing replaces the original response and any messages after it, so resending consumes additional credits or provider usage, just like regenerating a response.
#### Collapsed Messages
To keep conversations easy to scan, long messages you send are collapsed in both AI Chat and Quick AI. A collapsed message shows its first part with a **Show more** control to expand it, and a **Collapse** control to fold it back once expanded.
Only long messages collapse: A message over 10 lines (or a comparably long single paragraph) is collapsed, while shorter messages are always shown in full.
#### Find in Chat
Press `⌘ F`/`Ctrl F` to search the text of the open chat. Type to highlight matches, then press `↵` for the next match or `⇧ ↵` for the previous one. Press `Esc` to close the find bar. Collapsed messages expand when they contain a match.
To search across all your chats, use the search field in the history sidebar. See [Manage Chats](#manage-chats).
#### Ask User Question
Sometimes the AI needs a bit more direction. When a request is ambiguous or the model isn't sure how to proceed, it can pause and show you a short multiple-choice question right in the conversation. Pick an option and it continues with your answer. This works in both Quick AI and AI Chat and is always on — there's no setting to turn it off.
To reliably trigger it, ask for it in your prompt: Either name the tool directly ("use the ask questions tool") or describe the flow ("do X, then ask me to choose Y").
Try it: Paste either of these into AI Chat:
```text
Set up a new project folder for me and ask me to choose from the available options
```
```text
Use the ask questions tool and quiz me about who are the cofounders of Raycast
```
Because these requests leave out details (where to create the folder and what to call it, or how many questions and how hard), the AI will typically ask a clarifying question with a few options before doing anything.
#### Models
Configure the AI models used across AI Chat, Quick AI, and Custom AI Commands from **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**, or use the **Manage Models** command to jump straight there.
##### Switch Models
Open the model picker from the AI Chat window's title bar or by using `/` in the composer. Pick a fast model for general chatting, a reasoning model for harder problems, or an image-capable model when you want to generate visuals.
Tune model behavior from the settings sidebar:
- **Creativity**: None, Low, Medium, High, or Maximum.
- **Reasoning Effort**: For models that support extended thinking.
- **Web Search**: Let the model pull live results during the answer.
##### Default Models
Pick the default model for each surface:
- **AI Chat**: The default for new chats. Set to **Last Used Model** to continue with whichever model you used most recently.
- **Quick AI**: The model used when you ask a quick question from Root Search.
- **Custom AI Commands**: The default for any AI Command that doesn't specify its own model.
When a model supports reasoning effort, each row also shows a dropdown for it, with the recommended option marked **Default**. Your choice carries over between models that support it, or resets to the new model's default. The same control appears in Custom AI Command settings whenever a specific model is used instead of **Last Used Model**.
##### Manage Models
Choose which models appear in the model pickers across AI Chat, Quick AI, and Custom AI Commands:
- **Review model details**: Each model lists its Speed, Intelligence, and Context window so you can compare capabilities at a glance.
- **Enable or disable models**: Toggle the checkbox next to a model to control whether it shows up in pickers. Disabled models are hidden everywhere AI models can be selected.
- **Group by Provider**: Models are grouped by their provider (e.g. Raycast, Anthropic). Expand or collapse a provider to focus on a subset.
- **Sort the list**: Use the sort menu in the top-right to order models by Brand, Alphabetically, Speed, Intelligence, or Context Window.
#### Memory
Turn on Memory (in **Settings → AI → Personalization → Memory**) and AI Chat will remember durable facts across conversations: Your name, the projects you work on, the format you prefer answers in. The model writes to and reads from memory automatically as you chat. Learn more on the [Personalization page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization).
#### Long Conversations
Every model has a fixed context window, and a long working session will eventually fill it. Rather than cutting the conversation off, Raycast summarizes the earlier part of it in the background and carries on from the summary. You'll see a **Summarizing chat…** step in the transcript that settles into **Summarized chat** when it's done, and you keep going in the same chat.
Oversized tool results and attachments work the same way: Raycast saves the full content to a file and gives the model the start of it plus the path, so something too big for the context window can still be worked with. There's nothing to configure.
#### Attach Context
Add context to your next message by clicking the attach button in the composer or typing `@`. AI Chat can pull in:
- **Files**: Documents, code, or images from your disk.
- **Notes**: Any of your Raycast Notes.
- **Clipboard History**: A recent item you've copied.
- **Browser Tabs**: Open tabs from supported browsers.
- **Web Search**: Live web results gathered while answering.
- **Focused Window**: A full Screen Awareness capture of the app in front of you, including its content, your selection, and a screenshot.
- **Selected Text**: Whatever you've highlighted in another app.
- **Window…**, **Selected Area**, or **Entire Screen**: A screenshot captured from your desktop.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Calendar Events**: Events from today or coming up.
Attachments are scoped to the message you send them with, but the model can keep referring back to them later in the chat.
**Send to AI** commands push content into your active chat instead of always starting a new one. The commands are **Send Focused Window to AI**, **Send Selected Text to AI**, **Send Screen Area to AI**, and **Send Screen to AI**. Learn more on the [Screen Awareness page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness).
What happens depends on AI Chat's state:
- **AI Chat open**: The content goes straight to the active chat.
- **AI Chat closed**: Your **Start new chat after inactivity** setting decides: Within the window the active chat is reused; once it's elapsed, a new chat begins. Adjust it in **Settings → AI → Chat → Start New Chat**, or see [Auto-new Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai#auto-new-chat).
- **Mid-response**: If you close AI Chat while the active chat is still streaming, that chat is always restored on next open, regardless of the timer.
#### Tool Use & Extensions
AI Chat can call tools: Run a web search, generate an image, execute a terminal command, invoke an AI Extension, or hand work off to an MCP-compatible server. Toggle which tools are available per chat from the **Tools** section of the settings sidebar. Learn more on the [AI Extensions page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions) and the [Model Context Protocol page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/model-context-protocol).
By default, AI Chat approves routine tool calls on its own and asks you about the rest. Change this per chat in the settings sidebar, or for every chat in **Settings → AI → Tools**. Learn more under [Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions#permissions) on the AI Extensions page.
Generated images can be dragged and dropped straight from the chat into other apps.
#### Agents
Switch the chat to a saved Agent with the ** Change Agent** action in the Action Panel. Agents set instructions, model, and AI Extensions for consistent results until you switch agents or choose **Ask Anything**. Learn more on the [Agents page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents).
#### Skills
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Author reusable knowledge for the model with plain `SKILL.md` files. Raycast discovers them automatically and loads them when they're relevant to your chat. Learn more on the [Skills page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills).
#### Projects
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Group related chats under shared instructions, a project memory, and a working directory, so every conversation in the project starts with the right context. Projects replace Folders from v1. Learn more on the [Projects page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects).
#### Automations
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Ask AI to run a prompt later or on a repeating schedule, with results in a new or existing chat. Learn more on the [Automations page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations).
#### Manage Chats
The history sidebar lists every chat. Search at the top matches chat titles and message content. Hold `⌘`/`Ctrl` to see a number next to your first ten chats, and press `⌘ 1`/`Ctrl 1` to `⌘ 0`/`Ctrl 0` to jump to one.
Right-click a chat, or open the Action Panel with `⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`, to:
- **Pin** important conversations to the top.
- **Archive** chats you're done with. Old chats archive automatically after the window you pick in Settings (or never).
- **Clear Chat** to remove a chat's messages while keeping its model, agent, and other configuration, so you can start over without losing your setup.
- **Delete** a chat. It moves to Recently Deleted, where it stays for 60 days before it's removed for good.
- **Delete All Chats** to move every unpinned chat to Recently Deleted at once. Press `⌃ ⇧ X`/`Ctrl Alt D`. Pinned chats stay.
- **Rename** a chat to give it a title you'll recognize, instead of the auto-generated one.
- **Copy Chat** to copy the whole conversation as text, or **Branch Chat** to continue it in a new chat that keeps the history so far.
- **Move**: Drag a chat onto the Pinned section, a Project, or the Archived section to reorganize it instantly, without opening a menu, or use ** Move to Project** from the Action Panel or right-click menu (`⌃ ⌘ M`/`Alt Shift M`). Dropping a pinned or project chat back onto Recent removes it from that pin or project.
##### Recently Deleted
Deleted chats aren't gone straight away. Choose **Show Recently Deleted Chats** from the Action Panel to see them. Select one to preview it read-only, then choose **Restore Chat** to bring it back, or **Delete Chat Permanently** to remove it. **Empty Recently Deleted…** removes every chat in the list. Anything left in Recently Deleted is removed automatically after 60 days. The deleted state syncs through Cloud Sync.
#### Always on Top
Toggle **Always on Top** from the Action Panel to keep AI Chat hovering over your other apps, handy while you're chatting about something on screen. You can also set this up in **Settings → AI → Commands → AI Chat → Always on Top**.
#### Background Notifications
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Raycast can notify you when an AI Chat finishes responding in the background, so you don't have to keep watching the window. You'll get a notification when streaming finishes and the chat isn't in the foreground: You're viewing a different chat, or the window is blurred or minimized. It tells you why the chat finished (done, needs confirmation, failed, and so on), and clicking it takes you back to that chat.
Background notifications are off by default. The first time a chat finishes in the background, Raycast waits until you return, then shows a one-time alert (once per device):
- Enable, and Raycast turns on the toggle in **Settings → AI**. _(Only on Mac)_ You'll also get the system permission prompt.
- Decline (or press `Esc`) and the feature stays off. The alert won't appear again.
You can turn the toggle on or off anytime in Settings. Turning it off silences only these notifications.
_(Only on Mac)_ On macOS, Raycast also needs system permission. If you dismissed or denied the prompt, or notifications still don't appear, open **System Settings → Notifications → Raycast** and turn on **Allow Notifications**. The toggle syncs across devices, but permission is per Mac: If the feature is on without permission here, Settings offers a button to show the prompt or open System Settings.
If permission is granted but notifications still aren't showing, check whether an active Focus is holding Raycast back in **System Settings → Focus**. macOS banners disappear after a few seconds: Set the alert style to persistent in **System Settings → Notifications → Raycast** to keep them on screen.
#### Continue from Quick AI
When a Quick AI question grows into something bigger, press `⌘ J`/`Ctrl J` to move it into AI Chat. The full history, model, and any attachments come with it. Learn more on the [Quick AI page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai).
#### Settings
Tune AI Chat from **Settings → AI**:
- **Start New Chat**: How long a gap counts as a new conversation. It decides whether a Send to AI command reuses your active chat or starts a new one while AI Chat is closed, and when [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai#auto-new-chat) begins a fresh chat.
- **Send Message**: Keyboard shortcut used to send messages in AI Chat (`↵` or `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`).
- **Conversation History**: Show conversations from AI Chat and Quick AI combined or keep them separate.
- **Auto-Archive Chats**: Automatically archive chats after the specified period of inactivity.
- **Always on Top** (per-command, under AI Chat): Keep the AI Chat window above other windows.
- **Zoom**: Adjust the zoom level of the AI Chat window.
- **Follow-up Behavior** (Advanced): Queue follow-ups while the agent runs, or steer the current run. The alternate send shortcut does the opposite for one message.
- **Prevent Sleep During AI Runs**: Keep this computer awake while AI is working. Off by default.
- **Permissions** (under **Tools**): Whether tools need approval before they run. See [Tool Use & Extensions](#tool-use--extensions).
#### Troubleshooting
AI Chat lets you talk to models from anywhere in Raycast. Most reports come down to model selection, window behavior, sync, or hitting a usage or context limit. Here are the common ones.
##### The model keeps resetting or picks the wrong one
Set your preferred model in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Default Models**. AI Chat and Quick AI can use different defaults, so set both.
##### AI chats aren't syncing between devices
AI Chat History syncs through [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync), which requires a signed-in Raycast Pro account with **AI Chat History** turned on in **Settings → Cloud Sync → Synced Content**. v1 and iOS devices sync through legacy Cloud Sync and appear as a single **Legacy Raycast & iOS Devices** entry, so bridging chats between a v1 device and a v2 device can lag behind syncing between two v2 devices. If it still looks stuck, see [Cloud Sync Troubleshooting](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync#troubleshooting).
##### Code or formatting comes out wrong (backslashes stripped, malformed blocks)
If code in a response drops backslashes or breaks formatting, copy it using the code block's copy action rather than selecting text by hand, which can pick up rendering artifacts. If the model itself is producing broken output, try a different model.
##### The AI Chat window loses focus, won't float, or won't stay on top
Check your AI Chat window preferences in **Settings → AI**, including **Always on Top** under **Settings → AI → Commands → AI Chat**. If the input box loses focus or the window drops behind other apps, note exactly what you did right before it happened, since these are usually tied to a specific action.
##### I ran out of credits or hit a provider limit
Raycast AI uses your plan's monthly credits and any top-ups. If your balance is empty, top up or wait for your next allowance. When using your own subscription or API key, follow the provider's usage limits. For a rate-limit error, follow the retry or reset information shown in the message. Learn more on the [Usage Limits page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits).
##### I hit a context limit, or the chat says the conversation is too long
Each model has a fixed context window. AI Chat summarizes earlier turns automatically as you approach it (see [Long Conversations](#long-conversations)), so most long sessions keep going on their own.
If a single message is still too large to send, shorten it or swap a large attachment for a smaller excerpt. Start a fresh chat for a new topic, or switch to a model with a larger context window. Compare context windows at [raycast.com/core-features/ai/models](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai/models) or in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Manage Models**.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the **Send Feedback** command so we can investigate:
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Steps to reproduce** the issue.
3. Whether it's **AI Chat or Quick AI**, the **model** you're using, and whether the issue reproduces across models.
4. **Your Raycast logs**: Use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
5. **A screen recording** showing the issue in action.
### Dictation
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation
Description: Press, speak, and Raycast transcribes your words into clean, formatted text — pasted instantly wherever you're working.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Dictation turns speech into clean, formatted text anywhere you type. Trigger with a hotkey, speak naturally, and Raycast removes filler words, fixes punctuation, and pastes the result instantly. On iOS, the Raycast Keyboard brings the same experience to every text field.
[Dictation in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUh1KDgSOsc)
#### Get Started
When you first open Dictation, you'll get started in three steps:
1. Grant Microphone access (macOS also requires the Accessibility permission for transcriptions to paste directly into your focused app).
2. Pick your input device. We recommend the built-in or wired microphone for the lowest latency.
3. Set your hotkey to trigger Dictation from anywhere without opening Raycast first
> [!TIP]
> On macOS, you can use the `globe` / `fn` key as your dictation hotkey.
> Open **System Settings → Keyboard → Press Globe /{" "}
> `fn` key to** and set it to **Do Nothing** so the system doesn't intercept the press
> first.
_(Only on Mac)_ Dictation's hotkey now supports
multi-modifier combinations (such as `⌥ ⌘`) and single-tap modifier keys (such as
Right `⌘` or Right `⇧`
), so you can pick a trigger that stays out of your way. See [Command Aliases &
Hotkeys](/command-aliases-and-hotkeys#hotkey-types) for how to set them.
Press your hotkey to start a session. The **Dictation Pill** appears above your current app, showing a live waveform and timer. Speak naturally as Raycast handles filler words, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar automatically.
Press your hotkey again to accept or `Esc` to cancel. Your text pastes into the active app, or copies to your clipboard, depending on your settings.
> [!TIP]
> Prefer hold-to-talk? Hold the hotkey down. Raycast switches to push-to-talk and when you release
> the hotkey, your session ends and recording finishes automatically.
> [!NOTE]
> Each dictation session is limited to **20 minutes** of dictation time. If you reach the limit,
> your session ends automatically and the transcription is processed.
#### Personalization
Personalization is where Dictation starts to feel like yours. Fine-tune every transcription with custom instructions, app-aware context, and a vocabulary built around the words and names that matter to you. You can personalize your experience in **Settings → Dictation → Personalization**.
##### Custom Instructions
_(Only on Mac)_
Add global guidance to shape how your words are transcribed. Use it to enforce things like spelling preferences, grammar rules, tone, name capitalization, and formatting conventions. These instructions sit above any per-style settings and apply to every transcription.
##### App Context
_(Only on Mac)_
With App Context, Raycast reads the frontmost app, including its name, the field you're focused on, and any visible text nearby, then passes that to the transcription model to improve transcription accuracy. App Context needs Screen Recording permissions.
> [!NOTE]
> App Context is used only for that transcription request and is never stored. Once the transcription is complete, the context data is discarded.
##### Vocabulary
Add words, names, brand terms, or jargon that Raycast should always get right. Entries are passed to the transcription model to improve accuracy when it hears something close to them.
> [!TIP]
> Use the **Add Word to Vocabulary** command to add a term without opening
> Settings. Type the word as an argument, or leave it empty to use the word you have selected.
#### Styles
_(Only on Mac)_
Styles shape your dictated text for different contexts. One spoken sentence becomes a tight Slack one-liner, a properly punctuated email, or any other format you define. You can control your transcription styling in **Settings → Dictation → Styles**. Your styles sync across devices with [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync).
##### Auto Styling
**Auto Styling** picks the right style for the app or website you're dictating into. **Email** style in Mail, **Messaging** style in Slack, or a custom "Code Comments" style in your editor. When **Auto Styling** is off, Raycast still applies baseline cleanup but you don't get app-aware formatting on top.
##### Custom Styles
Two styles come built in to Raycast. **Email** can format greetings, sign-offs, add paragraph breaks, and full punctuation. **Messaging** keeps transcriptions short, casual, and lightly punctuated for communication apps.
> [!TIP]
> You can adjust which apps and websites trigger each built-in style. If you use an app or website
> for email that isn't in our list, add it to the **Email** style to get the same formatting.
Create your own style using the ** Create Style** option in Settings, or use the **Create Style** command and give your style a **Name & Icon**, **Prompt**, and a list of **Apps & Websites** it should apply to. If you're in a Raycast team, use **Organization** to choose whether the style is personal or shared with your organization.
A style prompt tells the AI how to clean up your transcript to match your expected output. Describe the artifact (meeting notes, agenda, PR review), the voice, and spell out mechanics (punctuation, capitalization, numerals, emojis).
#### Dictate to Note
Use the **Dictate to Note** command to skip dictating to the active app entirely and save the transcription as a new [Note](https://manual.raycast.com/notes). Useful for capturing ideas, voice memos, or meeting takeaways that you want to keep alongside your other notes without using another app or website.
#### Dictate in AI Chat
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
You can dictate straight into the [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) composer. When the composer is empty, it shows a **Microphone** button. Click it, press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M`, or choose **Start Dictating** from the Action Panel. While you speak, the composer shows the Dictation Pill with a timer and waveform, and your words appear in the composer as you go.
Press `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M` or `↵`/`Enter` to **Accept Dictation** and keep the text, or press `Esc` to **Cancel Dictation** and restore what was there before. [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai) works the same way from the Action Panel and `⌃ M`/`Ctrl M`.
#### Dictation History
Every transcription is saved to the **Dictation History** command so you can find and reuse it later. You can use the actions in the Action Panel to either **Paste**, **Copy to Clipboard**, **Delete Transcription** for the selected transcription, or **Delete All Local Transcriptions** to remove them all.
If a transcription came out wrong, choose **Report a Problem** to send it to us. After reporting, **Regenerate Transcription** runs the saved recording through transcription again without you having to dictate it again. Transcriptions that failed offer **Retry** instead.
> [!TIP]
> Use the **Get Last Transcription** command (previously **Copy Last
> Transcription**) to quickly copy the last transcribed text, or paste it into the active app,
> without needing to open the **Dictation History** command.
#### Settings
All Dictation settings live under **Settings → Dictation**, including your preferred input device, general behavior options, and usage statistics.
##### Statistics
Over time, Dictation builds up a picture of your usage through statistics. You'll see your average WPM, estimated time saved, and total words dictated.
Activity also displays a graph of when you're using dictation the most.
Your stats are computed entirely on your device from your local transcription history. Statistics
are not sent to Raycast as analytics nor telemetry.
##### Microphone
By default, Raycast uses your System Default microphone provided by the OS when **Use System Default** is turned on. You can customize your microphone priority list to switch between input devices throughout the day by turning **Use System Default** off.
Use **the drag handle** to reorder microphones by priority, or press **the ellipsis** to exclude a microphone from the list. Your currently active microphone appears in green at the top.
##### General
- **Language**: Select a specific dictation language, or leave on **Auto** to detect what you're speaking each time.
- **Output Action**: Paste the transcript directly into your active app (Default), or copy to your clipboard.
- **Sound Effects**: Play feedback when dictation starts or stops.
- **Mute While Recording**: Mute system audio while a session is active.
- **Finish and Cancel Shortcuts**: Choose the shortcut used to finish or cancel dictation.
- **Context-Aware Paste** (experimental): Adapts each transcription to the text right before your cursor, adding a leading space mid-sentence and matching capitalization.
- **Auto Submit** (experimental): Presses `↵` (or `⇧ ↵`) after a transcription is pasted, either every time or only when you finish speaking with a chosen keyword.
> [!TIP]
> If you regularly dictate while using other apps and need `↵` to behave normally (for
> new lines, sending messages, etc.), turn **Allow Enter Hotkey** off and use your **Dictate**
> hotkey to accept transcriptions instead.
#### Migrate from Another App
If you're coming from another dictation app, Raycast can bring your setup
with you. Migration imports your **vocabulary** and your **hotkey**, so you can get started quicker.
You'll be prompted when getting started with Dictation for the first time, or you can migrate later from **Settings → Dictation**. The option only appears if you have one of the supported apps installed:
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Wispr Flow**
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Superwhisper**
- _(Only on Mac)_ **MacWhisper**
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Aqua Voice**
- _(Only on Mac)_ **VoiceInk**
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Handy**
Raycast asks you to confirm first, then reports what came across: how many vocabulary words were added, and whether your hotkey was imported or skipped because another command already uses it.
#### Permissions
Dictation needs Microphone access to record your voice. On macOS, it also needs the Accessibility permission (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27) so transcriptions can paste directly into your focused app — grant both in **System Settings → Privacy & Security**. Raycast prompts during setup if permissions are missing.
#### Privacy
Dictation is private by default. Your voice is never used to train AI models, audio isn't retained on Raycast servers, and your transcriptions and statistics are stored locally on your device. For full details on how your audio and transcriptions are handled, see [Raycast AI Privacy & Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security#dictation).
#### Dictate on iOS
_(Only on iOS)_
Dictation lives inside the [Raycast Keyboard](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/keyboard) and enables you to dictate from most text field in apps on your iPhone or iPad.
##### iOS Get Started
Install and enable the Raycast Keyboard before using Dictation. See [Keyboard](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/keyboard) for setup instructions.
1. In any app, tap a text field and switch to the Raycast Keyboard using the Globe icon.
2. Tap the waveform button button in selector on the Keyboard, then tap Waveform button to begin dictating. At the beginning of a dictation session, you will be redirected to the Raycast app – this is necessary since iOS keyboards don't have direct microphone access.
3. Speak naturally. Raycast handles filler words, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar automatically.
4. Stop the recording with Stop Filled button or from the Live Activity. The cleaned-up text is inserted into your text field, or held for review, depending on your [**Insert Mode** setting](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation#insert-mode).
> [!WARNING]
> As of iOS 26.4, Apple removed the ability for keyboards to detect the host app's bundle ID, so
> after dictating you'll need to swipe back to your previous app manually. We hope this is resolved
> in a future iOS update.
###### Dictation Session
After you start a dictation session, Raycast keeps a **5-minute session** alive in the background so you can dictate multiple times without recording to the app each time. While a session is active, you'll see a Live Activity. Tap it to control or end the session. You can also end it from the main app by tapping the power button.
Don't want a background session? Toggle **Disable Session** in **Raycast for iOS Settings → Dictation** to end it immediately, or after 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour.
##### Insert Mode
By default, the dictation is inserted into your text field automatically. You can change the insertion mode by completing the following settings:
1. Open the Raycast app.
2. Tap your profile in the top right.
3. Tap **Keyboard** then change **Insert mode** to one of the following; Auto-insert, Review first, or Review on AI command.
##### Post-Processing
iOS Dictation includes the same concept as Styles, and allows you to run your dictation through a post-processing flow on top of the standard dictation cleanup to modify the output before inserted.
You can select the post-processing option under the Dictate button in the Raycast Keyboard, and choose from one of the following options:
- **Email**: Format your output for email
- **Notes**: Format your output for note-taking
- **Custom [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands)**: Your own prompts, ideal for personal writing styles, translation, or specific tone adjustments
#### Troubleshooting
Dictation turns your speech into text anywhere on your system. Most issues come down to language detection, microphone selection, or the trigger key. Here are the common ones.
##### Dictation transcribes the wrong language
Dictation auto-detects the language you speak, and detection can slip between similar-sounding languages (for example Chinese being transcribed as Japanese or Korean).
To fix it, set your language explicitly in **Settings → Dictation → General** instead of relying on auto-detect. If you regularly switch languages, add the ones you use so the dictation post-processing task has a smaller set to choose from.
##### Words are consistently misheard
If transcriptions are inaccurate, work through these in order:
- **Check your input device.** Make sure the right microphone is
selected and actually usable — a common cause is the built-in laptop
mic being used while the lid is closed (clamshell mode), which muffles
or blocks audio. Switch to an external mic or open the lid. See
[My microphone isn't listed](#faq-dictation-microphone) below.
- **Add tricky terms to Vocabulary.** For names, jargon, or technical
terms that are repeatedly mistranscribed, add them under
**Settings → Dictation → Personalization**.
- **Compare against the raw transcription.** On a successful
transcription, open **Dictation History**, select the entry, and
choose **Copy Raw Transcription** from the main Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`).
If the raw text is accurate but what got inserted wasn't, the issue is
in post-processing rather than recognition.
- **Reduce background noise** and speak at a steady pace and volume
close to the mic.
##### My microphone isn't listed (clamshell or external mic)
In clamshell mode (laptop closed with an external display), or with some external and Bluetooth mics, the device may not appear or get selected automatically.
Open the microphone picker in **Settings → Dictation → Microphone** and make sure the device isn't in your excluded list. If it's still missing, check the microphone is detected in **System Settings** on macOS and **Windows Settings** on Windows.
##### There's a delay before dictation starts, or input lags
A few seconds of lag
between pressing the trigger and Dictation responding is usually a hotkey or startup-cost issue.
Try a simpler trigger key, make sure no other app is bound to the same shortcut, and check that
your mic isn't being held by another app.
##### I want to trigger Dictation with a single key (F5, right Option, etc.)
You can bind Dictation to a single key in **Settings → Dictation → Commands**. If you're on macOS
and pick an fn/Globe or function key (F1–F12) that doesn't register, disable "Use F1, F2, etc.
keys as standard function keys" in **System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Function
Keys**. After that the key is captured correctly.
##### Comparing the transcription with the raw model output
If a transcription doesn't match what you said, you can check the unedited
model output to see whether the issue came from transcription or from
post-processing. Open **Dictation History**, select the transcription, and in
the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) choose **Copy Raw Transcription**. Compare it with the
cleaned-up text that was inserted.
This is only available for successful transcriptions. For a failed one, the
only action offered is **Retry** (macOS only).
##### Finding the original audio recording
Raycast keeps recent recordings so you can retry or inspect them. In
**Dictation History**, open the About Panel (`⇧ ⌘ K`/`Ctrl Shift K`) and
choose **Open Recordings Directory**.
Recordings are saved as `.wav` files in
`/dictation-recordings`. Only the most recent 25 are
kept; older ones are pruned automatically.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the steps above resolve your issue, please reach out to our
support team. To help us diagnose the problem quickly, include the
following:
1. **The raw transcription** of an affected session: in **Dictation
History**, select the entry and choose **Copy Raw Transcription** from
the main Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`). Available on successful transcriptions
only.
2. **The audio recording** of a bad session: in **Dictation History**,
open the **About Panel** (`⇧ ⌘ K`/`Ctrl Shift K`) and choose **Open
Recordings Directory** — note this is in the About Panel, _not_ the main Action
Panel. Sessions are saved as `.wav` files (the last 25 are kept);
attach the one that transcribed badly.
3. **Your input setup**: which microphone you're using, and whether
you're in clamshell mode or on an external/Bluetooth device.
4. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (**Settings →
About**).
5. **Your Raycast logs**: use the **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy
your latest logs, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open the log folder.
### Screen Awareness
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/screen-awareness
Description: Ask Raycast AI about whatever you're looking at. Screen Awareness reads the focused window's content, your selection, and a screenshot, then sends it to AI with your question.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 01 September 2026
Screen Awareness lets you ask Raycast AI about whatever is in front of you. Instead of describing your screen or pasting chunks of it into a chat, press a hotkey and Raycast captures the focused window for you: the app's content, the text you have selected, and a screenshot.
[Screen Awareness in Raycast (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHOl-KyY6I)
#### Get Started
1. Run **Send Focused Window to AI** from Root Search. The first time, Raycast opens **Set Up Screen Awareness**.
2. _(Only on Mac)_ Grant the **Screen Recording** and **Accessibility** permissions. See [Permissions](#permissions).
3. Accept the suggested hotkey, a double tap of the right `⌘`/`Ctrl` key, or record your own.
With a hotkey set it becomes a single gesture: press it from anywhere and [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat) opens with the capture attached, ready for your question.
> [!TIP]
> If the suggested hotkey is already taken, Raycast tells you which command owns it rather than overwriting it, and you can record a different one.
You can also start a capture from AI Chat or Quick AI: open the ** Add Context** menu to the left of the composer and pick **Focused Window**, **Selected Text**, **Selected Area**, or **Entire Screen**.
#### What Raycast Captures
A capture bundles everything Raycast can read about the window you're looking at. Each piece is gathered independently, so a capture still works when some of them aren't available:
- **App details**: The name of the frontmost app and the title of its window.
- **App content**: The readable text in the window, taken from the system accessibility layer.
- **Your selection**: Whatever text you have highlighted in that window.
- **The focused control**: The specific field or element your cursor is in, including its value.
- **A screenshot** of the focused window, so the model can see anything that isn't text.
- **The current page**: When the focused app is a browser, the tab's title, URL, and content. Requires the [Raycast Browser Companion](https://raycast.com/browser-extension).
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Selected files**: The file paths you have selected, when Finder is the focused app.
Raycast never captures itself. Its own windows are excluded from every capture, so sending the focused window from AI Chat reads the app behind it, not the chat.
> [!NOTE]
> Screen Awareness reads your selection passively from the same accessibility snapshot it's already taking. It doesn't steal focus from the app you're in and it doesn't touch your clipboard.
##### Check What Was Captured
As the capture is taken, an attachment card appears in the composer. It starts as **Screen Awareness** and fills in with the app's name as the details arrive. Click the card to see what was included:
- **App** and **Document**: The app and window (or page) the capture came from.
- **Capture Type**: **Screenshot + App Content**, **Screenshot**, **App Content**, or **Window Metadata**, depending on what Raycast could read.
- **Selection**: The text you had highlighted.
- **Included**: Which sources made it into the bundle, from Screenshot and Page text through App content, Focused control, Selection, and Files.
#### Commands
Screen Awareness also covers the narrower captures, for when you know exactly what you want to send:
- **Send Focused Window to AI**: The full capture described above.
- **Send Selected Text to AI**: Only the text you've selected in the active app.
- **Send Screen to AI**: A screenshot of your entire screen.
- **Send Screen Area to AI**: A screenshot of an area you drag out.
Each command sends to AI Chat by default. To send to Quick AI instead, change the command's **Primary Action** in **Settings → Screen Awareness**.
> [!TIP]
> **Send Focused Window to AI** works as a [fallback command](https://manual.raycast.com/settings#fallback-commands), so Root Search text with no matches can go straight to AI with your screen attached.
#### AI Extensions
Screen Awareness includes an [AI Extension](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions), **Ask Screen Awareness** (`@screen-awareness`), so the model can decide to look at your screen mid-conversation instead of prompting you to attach something.
When the model uses the Screen Awareness AI Extension, a **Looking at Frontmost Window** tool appears in the Chat, named after the app it can see, which is useful to confirm it read the window you meant.
#### Settings
Screen Awareness settings live under **Settings → Screen Awareness**, where each command can be enabled or disabled and given a hotkey or alias, alongside:
- **Primary Action**: Whether the command sends to **AI Chat** (default) or **Quick AI**.
- **Custom Instructions** on **Ask Screen Awareness**: Steer how the model uses your screen.
#### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
Screen Awareness needs **Screen Recording** to capture window screenshots and **Accessibility** to read the content of your focused app (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). Grant both from the setup view, or in **System Settings → Privacy & Security**. Granting a permission restarts Raycast, and setup picks up where you left off.
Accessibility is the one that matters most. Without it, Screen Awareness can't read the window and the attachment card shows **No Accessibility Permission** with a **Grant Permission** button. Screen Recording is optional: without it you still get the app's content, just no screenshot.
#### Privacy
A capture is only taken when you ask for one, by running a command, including a Screen Awareness attachment, or asking the AI to look. Nothing is captured in the background, and nothing is stored: the capture is attached to the message you send and then handled like any other AI attachment. See [Raycast AI Privacy & Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security) for how attachments are processed.
A capture can include anything visible in the focused window, so you should consider when to use it, especially around sensitive information. To stop Screen Awareness being available at all, disable its commands and the **Ask Screen Awareness** AI Extension in Settings. On macOS you can also revoke the Screen Recording or Accessibility permission in **System Settings → Privacy & Security**.
#### Troubleshooting
##### Raycast says no context was captured
This means none of the capture sources returned anything. The usual cause on macOS is a missing **Accessibility** permission. Check **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** and make sure Raycast is enabled there.
Some apps also expose very little through the accessibility layer. In those cases you'll still get a screenshot and the window's title, which is often enough for the model to work with.
##### My selected text isn't included in the capture
Screen Awareness reads your selection passively through the accessibility layer rather than copying it, which keeps it from stealing focus or touching your clipboard. The trade-off is that apps which don't expose their selection that way won't report one.
If you specifically need the selected text, use **Send Selected Text to AI**, which asks the app for the selection directly.
##### It captured the wrong window
Screen Awareness captures whatever was frontmost when you triggered it, and Raycast's own windows are always skipped. If you trigger it from inside AI Chat, you'll get the app behind AI Chat. Assign a hotkey to **Send Focused Window to AI** so you can capture without switching windows first.
##### The browser tab's content isn't included
Reading the current page needs the [Raycast Browser Companion](https://raycast.com/browser-extension) installed in your browser. Raycast also only attaches a tab when the focused app is itself a browser, and only when that tab matches the window you're looking at, so a tab from a background browser window is deliberately left out.
### AI Commands
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands
Description: AI Commands turn your favorite prompts into one press commands in Raycast. Rewrite, translate, summarize, or run any custom prompts in Raycast from any app.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
AI Commands turn prompts you reach for again and again into a one-press Raycast command. Pick text, open the command, get the result. Build your own to match how you write, code, or think, and chain in AI Extensions when a command needs to do more.
#### Discover AI Commands
##### Built-in AI Commands
Raycast ships a set of AI Commands that work out of the box. They're tuned for everyday cases like writing, communication, and code:
- **Improve Writing**: Tightens grammar and style without changing your meaning.
- **Fix Spelling and Grammar**: Corrects mistakes and highlights what changed.
- **Explain This in Simple Terms**: Simplifies a confusing word, sentence, or paragraph.
- **Change Tone to Professional**: Rewrites in a more formal register.
- **Change Tone to Friendly**: Warms up dry copy.
- **Find Bugs in Code**: Scans a snippet for likely issues.
- **Summarize Webpage**: Condenses the page open in your browser.
- **Ask About Webpage**: Answers a question about the page you're reading.
##### Quick Fix
Quick Fix runs the **Fix Spelling and Grammar** AI Command directly in any focused app with one hotkey. Type into any field (or select some text), press the hotkey, and Raycast replaces the text in place. Its settings live in **Settings → AI → Quick Fix**.
The first time you run it, Raycast prompts you to grant the **Accessibility** permission on macOS so it can read and replace text in the active app. By default, Quick Fix is assigned to a double press of the right `Shift` key, so you can trigger it without leaving the keyboard.
The **Prefer Selection** option controls whether Quick Fix targets only the selected text (default) or the entire focused field.
_(Only on Mac)_ **Preserve Formatting** is an experimental option that keeps your text's styling intact in supported apps like Slack and Notion. Raycast merges the corrections back into your original message, so bold text, links, and Slack custom emoji survive the fix rather than being rewritten.
##### Create AI Commands
To make your own, search the **Create AI Command** command in Root Search. You'll see a form with one required field and a handful of optional ones.
- **Prompt**: The instructions sent to the model. Type `@` to insert an AI Extension or `{` to insert a [Dynamic Placeholder](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders).
- **Name & Icon**: How the command appears in Root Search.
- **Organization**: If you're in a Raycast team, choose whether the command is personal or shared with your organization.
- **Model**: The model used when the command runs. AI Commands have their own model setting, independent of Quick AI and AI Chat.
- **Creativity**: How loose the model's responses should be (none, low, medium, high, maximum).
- **Reasoning Effort**: For reasoning models, how much thinking the model should do before responding.
- **Output Behavior**: Where the command's response goes. **Open in Raycast** shows it in a Raycast window, or **Replace Selection** writes the result back in place over your selected text.
- **Highlight Editing Changes**: Useful for commands that rewrite selected text in-place. Raycast highlights what was edited.
- **Tags**: Free-form labels for organizing your commands.
Press `⌘ Enter`/`Ctrl Enter` to save. The command appears in Root Search immediately.
> [!TIP]
> Built-in commands can be the starting point for your own. Find one in **Search AI Commands**, press `⌘ D`/`Ctrl D` to duplicate, then tweak the prompt, model, and creativity to match how you actually work.
You can set a default model for AI Commands in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**, under **Custom AI Commands**. This default applies to commands that don't have a specific model selected. If you choose a model on an individual command, that per-command choice always takes priority over the default, and changing the default later won't update commands that already have a model set.
To change the model an existing command uses, edit that command directly (**AI Commands → select the command → Model**) and pick the model there.
> [!NOTE]
> Each AI Command stores its own model, and there isn't currently a "use default" option per command. To apply your default model to an existing command, update that command's **Model** field manually.
#### Using AI Commands
Run an AI Command from Root Search like any other command. Most commands work on the active app's selection or focused field, so you typically:
1. Select some text in any app.
2. Open Raycast.
3. Search for the command and hit `Enter`.
Raycast shows the response in a window, and from there you can copy it, paste it, or continue the conversation with Raycast AI to refine or discuss the output.
A few prompt patterns to get you started:
- `Translate {selection} to Swedish`: Translate whatever you've highlighted.
- `Summarize {selection} into three bullet points`: Quick TL;DR.
- `Reply to this email in my tone: {selection}`: Drafted replies on tap.
- `{argument name="Language"}`: When you want to type a value at runtime, use an argument placeholder. Raycast prompts you for **Language** before the command runs.
`{selection}` and `{argument}` are two of many [Dynamic Placeholders](https://manual.raycast.com/dynamic-placeholders) you can drop into a prompt. Others pull in your clipboard, the current date, the focused app, and more.
You can also pull in AI Extensions to make commands act on your tools, not just text. A command with `@calendar what does my afternoon look like?` becomes a one-shot daily check-in.
#### Manage AI Commands
Search **Search AI Commands** in Raycast to see every command you've created or that's built in. From the Action Panel:
- **Edit AI Command** (`⌘ E`/`Ctrl E`): Open the command in the form view to change any field.
- **Duplicate AI Command** (`⌘ D`/`Ctrl D`): Copy a command. The fastest way to start from a built-in.
- **Share AI Command**: Generate a shareable link for a command so a teammate can install it with one click.
- **Import AI Commands**: Bring in a set of commands from a JSON file. Use **Import AI Commands** in Root Search.
Built-in commands can be edited and duplicated but not deleted; your custom commands can be removed from the same Action Panel. Tags make it easier to keep a large library organized. Assign them when creating or editing, and filter by them in **Search AI Commands**.
#### Permissions
_(Only on Mac)_
Quick Fix needs Accessibility access to read and replace text in the active app. Grant it in **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** (renamed **Device Control and Data Access** on macOS 27). Raycast prompts the first time you run the command if the permission is missing.
### AI Extensions
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions
Description: AI Extensions empower Raycast AI to perform actions and automate workflows within your extensions, allowing you to accomplish more simply by asking.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
AI Extensions are how you let Raycast AI take action across your installed extensions. Once an extension exposes its commands as tools, you can mention it from Quick AI, AI Chat, or Root Search and the AI figures out which tool to call, with what arguments, and runs it for you.
#### Discover AI Extensions
##### Built-in AI Extensions
Raycast includes several built-in AI Extensions that work with Raycast itself, the data on your device, and the apps you use on Mac or Windows. The badge next to each one shows the platforms it's available on:
- _(Only on iOS)_ **Apple Health**: `@apple-health` reads your recent activity, workouts, sleep, and other metrics from Apple Health.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Browser**: `@browser` reads and reasons about the page open in your browser. Requires the [Raycast Browser Companion](https://raycast.com/browser-extension).
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Calculator**: `@calculator` evaluates math, unit and currency conversions, and date calculations.
- _(Available on Mac and iOS)_ **Calendar**: `@calendar` asks about your schedule, free slots, or upcoming events.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Clipboard**: `@clipboard` searches your whole clipboard history by text or category, reads a specific entry, and can replace an entry's text.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Feedback**: `@raycast-feedback` sends a bug report, feature request, or support question to the Raycast team, and confirms with you before it sends. You can also use the **Ask Feedback** command in Root Search.
- _(Only on Windows)_ **File Explorer**: `@file-explorer` reads and manages files and folders on your Windows PC.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **File Search**: `@file-search` finds files across your indexed folders.
- _(Only on Mac)_ **Finder**: `@finder` searches and manages files and folders on your Mac.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Focus**: `@raycast-focus` controls Focus sessions and asks what you're scheduled for.
- _(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_ **Location**: `@location` knows where you are when you ask "what's nearby?". On Windows, the OS asks for permission the first time you run it.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Manual**: `@manual` answers questions about Raycast straight from the Raycast Manual. You can also use the **Ask Manual** command in Root Search to jump right into a question, or **Open Manual** to read the manual in your browser.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Memory**: `@memory` recalls earlier discussions and decisions from your past AI chats.
- _(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_ **Notes**: `@raycast-notes` creates, reads, and searches your Raycast Notes.
- _(Only on iOS)_ **Quicklinks**: `@quicklinks` creates, searches, and opens your Quicklinks.
- _(Only on iOS)_ **Reminders**: `@reminders` creates, searches, and completes items in Apple Reminders.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Screen Awareness**: `@screen-awareness` reads the content of the app in front of you, what you have selected, and a screenshot of its window, so you can ask about whatever you're looking at.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Selected Text**: `@selected-text` pulls in whatever you've highlighted in another app.
- _(Only on iOS)_ **Snippets**: `@snippets` creates, searches, and manages your Snippets.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Terminal**: `@terminal` runs and reasons about shell commands.
- _(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_ **Weather**: `@weather` answers without a separate trip to a weather app.
##### Install AI Extensions
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
More AI Extensions are available on the Raycast Store. Open the Store from Root Search and filter by the **AI Extensions** category in the Navigation Bar using `⌘ P`/`Ctrl P` to see only the extensions that include tools. These cover everything from project trackers and music players to image editors and home automation.
> [!NOTE]
> On iOS, you can't install community-created AI Extensions, but you can extend Raycast AI the same way by connecting [MCP servers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/model-context-protocol). `@`-mention them in chat exactly like the built-in extensions above.
#### Using AI Extensions
Type `@` in AI Chat, Quick AI, or Root Search and a list of every installed AI Extension appears. Pick one and chat in natural language. The AI chooses the right tool and shows you the call as it happens. Example prompts:
- `@linear what's assigned to me this sprint?`
- `@calendar block out 2 hours tomorrow morning for deep work`
- `@github pull requests waiting on my review`
- `@spotify play something mellow but not sad`
You can also chain them in a single prompt: `@calendar @things any free slots tomorrow that I could use to clear overdue tasks?` and the AI will analyze both before answering your request.
##### Permissions
**Permissions** in **Settings → AI → Tools** controls whether a tool from an AI Extension, an MCP server, or Raycast itself needs your approval before it runs:
- **Ask**: Prompts for anything that isn't read-only or covered by an allow rule.
- **Auto**: The default on paid plans. Raycast reviews each action and only asks when it needs to.
- **Always Allow**: Runs every tool without asking. Use with caution as this has full permission to your tools and files.
Each chat can override the global setting: open the settings sidebar in AI Chat and change **Permissions**, or choose **Change Permissions…** from the Action Panel. **Inherited** follows the global setting.
###### What Auto approves
Auto runs safe actions without asking: read-only tools, edits inside the chat's working directory, and everyday shell commands like `git status` or `git commit`. It always asks before reading credentials such as `.env` files or private keys, and before any destructive action.
Steer Auto with **Auto-review Rules** in **Settings → AI → Tools**. Each rule pairs an action with **Allow automatically** or **Ask first**.
###### Approve a tool call
When a tool needs approval, the chat pauses and shows a card that describes the action. The description is AI-generated, so check it before you allow. For shell commands, click **Show Command** to see the exact command.
- **Allow**: Run the tool this once. Press `↵`.
- **Always allow**: Run it now and skip approval next time. Press `⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`.
- **Deny**: Skip the tool. Press `Esc`.
When several tool calls are waiting, the Action Panel adds **Allow All** and **Deny All**.
**Always allow** adds the tool to **Globally Allowed Tools** in **Settings → AI → Tools**. Select **See Allow List** there to remove an entry or **Reset All** to clear the list.
#### Manage AI Extensions
**Desktop**
Each installed extension has its own section in **Settings**. Select one and you'll see the list of individual commands and the **Ask** tool it exposes. The **Ask** tool includes a free-text **Custom Instructions** field. Use it to steer the extension's behavior, for example "default my Linear queries to the Platform team" or "never schedule meetings before 10am." The AI reads these instructions whenever it considers using that extension's tools.
To remove an AI Extension entirely, uninstall the extension either from the **Store** or in **Settings**; its tools disappear from `@-mentions` immediately.
**iOS**
Built-in AI Extensions are always available, so there's nothing to install or uninstall. To steer one, open **Account Avatar → AI**, where **Calendar**, **Apple Health**, and **Reminders** each expose a free-text **Custom Instructions** field. Use it to shape the extension's behavior, for example "never schedule reminders for the weekend." The AI reads these instructions whenever it considers using that extension's tools.
### Automations
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations
Description: Schedule a prompt once or on a repeating schedule and let Raycast AI run it for you, delivering the result to a chat so it's waiting when you need it.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Status: New
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Automations run an AI prompt for you on a schedule. Write the prompt once, choose when it runs and where the answer lands, and Raycast AI does the rest. Wake up to a plan for the week every Monday, or get a summary of your unread messages each evening. Each run is a normal AI Chat message, so it can use your AI Extensions, MCP servers, and Skills just like you would.
#### Get Started
1. Open **Settings → AI → Automations**.
2. Click **Plus icon Create Automation** and choose ** Create Manually**.
3. Give it a name and icon, pick the AI model, and choose whether to run in a ** New Chat** or pick an existing chat to continue.
4. Write the prompt. Type `@` to mention an AI Extension, MCP server, or Skill, just like in AI Chat.
5. Pick a [schedule](#schedules): **Once**, **Hourly**, or **Daily**.
6. Click **Save Automation**.
You can also search **Create Automation** in Root Search to open the same form, or **Manage Automations** to jump to the list.
> [!TIP]
> Prefer to describe it in plain language? Choose ** Create with AI** instead, or type `@automations` in any chat and ask. Raycast AI drafts the schedule, destination, and prompt, then asks you to confirm before it's saved.
##### Examples
Not sure where to start? The **Browse Examples** library on the Automations settings page give you ready-made starting points, such as keeping your meeting memory up to date or reviewing your projects. Pick one and Raycast opens AI Chat with the setup ready for you to adjust.
#### Schedules
Automations run on your local device time. Pick whichever pattern fits:
- **Once**: Set a date and time. The automation runs at that moment and is removed from your list afterwards.
- **Hourly**: Runs **Every** 1 to 24 hours. Use the **Days** chips to limit it to certain days of the week.
- **Daily**: Runs **At** a time you choose, on the **Days** you tick. Pick just Monday for a weekly automation, or Monday to Friday for weekdays.
If an automation was created with a schedule that doesn't fit these patterns, for example one Raycast AI set up from a more complex request, the form shows a **Custom** option with the underlying cron expression instead.
#### Where Results Go
Every run is delivered as a message in AI Chat, marked **Automated by** the automation's name so you can tell it apart from your own messages.
- ** New Chat** creates a fresh chat for each run, titled after the automation. Good for reports you want to keep separate.
- **An existing chat** adds each run to the same conversation, so the model has the history of previous runs as context. Good for anything cumulative, like tracking a project over time.
If the target chat is later deleted, the next run starts a new chat and the automation switches to it. If the target chat is archived, runs are skipped until you unarchive it.
#### How Runs Work
Raycast checks for due automations every minute while it's running, so your Mac or PC needs to be awake with Raycast open for a run to happen on time. Runs use the target chat's model unless the automation sets its own, and follow the chat's normal permission settings for tools. If a tool needs your approval or the model asks a question, the run pauses and waits for you, the same as any other chat.
> [!TIP]
> Turn on **Prevent Sleep During AI Runs** in **Settings → AI → Chat** to keep your computer awake while a run is in progress, so long automations finish.
A few things Raycast handles for you:
- **Missed runs**: If Raycast wasn't running at the scheduled time, the automation runs once at the next launch, however long ago it was due. Several missed occurrences fold into that single run, and the automation then carries on from its next scheduled time.
- **Busy chats**: If the target chat is already generating a response, the automation waits until the chat is idle and then runs. Occurrences that come due while it waits fold into that one run, so you never get a backlog.
- **No chained automations**: An automation can't create or change other automations while it runs.
> [!NOTE]
> Automations live on the device where you created them and don't sync through Cloud Sync. They run on that device only, and each device holds up to 20 automations.
##### Notifications
Turn on **Background Notifications** in **Settings → AI** to get a system notification when an automation finishes, needs your approval to run a tool, or is waiting on an answer from you. Notifications aren't shown if you're already looking at that chat.
#### Manage Automations
**Settings → AI → Automations** lists every automation with its schedule. Hover the Clock icon next to an automation's name to see its next run, or how long it has been overdue. Click **Actions menu** on an automation to:
- ** Edit Automation**: Change the name, prompt, schedule, destination, or model.
- ** Run Automation Now**: Trigger it immediately and open the chat it runs in. This is the quickest way to test a new prompt. If the chat is busy, the request is kept, even across a restart, and runs as soon as the chat is idle.
- ** Disable Automation** / ** Enable Automation**: Pause it without losing the setup. Disabled automations appear dimmed with no next run.
- ** Delete Automation**: Remove it for good. Raycast asks you to confirm.
You can do the same from a chat by asking the `@automations` AI Extension to list, update, or delete your automations.
#### Credits
Each run uses the model it's set to, and is billed like any other message. Raycast AI models use your [AI credits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits), while models from [Bring Your Own Subscription](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription), [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key), [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers), or [Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models) follow that provider's usage instead. Any tools the prompt uses count too, so a long-running automation with several tool calls uses more than a short one.
#### FAQ
##### How do I run something weekly or only on weekdays?
Choose **Daily**, set the time, and tick only the days you want under **Days**. One day gives you a weekly automation; Monday to Friday gives you weekdays.
##### What happens if my computer is asleep or Raycast isn't running?
The run waits until Raycast is next running, then runs once, however late it is. If several occurrences were missed in the meantime, they fold into that single run, and the automation carries on from its next scheduled time.
##### Can an automation use my AI Extensions and MCP servers?
Yes. Mention them in the prompt with `@` and they're available to the run. Tools that need approval pause the run until you approve them, so for fully hands-off automations, set those tools to run without confirmation in **Settings → AI → Permissions** or in the target chat's settings.
##### Which model does an automation use?
It depends on where it runs. An automation that starts a **New Chat** uses the **Model** and **Reasoning Effort** set on the automation. An automation that continues an existing chat always uses that chat's current model and reasoning effort, so the form doesn't offer a model for it.
##### Why don't I see my automations on my other computer?
Automations aren't synced. They're stored on, and run from, the device where you created them. Create them on whichever machine is most often on at the scheduled time.
#### Troubleshooting
##### An automation shows as Overdue
Raycast hasn't been able to run it yet, usually because the app wasn't running or the target chat was busy. It runs as soon as Raycast is open and the chat is idle, however late that is. To run it straight away, choose **Run Automation Now**.
##### A run didn't happen and nothing shows as overdue
Check that the target chat isn't archived, since runs are skipped while it is. If several occurrences were missed while Raycast was closed or the chat was busy, they fold into one run rather than running one after another. If the automation was set to run **Once**, it's removed after it runs, so check the chat it was pointed at.
##### Run Automation Now doesn't start straight away
If the target chat is busy, Raycast keeps the request and starts the run as soon as the chat is idle, even if you restart Raycast in between. Clicking again doesn't queue a second run. If the chat is archived, unarchive it and try again, or edit the automation to run in a **New Chat** instead.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command so we can investigate (see [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) for more ways to get in touch):
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. The **automation's schedule** and **destination**, and the time you expected it to run.
3. Whether Raycast was **running** at that time, and whether the target chat was busy or archived.
4. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
### Agents
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents
Description: Agents are saved AI setups — a name, instructions, a model, and a set of tools — that you switch into for recurring questions and tasks, so Raycast AI responds the way you want for that kind of work.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Agents are for the questions and tasks you handle over and over, tailored to your way of working. Instead of configuring from scratch each time, you save the role, model, and tools as an Agent and pick it when you need it. An Agent follows it the whole chat, so you get consistent results for a particular kind of work.
> [!NOTE]
> Agents were previously called **Presets** in Raycast v1. They're functionally the same — only renamed.
#### Get Started
To build your first Agent:
1. Open **Settings → AI → Agents**.
2. Click **Plus iconCreate New Agent**.
3. Personalize your agent with the following:
- **Name & Icon**: Give the Agent a clear name and pick an icon.
- **Model**: Choose the model the Agent should use, or use **Inherit** to use the Chat's selected model. If you set a model, it's locked for any chat using that Agent.
- **Organization**: If you're in a Raycast team, choose whether the Agent is personal or shared with your organization.
- **Instructions**: Write the system prompt that defines the Agent's role and rules. Lead with the role and the rules it should always follow.
- **AI Extensions**: Add the AI Extensions this Agent is allowed to call. Only the extensions you add here are available to it, which scopes the Agent to just the AI Extensions its task needs.
- **Advanced**: When the selected model supports it, set **Reasoning Effort**.
4. Click **Save Agent** (`⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`).
Your new Agent is immediately available in AI Chat's **Change Agent** action and in the **Search Agents** command. To use it, open **AI Chat**, open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`), choose **Change Agent**, and pick it.
#### Built-in Agents
Raycast includes a ready-made **Deep Research** Agent — tuned for thorough, source-backed answers — so you can see how Agents work without building one first.
Built-in Agents can't be edited or deleted, but you can use the ** Disable** option to hide it.
> [!TIP]
> Looking for more Agents? Browse a community library of ready-made Agents on the [Preset Explorer](https://ray.so/presets) and add any of them to Raycast in one click.
#### Use an Agent in Chat
There are two ways to switch Agent inside **AI Chat**:
- **Action Panel**: Open the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) and choose **Change Agent**, then pick any Agent — or pick **Ask Anything** to remove it.
- **Slash menu**: Type `/` in the composer to open a quick switcher, then pick an Agent from **Custom Agents** or **Built-in Agents**. Choose **Default** to clear the current Agent.
> [!NOTE]
> When an Agent has a model assigned, the chat's model picker is locked to that model — the Agent decides which model is used. Agents using models set to **Inherit** allow you to switch models in the chat as usual.
You can also start a new conversation already set to an Agent with the **New Chat with Agent** action, available both in the Agents settings and from the **Search Agents** command.
#### Search Agents from Root Search
Agents are also visible Root Search and through the **Search Agents** command. Open the command to browse your Agents (grouped into **Custom Agents** and **Built-in Agents**), search by name, and use specific actions in the Action Panel:
- **New Chat with Agent**: Press `↵` to open AI Chat with that Agent active.
- **Create Agent**: Go straight to the new Agent dialog in Settings.
- **Edit Agent** / **Duplicate Agent**: Open the Agent dialog to change a custom Agent, or clone any Agent as a new one.
- **Configure Agent**: Assign a **hotkey** or **alias** so you can launch the Agent directly from Root Search.
- **Hide/Show in Root Search**: Control whether an Agent appears as its own item in root search.
- **Delete Agent** / **Delete All Agents**: Remove a single custom Agent or all of them.
> [!TIP]
> Because each Agent is its own Root Search item, you can give a frequently used Agent a hotkey and jump straight into a new AI Chat with it without opening it first.
#### Settings
All Agent settings can be found in **Settings → AI → Agents**. Your Agents are split into built-in and custom groups. For a custom Agent you can:
- ** Edit**: Click the Agent's name to open the edit dialog.
- ** Enable / Disable**: toggle whether it shows up in the Agent menus.
- ** Delete**: remove it (you'll be asked to confirm; this can't be undone).
Built-in Agents show in their own group and can be ** Disabled** but not edited or deleted.
#### Agents, Extensions & Skills
Agents tie together several Raycast AI building blocks:
- **AI Extensions**: An Agent's tool list scopes which [AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions) it loads by default, so you can keep it focused on the tools its task needs.
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Skills**: [Skills](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills) are still discovered automatically based on your message; you don't attach them to an Agent. An Agent's instructions and a relevant Skill can apply in the same conversation.
- **AI Commands**: [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands) are separate, single-shot prompts. Agents are for ongoing conversations where the role, model, and tools should persist.
### Model Context Protocol
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/model-context-protocol
Description: Connect Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to Raycast AI to extend Chat with custom tools, data sources, and integrations from across your stack.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is how you plug external tools and data sources into Raycast AI. Once a server is connected, its tools become available to AI Chat, Quick AI, and AI Commands alongside everything Raycast already knows about you and your installed extensions.
#### Install MCP Servers
**Desktop**
To add a new MCP server, search for the **Install MCP Server** command or use the **Install New Server** action in the **Manage MCP Servers** command then fill out the form. Give the server a name & icon, select the transport & connection details, optionally a description.
Press **Install MCP Server** (`⌘ ↵`/`Ctrl ↵`) and Raycast saves the config, starts the connection, and pulls in the tool list automatically. Stdio servers run as soon as they're installed; HTTP servers with OAuth will prompt you to **Sign In** before any tools become available.
> [!TIP]
> If a stdio command relies on something on your `PATH`, restart Raycast after updating your environment variables so the new values are picked up.
**iOS**
1. Tap **Account Avatar → AI → MCP Servers**.
2. Tap **Plus icon** in the top right to add a server, or pick one from **Popular MCP Servers** to prefill the form.
3. Give the server a **Name** and its **URL**, and optionally a **Description** and **Custom Instructions**. Choose the **OAuth Type** and add any **HTTP Headers** the server needs.
4. Tap **Save**. Raycast connects, prompts you to sign in if the server uses OAuth, and pulls in its tool list automatically.
You can also ask **AI Chat** to set one up. Ask the chat something like "add the Linear MCP server" and Raycast AI finds the right endpoint, fills in the details, and asks you to confirm before connecting to the MCP server.
##### Configuration Fields
- **Name & Icon**: How the server appears in lists, mentions, and the Action Panel.
- **Transport**: *Standard Input/Output* or *HTTP*. iOS is always HTTP.
- **Command** *(stdio)*: The executable to run, e.g. `npx` or a path to a binary.
- **Arguments** *(stdio)*: Passed to the command. Accepts a space‑separated string or a JSON array.
- **Environment** *(stdio)*: Key/value pairs injected into the server's environment, e.g. API tokens.
- **URL** *(HTTP)*: The server's MCP endpoint.
- **HTTP Headers** *(HTTP)*: Key/value pairs sent on every request.
- **OAuth Type** *(HTTP)*: *Dynamic* if the server supports OAuth Dynamic Client Registration, *Static* if you need to provide your own credentials.
- **Client ID / Client Secret / Scopes** *(HTTP, Static OAuth only)*: Pre‑registered OAuth credentials and the scopes to request.
- **Custom Instructions**: Optional guidance for how Raycast AI should use the server (see [Using MCP Servers](#using-mcp-servers)).
- **Description**: Optional shown in the details pane.
##### Transports
Raycast supports two ways of talking to an MCP server:
- _(Available on Mac and Windows)_ **Standard Input/Output**: A local process that Raycast launches and pipes JSON‑RPC over stdin/stdout. Good for anything you'd run from the terminal: `npx`, a Python script, a compiled binary.
- _(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_ **HTTP**: A remote endpoint that speaks MCP over HTTP (including the Streamable HTTP variant). Good for hosted services, and the only transport available on iOS.
##### Authentication
For HTTP servers that require OAuth, Raycast handles the full flow. Dynamic OAuth uses Dynamic Client Registration with PKCE: select **Sign In** and Raycast registers itself as a client. Static OAuth uses a Client ID (and optional Secret) you provide, which services like Slack require. Tokens are stored encrypted, per server.
On Desktop, the **Logout Server** action in the **Manage MCP Servers** command clears saved tokens for an HTTP server without removing it.
##### Popular MCP Servers
_(Only on iOS)_
The **MCP Servers** tab in Settings suggests popular servers you can connect to, including GitHub, Linear, PostHog, and Shape. Tap **Connect** to start the OAuth flow, or **Set Up** for servers that need an access token, and Raycast prefills the form for you. Once connected, the popular MCP server will move to the connected servers list.
#### Manage MCP Servers
**Desktop**
Search **Manage MCP Servers** in Raycast to see every installed server with its status, tool list, and details in one place. Each server is either **Running** (connected and serving tools), **Stopped** (installed but not connected), or in an **Error** state. The details pane shows the full output from the server or transport.
From this command, you can start a new chat with the selected server or open the Action Panel for more options: Add Server, Refresh, Start, Stop, Restart, Logout, and Uninstall.
**iOS**
Tap **Account Avatar → AI → MCP Servers** to see every server you've connected. Each row shows its tool count and URL, or a red error message if the connection failed. Tap a server to edit its details, headers, OAuth, and custom instructions.
Swipe a server left to ** Refresh** its tools or ** Delete** it, or tap **Refresh icon** in the top bar to refresh every server at once. Deleting a server also clears its saved OAuth tokens.
#### Using MCP Servers
Every server gets a `@-mention` name, just like AI Extensions. In AI Chat or Quick AI, type `@` and enter the server's name to scope a question to it — type `@linear what's assigned to me?` to ask the Linear MCP server directly.
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_ Raycast also adds an **Ask** command for each installed server to Root Search (e.g. **Ask Linear**), prefilling Quick AI with that mention.
##### Custom Instructions
Each server has an optional **Custom Instructions** field. Use it to steer how Raycast AI works with that server, for example "default my Linear queries to the Platform team." The AI reads these instructions whenever it considers using the server's tools.
##### Permissions
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
MCP tools follow the same **Permissions** setting as AI Extensions. By default, Raycast approves read-only tools on its own and asks you about the rest. Learn more under [Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions#permissions) on the AI Extensions page.
### Skills
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills
Description: Skills extend Raycast AI with reusable knowledge and instructions that models can use automatically when it's relevant to your chat.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Skills are reusable context for Raycast AI. Instead of pasting the same conventions, guidelines, or domain knowledge into every prompt, you write them once as a plain `SKILL.md` file, drop it into a folder, and Raycast handles discovery automatically. It scans your library and loads whichever skills are relevant to your Chat prompts.
#### What is a Skill?
A skill is a small, focused unit of context (instructions, examples, conventions, or domain knowledge) that Raycast AI can load on demand. Think of it as a piece of expertise the model can reach for when the conversation calls for it, rather than something you have to remember to attach every time.
Skills are stored as files in default folders used by common AI agents, or you can add your own directories. Each skill describes when it should be used and what knowledge or steps it brings to the conversation, so Raycast can decide on its own whether to load it for a given message.
> [!TIP]
> You can create your own skills to use inside Raycast, as well as across other AI platforms. Learn more about the open standard on [Agent Skills](https://agentskills.io/home).
#### Discover Skills Automatically
By default, Raycast AI looks at the message you're sending and pulls in any skills from your configured directories that look relevant, so you don't need to attach them by hand. This keeps the Chat input clean and lets your skill library scale without adding friction.
Toggle this behavior per chat in AI Chat from **Chat Settings → Skills → Discover Skills Automatically**. Turning it off stops Raycast from surfacing skills on its own for that conversation, so nothing is added to the model's context unless you ask for it. Even with it off, you can still bring in a specific skill by mentioning it with `@` — a manual mention always forces that skill into consideration, regardless of the toggle's state.
> [!NOTE]
> The **Discover Skills Automatically** toggle is per-chat in AI Chat and can be changed at any time. Quick AI has skill discovery turned on for all chats.
#### Mention a Skill
Type `@` in the AI Chat or Quick AI composer and start typing a skill's name, id, or description to filter the mention menu — skills appear under their own **Skills** section, alongside AI Extensions. Select one to attach it; it renders as a pill with a skills icon in both the composer and the sent message.
Mentioning a skill this way always forces it into consideration for that turn, even when **Discover Skills Automatically** is turned off for the chat. The toggle only controls whether Raycast surfaces skills on its own; an explicit `@`-mention is a separate path that's always available.
> [!NOTE]
> Skill Mentions work in AI Chat and Quick AI. They aren't available when writing AI Command prompts, since AI Commands don't use skills.
#### How Loading Works
When you send a message in AI Chat or Quick AI, Raycast shows the model a compact catalog of every skill it found, including the `name`, `description`, and file path from each frontmatter, not the body. If the model decides one or more skills look relevant, it loads them through a tool call and reads their full Markdown content before answering.
- **A clear `description` matters most.** It's the only signal the model has when deciding what to load. Lead with *when* to use the skill ("Use when adding a new screen to the admin panel…") rather than what's inside it.
- **Skills only run on models that support tools.** If you've picked a model without tool support, skills won't be offered. Most modern models qualify, but it's worth checking when something seems missing.
- **AI Commands don't use skills.** Commands are intentionally narrow and predictable, so Raycast keeps the skill catalog out of them.
#### Settings
All your skills appear in **Settings → AI → Skills**. The page lists every skill Raycast has found, with its description, so you can scan your library at a glance.
Raycast watches your skill folders for changes. Adding, editing, or removing a skill file updates the list within a minute.
By default, Raycast scans the following folders for skills. You can add other folders by clicking the Plus button on Skill Folders.
- `~/.claude/skills`
- `~/.config/agents/skills`
- `~/.config/raycast/skills`
- `~/.agents/skills`
These folders are the same on Windows — `~` is your home folder, so on Mac that's `/Users/` and on Windows it's `C:\Users\`.
Each skill must reside in its own subfolder, with the folder name matching the `name` in the frontmatter, and the file itself must be named `SKILL.md` exactly (case-sensitive). Other `.md` files in the folder are ignored. Raycast scans only the top level of each specified folder and does not search recursively for skills.
#### Skills vs. AI Extensions
Skills and AI Extensions both let Raycast AI go beyond the model's built-in knowledge, but they solve different problems:
- **[AI Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-extensions)** give the model *tools*: actions it can take, like searching your notes, querying an API, or running a command.
- **Skills** give the model *context*: instructions, conventions, and knowledge it should apply when working on a particular kind of task.
The two pair naturally: an AI Extension to fetch the data, a Skill to tell Raycast how you want it interpreted or written up.
**[Agents](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents)** build on both: an Agent carries its own instructions and a scoped set of AI Extensions, while Skills still load automatically alongside whichever Agent is active.
#### If a Skill Isn't Loading
When a skill fails to load, Raycast skips it silently and continues with your chat. If a skill you expect isn't showing up, check the following:
- It's in one of the default folders, or in a custom folder you added in **Settings → AI → Skills**.
- It lives in its own subfolder, and the folder name matches `name` in the frontmatter exactly.
- The file is named `SKILL.md` (case-sensitive) and starts with valid YAML containing both `name` and `description`.
- The `name` follows the rules: 1–64 characters, lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens, with no leading, trailing, or consecutive hyphens.
- The `description` is between 1 and 1024 characters.
- You're testing in AI Chat or Quick AI on a model that supports tools. Skills don't run in AI Commands.
- **Discover Skills Automatically** is on for the AI Chat you're wanting to use the skill in, or `@`-mention the skill to load it regardless of the toggle.
- Give it a minute. The folder scan is cached for about 60 seconds, so a fresh skill can take that long to appear.
If two skills share the same `name`, Raycast keeps the first one it finds and ignores the rest, so rename one of them if you're expecting both to coexist.
### Projects
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects
Description: Group related AI chats under shared instructions, a project memory, and a working directory, so every conversation in the project starts with the right context.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Status: New
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Projects group related chats in AI Chat and give them shared context: instructions, a memory built from the conversations inside, and a working directory for file and terminal work. Every chat in a project starts with that context, so you never repeat yourself. They're ideal for anything ongoing, like a client, a codebase, or a piece of work you keep coming back to.
#### Get Started
1. Open [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat).
2. Right-click anywhere in the history sidebar and choose ** New Project**, or press `⌃ ⌘ N`/`Alt Shift N`.
3. Give the project a name and pick an icon.
- Optionally, add **Instructions** for the chats in this project, and choose a **Working Directory** if the project lives on disk.
4. Click **Create Project**.
You can also create and manage projects from **Settings → AI → Projects** with **Add Project**.
#### Organize Chats
Projects appear in their own section at the top of the history sidebar, sorted by name.
- **Start a chat in a project**: Hover over the project and click **New chat in project**, or choose ** Create New Chat With…** from the Action Panel (`⌘ K`/`Ctrl K`) and pick the project.
- **Move a chat into a project**: Drag it onto the project in the sidebar, or choose ** Move to Project** from the chat's right-click menu or the Action Panel (`⌃ ⌘ M`/`Alt Shift M`). The same menu has a ** New Project…** entry, so you can move a chat into a project that does not exist yet.
- **Take a chat out of a project**: Drag it back onto ** Recent**, or open ** Move to Project** in the Action Panel and choose ** Remove from Project**.
- **Edit or delete a project**: Right-click the project and choose ** Edit Project** or ** Delete Project**. Deleting a project keeps its chats; they move back to **Recent**.
- **Share a link to a project**: Right-click the project and choose **Copy Deeplink**. Opening the link takes you straight to that project in AI Chat.
#### Project Context
Everything a project knows goes into the chats inside it, in this order: the working directory's `AGENTS.md`, the project's instructions, then the project memory. The current conversation always takes precedence.
##### Instructions
Instructions apply to every chat in the project, so you do not need to repeat them in each prompt. Use them for the audience, terminology, format, or rules that stay the same across the project. For example, "Answer as a senior iOS engineer. Prefer Swift examples. Keep replies under 200 words."
You can ask the AI to read or update the project's instructions from inside a chat, for example "Show this project's instructions" or "Update this project's instructions to always reply in British English."
##### Memory
Each project keeps its own memory, separate from your global [Memory](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization). Every few hours, Raycast reads the new conversations in the project and updates a short summary of the project's goal, current focus, decisions, workflows, and open questions. Future chats in the project get that summary as context.
- Memory is on by default. Turn it off for a project from ** Edit Project** if you do not want Raycast to summarize its chats.
- Click **Show Memory** in the project settings to read what Raycast has kept. The **Last updated** line tells you when the summary last changed.
- Ask the AI to "remember this for the project" to add something straight away, or "remember this" to save it to your global memory instead.
- Project memory only updates while you are signed in to your Raycast account.
##### Working Directory
The working directory is the default location for file and terminal work in the project. Raycast can read and write inside it without asking each time, and it follows any `AGENTS.md` instructions it finds there. Click **Choose Directory** in the project settings to set it.
The working directory points the AI at a location on disk. It does not upload the folder's contents. Attach specific files to a message when you want them as context.
> [!NOTE]
> The working directory is stored only on the device where you set it. It never syncs through Cloud Sync, and it is not shared with Raycast. Learn more on the [Raycast AI Privacy & Security page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security).
#### Open a Project from Root Search
Every project shows up in Root Search as its own command, with the subtitle **AI Project**. Press `↩`/`Enter` to open it in AI Chat, or open the Action Panel for ** Edit Project**, ** Copy Deeplink**, and ** Delete Project**.
#### Sync Across Devices
A project's name, icon, instructions, and memory sync with your **AI Chat History** through [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync), so the same projects appear on every Mac and Windows device where you are signed in. The working directory stays on the device where you set it.
#### FAQ
##### What happened to Folders?
Folders became Projects in Raycast v2. Everything you had in a folder is still there, and the old deeplinks still open the same place. Projects add instructions that every chat inherits, a per-project memory, and a working directory on top of the grouping folders gave you.
##### What happens to my chats when I delete a project?
Nothing is lost. The chats move back to the main **Recent** list in the history sidebar, and they keep their messages, model, and settings. Only the project's instructions, memory, and working directory are removed.
##### How is project memory different from Memory in Personalization?
Global Memory captures facts about you, such as your role and preferences, and applies to every chat. Project memory captures context about the project, such as its goal and the decisions you have made, and only applies to chats inside that project. Turning off global Memory does not turn off project memory, and vice versa.
##### Can a project set its own model or tools?
Not yet. A project provides instructions, memory, and a working directory. To save a model, tools, and a personality together, create an [Agent](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents) and use it inside the project's chats.
##### Can an automation run inside a project?
Not directly. An [Automation](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations) delivers its result to a new chat or an existing chat you choose. Pick a chat that already belongs to the project, or move the resulting chat into the project afterwards.
##### Can I use Projects on iPhone and iPad?
Raycast for iOS still shows Folders, which group chats by name and icon. Instructions, memory, and the working directory are only available in AI Chat on Mac and Windows.
##### Is there a limit on the number of projects?
No. Create as many as you need. Long projects show their first few chats in the sidebar with a **Show more** button for the rest.
### Personalization
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization
Description: AI Personalization blends a Profile you define with an intelligent Memory crafted from your interactions, enabling Raycast AI to deliver responses that are uniquely relevant and tailored to you.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast AI learns about you over time to provide more relevant, personalized responses. This page explains how AI Personalization works, what data is involved, and how you stay in control.
#### What is AI Personalization?
AI Personalization consists of two parts, found in **Settings → AI → Personalization**:
##### Profile
Text you write yourself to give AI context about you: for example, your role, preferred coding language, or communication style. Your Profile is entirely manual and only contains what you choose to share.
##### Memory
A summary that Raycast AI automatically builds from your conversations over time. It captures relevant context like your projects, preferences, and goals to make future interactions more helpful.
#### How Memory Works
Every few hours, Raycast collects your recent AI Chat and Quick AI conversations and sends them (along with your current memory) to the AI model. The model distils this into an updated memory summary. This uses the same infrastructure, providers, and privacy protections as sending a message in AI Chat.
> [!NOTE]
> Memory in Raycast AI is stored locally on your device, synced via Cloud Sync when enabled (encrypted, like all other synced data), and never used to train AI models.
#### What Raycast Remembers
Memory focuses on context that helps improve your AI interactions:
- Your role and professional context
- Projects you're working on
- Technical preferences and tools you use
- Communication style and preferences
#### What Data Is Sent?
Only your chat contents are used to build Memory. No additional personal information (name, email, etc.) is sent beyond what's already part of your conversations. The same agreements with AI providers that prevent your data from being retained and used for model training apply here.
#### Managing Your Personalization
You have full control over your AI Personalization:
- **View and edit your Memory**: See exactly what Raycast remembers in **Settings → AI → Personalization**. You can edit or clear your memory at any time.
- **Generate or reset your Memory**: In the Memory dialog, **Generate** builds a memory from your recent chats right away, and becomes **Regenerate** once one exists. **Reset Memory** clears it.
- **Add to Memory manually**: Select text in a conversation and use **Add to Memory** (`⇧ ⌘ L`/`Ctrl Shift L`) to save specific information.
- **Ask AI to remember**: Tell AI to "remember this" or "update my memory" directly in a chat.
- **Disable Memory**: You can turn off Memory entirely in **Settings → AI → Personalization**.
- **Keep project context separate**: Each AI Chat [Project](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects) has its own memory about that project. It is stored and managed per project, and turning off Memory here does not affect it.
#### Privacy and Security
- AI Personalization follows the same privacy and security standards as all Raycast AI features
- Your conversations are not recorded or logged: Memory is a distilled summary, not a transcript
- AI providers cannot use your data for model training (see our [AI](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai) and [AI Privacy + Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security) page)
- Memory synced via Cloud Sync is encrypted at rest and in transit
- For full details, see our [Terms of Service](https://www.raycast.com/terms-of-service), [Privacy Policy](https://www.raycast.com/privacy) and [AI Privacy + Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security) page
#### FAQ
##### Is AI Personalization available on all platforms?
AI Personalization (Profile and Memory) is available on macOS and Windows. Your memory syncs across devices when Cloud Sync is enabled (coming soon).
##### Does Memory store my full conversations?
No. Memory is a distilled summary of relevant context, not a transcript. Your conversations are not recorded or logged.
### Usage Limits
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits
Description: Understand Raycast AI credits, monthly allowances, top-ups, and usage with your own subscriptions, keys, or models.
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Status: Updated
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast AI puts powerful models from all major providers right at your fingertips. It runs on credits: every paid plan includes a monthly allowance, and you can top up whenever you need more. Raycast Free doesn't include AI.
> [!NOTE]
> Credits apply only to inference provided by Raycast AI. Models you [bring yourself](#bring-your-own-ai) follow your own provider's limits instead.
#### Monthly Credits
| Plan | Monthly credits | AI models |
| --- | ---: | --- |
| Raycast Pro | 500 | Fast and powerful models |
| Raycast Pro+ | 3,000 | All models, including top-tier |
| Raycast Max | 7,500 | All models, including top-tier |
Every paid plan includes fast and powerful models from all leading providers. Pro+ and Max also unlock every model, including top-tier models for your most demanding tasks, alongside a bigger monthly allowance. Browse the full lineup on [the models page on the Raycast website](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai/models) or in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Manage Models**.
> [!NOTE]
> See [Billing](https://manual.raycast.com/billing) for plan details, or head to [raycast.com/pricing](https://raycast.com/pricing) for the latest pricing information.
##### Top-Tier Models
Top-tier models are exclusive to Raycast Pro+ and Raycast Max plans, and this list will evolve as new frontier models are released:
- **OpenAI** — GPT-6 Astra, GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-5.5, GPT-5.5 Instant
- **Anthropic** — Claude Opus 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Opus 4.7
#### How Credits Are Used
Credits measure AI usage, not a fixed number of messages. How many you use depends on the model and how much text it reads and writes. Long conversations, attachments, tool calls, and regenerated or edited messages all add up.
The model picker preview shows a **Cost** meter next to **Speed** and **Intelligence**, so you can compare how quickly models spend credits before you pick one. Input and output are priced differently, so the same prompt can cost different amounts on different models.
#### Check Your Balance
**Desktop**
Open **Settings → Account** to see your remaining credits and the next renewal date. Choose **Show details** to open **AI Usage**. Switch between **Today**, **Last 7 Days**, and **Last 30 Days** to see **Usage by Model** and **Usage Over Time**. **Credit Activity** lists every credit grant, such as monthly credits and top-up credits, with the date it arrived and when it expires.
**iOS**
Tap Settings in the top right, tap **Subscription**, and look under **AI Credits** to see your remaining balance. Tap it to open **AI Usage**, which shows when your credits renew, your usage by model and over time, and your credit activity. You can also reach **AI Usage** from the settings sheet in AI Chat.
Your monthly allowance renews each month, and unused monthly credits roll over for one extra billing cycle: each monthly grant expires 60 days after it's granted. Free trial credits expire 7 days after they're granted, and if you upgrade during your trial, your remaining trial credits are used before your monthly credits.
Cancelling your plan doesn't change when your credits expire, but an active paid subscription is required to use them. If you cancel, any remaining credits stay on your account until their expiry dates, and you'll need to resubscribe to use them, as AI features aren't available on the Free plan.
#### Usage in AI Chat
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Type `/usage` in the composer to see how many credits you've used and when new ones arrive, with buttons to **Upgrade** or **Top Up**.
When you're running low, a **Low Credits** pill appears above the composer. It changes to **No Credits Left** once they're gone. Click it to open the same panel. If a response stops because you ran out, top up or switch models, then choose **Try Again**.
To see what a single response cost, choose **Show AI usage** on it for a breakdown of **Input Credits**, **Output Credits**, and **Total Credits**. The chat settings sidebar adds up the whole conversation under **Usage** and are hidden when using [Bring Your Own AI](#bring-your-own-ai) models, since they don't use your AI credits.
#### Top Up Credits
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Choose **Top Up** in **Settings → Account**, select an AI credit package, and complete the purchase. You can buy top-ups at any time, including before your monthly allowance runs out. Top-ups come in packages of 500, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 credits; current prices appear in the purchase dialog.
> [!NOTE]
> Top Ups aren't available during the Raycast Pro free trial. Top-ups unlock once you're outside the trial period.
Credits are used in order of expiry date, so the credits that expire first are spent first. This usually means monthly credits are used before top-up credits. Top-up credits expire 12 months after purchase, and an active paid subscription is required to use them. On Teams plans, top-ups are per member and aren't pooled across the team.
#### When You Run Out
When both your monthly credits and top-up credits are exhausted, Raycast AI stops until your next allowance arrives or you purchase a top-up. You can also select a model supplied through your own connected subscription, API key, custom provider, or local model.
A provider rate limit is different from an empty credit balance. Follow the retry or reset information in the error message; buying credits does not remove a provider's rate limit.
#### Bring Your Own AI
A paid Raycast plan is required to bring your own AI into Raycast, including these options in Raycast v2:
- [Bring Your Own Subscription](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription): Model usage goes towards your connected Claude or ChatGPT subscription.
- [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key): Model usage is billed to your API account by the provider.
- [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers): Model usage follows your provider's billing and limits.
- [Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models): Inference runs on your local hardware through Ollama.
#### Raycast v1 Considerations
If you're still on Raycast v1 with a Raycast Pro or Raycast Pro+ subscription, credits apply to you too, with a transition period to give you time to update.
- **Models**: Your model list stays exactly as it is today. New models and top-tier models added to Raycast Pro+ and Raycast Max from September 10, 2026, are only available in Raycast v2.
- **Before October 1, 2026**: Raycast tracks your usage and credit balance, but nothing changes in practice. When your credits reach 0, you can keep using AI without errors, under the same request limits as today:
- **Pro models**: 50 requests per minute and 300 requests per hour, shared across all Pro models. o3-mini and o4-mini are limited to 150 requests per 24 hours.
- **Advanced AI models** (Pro+): 75 requests per 3 hours and 150 requests per 24 hours.
- Exceptions - 50 requests per week per model
- OpenAI: o1, GPT-4, GPT-5.5, GPT-5.5 Instant, GPT-5.6 Sol, and GPT-6 Astra
- Anthropic: Claude Opus 4.7, 4.8, and 5.
- **From October 1, 2026**: When your credits reach 0, Raycast AI stops and shows a message: *You've used all your AI credits. Update Raycast to continue, or wait until October 15, 2026.* The date shown is when your next monthly credits arrive.
> [!TIP]
> Update to [Raycast v2](https://raycast.com/v2) to get top-ups, the full AI model lineup, and everything else [new in Raycast v2](https://manual.raycast.com/new-in-v2). Your subscription carries over as is.
### Local Models
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models
Description: Run open models on your own computer and use them across Raycast AI. No internet, no AI credits, and nothing leaves your machine.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Local Models let you use AI models running on your own machine through [Ollama](https://ollama.com/) in Raycast AI. Everything stays local on your own computer. Download a model once and it's yours: it works with no internet connection, keeps every prompt on your machine, and never uses your AI credits. Raycast detects the models you've installed automatically and adds them to the model picker alongside other Raycast AI models.
> [!NOTE]
> Requests to local models go straight from Raycast to the Ollama server on your machine. Nothing is sent to Raycast's servers or to any third party.
#### Get Started
1. Install the [Ollama app](https://ollama.com/download) if you don't have it yet. You can also click **Install Ollama app** in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Local Models**.
2. Open **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** and scroll down to the **Local Models** section.
3. Type a model name into **Install Ollama Model**, for example `qwen3.8:latest`, and click **Install**. Click **Model Library** to browse all available models on ollama.com.
4. Once the download finishes, the model appears in the model picker under the **Local** section, ready to use.
Models you've downloaded directly with `ollama pull` are detected too. If one hasn't shown up yet, click **Sync Models**. The status line at the bottom of the section in Settings shows how many models are installed and when Raycast last synced.
> [!NOTE]
> Raycast starts the Ollama server for you when you use a local model, so you don't need to keep the Ollama app open.
#### Using Local Models
Local models work in [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai), [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat), and [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands). Pick them from the model picker like any other model. Raycast reads each model's capabilities from Ollama, so models that support vision accept image attachments, models that support tool use work with AI Extensions, and thinking models show their reasoning.
Since Raycast has no benchmark data for local models, they don't show speed or intelligence scores in the model settings. Performance depends entirely on your hardware and the model size you choose. Smaller models respond faster, while larger models give better answers at the cost of speed and memory.
> [!NOTE]
> Local models don't power the Extension AI API or Emoji Search. Those features continue to use Raycast AI.
#### Managing Models
- **Install a model** from the **Local Models** section in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**, or with `ollama pull` in your terminal.
- **Delete a model** from **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Manage Models**. Click **Actions menu** on a local model and choose ** Delete Model**. This removes the download from your disk, so Raycast asks you to confirm first.
- **Disable a model** without deleting it by unchecking it in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Manage Models**, the same as any other model.
#### Remote Ollama Servers
If you run Ollama on another machine, such as a home server with a bigger GPU, point Raycast at it with the **Ollama Host** field in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Local Models**. Enter the host in the same form as the default, for example `http://192.168.1.20:11434`. Leave the field empty to use Ollama on your own machine.
> [!WARNING]
> Raycast doesn't start remote servers for you. Make sure the remote Ollama server is running and reachable from your machine, otherwise its models won't load.
#### FAQ
##### Which model should I install?
It depends on the hardware available on your machine. A general-purpose model such as `qwen3.8:latest` runs well on most modern laptops. If you have plenty of memory, larger variants of a model give better and more detailed answers. Look for models tagged with vision and tools on the [Ollama model library](https://ollama.com/search) if you want image attachments and AI Extensions.
##### Is anything sent to Raycast when I use a local model?
No. Your prompts, attachments, and the model's responses stay between Raycast and the Ollama server on your machine. Raycast only stores your chat history locally, and in Cloud Sync if you have it enabled.
##### Do local models use Raycast AI credits?
No. Local model requests never reach Raycast's servers, so they don't consume your [Raycast AI credits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits).
##### Can I use LM Studio or another local server instead of Ollama?
Yes, through [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers). Any local server with an OpenAI compatible API works, though you'll describe the models yourself in a config file rather than having Raycast detect them.
#### Troubleshooting
##### Settings says Ollama is not installed, but I have it
Raycast looks for the Ollama app, the `ollama` command line tool, or a running server. If you installed Ollama in an unusual location, start the Ollama app once so its server is running, then click **Sync Models**. Setting the **Ollama Host** field explicitly also tells Raycast where to look.
##### A model I installed doesn't appear in the picker
Click **Sync Models** in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Local Models** to re-scan the server. If the model still doesn't appear, run `ollama list` in your terminal to confirm Ollama sees it. Models that Ollama lists but Raycast can't inspect are left as they were until the next successful sync.
##### Responses are slow or the model runs out of memory
Switch to a smaller model, or a smaller variant of the same model. Local models run on your hardware, so a model that's too large for your memory will be slow or fail to load. Raycast also caps the context sent to local models at 64k tokens to keep responses reliable.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command so we can investigate (see [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) for more ways to get in touch):
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Your Ollama version**, from `ollama --version`, and whether you use a custom **Ollama Host**.
3. The **model** you were using, and the output of `ollama list`.
4. The **AI feature** you used when the problem occurred, and what happened.
5. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
### Custom Providers
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers
Description: Connect any compatible provider to Raycast AI and bring your own models, from cloud gateways and team proxies to agents running on your machine.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Custom Providers let you connect any compatible provider to Raycast and bring your own models. The models you define appear in the model picker alongside Raycast AI models, ready to use across AI features. This is the most flexible way to bring outside models into Raycast, covering aggregators, cross-vendor gateways, and self-hosted proxies alike.
> [!NOTE]
> Custom provider requests are routed directly from your device to the provider's servers, bypassing Raycast entirely. Your API keys stay in the file on your device, and you pay the provider's standard rates for messages.
#### Get Started
1. Open **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** and scroll down to the **Custom Providers** section.
2. Click **Reveal Providers Config**. Raycast opens the config folder and places a `providers.template.yaml` file inside it, documenting the file format.
3. Copy the template to a file named `providers.yaml` in the same folder, then edit it with your providers and models.
4. Save the file. Raycast watches it for changes, so your providers and their model counts appear in the Custom Providers section right away, with no restart needed.
The file lives at `~/.config/raycast/ai/providers.yaml` inside your user folder on both macOS and Windows.
> [!WARNING]
> If Raycast can't read your file, an **Invalid providers.yaml** badge appears next to Providers Config in Settings. Hover over the badge to see exactly what went wrong. Your previously loaded models keep working while you fix the file.
#### Configuration Format
Each entry in the `providers` list needs an `id`, a `name`, an OpenAI API compatible `base_url`, and a list of `models`. Here's a trimmed example connecting a provider with one model:
```yaml
providers:
- id: my_provider
name: My Provider
base_url: https://api.example.com/v1
api_keys:
my_provider: YOUR_API_KEY
models:
- id: my-model-id
name: My Model
provider: my_provider
description: A short description shown in Raycast
context: 200000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
reasoning_effort:
supported: false
```
##### Provider Fields
| Field | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | Yes | Unique identifier for the provider entry |
| `name` | Yes | Provider name shown in Raycast |
| `base_url` | Yes | OpenAI API compatible endpoint, without the `/chat/completions` suffix |
| `api_keys` | No | Map of key aliases to API keys, omit for providers that don't require authentication |
| `additional_parameters` | No | Extra fields added to every `/chat/completions` request |
| `include_user_email` | No | Set to `true` to send your signed-in Raycast email as an `X-User-Email` header, useful for per-user attribution on a shared gateway |
| `models` | Yes | List of models to register, providers without any valid models are skipped |
##### Model Fields
| Field | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | Yes | Model identifier, must match the id the provider's API expects |
| `name` | Yes | Model name shown in Raycast |
| `provider` | No | Selects which alias in `api_keys` to use, defaults to the first key |
| `description` | No | Short description shown in Raycast |
| `context` | No | Context window size in tokens, refer to the provider's documentation |
| `abilities` | No | Capability flags for the model, see below |
##### Abilities
Each ability is optional and takes a `supported: true` or `supported: false` value. When omitted, Raycast assumes system messages and temperature are supported, and tool use and vision are not. Declaring an ability the model doesn't actually support can make requests fail.
| Ability | Enables |
| --- | --- |
| `temperature` | Sending a temperature value with requests |
| `vision` | Image attachments in prompts |
| `system_message` | Sending a system message |
| `tools` | Tool use, required for AI Extensions |
| `reasoning_effort` | Reasoning effort control for reasoning models |
The `providers.template.yaml` file installed next to your config documents the same format with complete annotated examples.
> [!NOTE]
> The OpenAI API is not a formal standard, so we can't guarantee that every provider works correctly with Raycast AI. Refer to your provider's API documentation for model identifiers and capabilities.
#### Examples
Vercel AI Gateway
LiteLLM Proxy
AWS Bedrock
LM Studio
OpenClaw
Hermes Agent
Cross-vendor gateways such as [Vercel AI Gateway](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway) or [Cloudflare AI Gateway](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ai-gateway/) put models from every major lab behind a single endpoint and a single key, with usage tracking and spend controls in one dashboard:
```yaml
providers:
- id: vercel_ai_gateway
name: Vercel AI Gateway
base_url: https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1
api_keys:
vercel: VERCEL_AI_GATEWAY_KEY
models:
- id: anthropic/claude-fable-5.1
name: "Claude Fable 5.1"
context: 1000000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
reasoning_effort:
supported: true
```
Team proxies such as [LiteLLM](https://docs.litellm.ai/) let one gateway hold the vendor keys while everyone on the team points Raycast at it. Turn on the optional email header so the proxy can attribute usage to each person:
```yaml
providers:
- id: litellm
name: LiteLLM
base_url: http://localhost:4000
# Sends your signed-in Raycast email as an `X-User-Email` header,
# e.g. for per-user attribution or quotas on a shared gateway
include_user_email: true
models:
- id: anthropic/claude-sonnet-5
name: "Claude Sonnet 5"
context: 1000000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
```
Cloud platforms like [Amazon Bedrock](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock/latest/userguide/inference-chat-completions.html) let you use models under your existing cloud account and billing. Bedrock exposes an OpenAI compatible endpoint per region, authenticated with a Bedrock API key:
```yaml
providers:
- id: bedrock
name: AWS Bedrock
base_url: https://bedrock-runtime.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/openai/v1
api_keys:
bedrock: YOUR_BEDROCK_API_KEY
models:
- id: moonshotai.kimi-k2-thinking # use the Chat Completions model id from the Bedrock model catalog
name: "Kimi K2 Thinking"
context: 256000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
```
Local runners such as [LM Studio](https://lmstudio.ai/) serve open models straight from your own machine, with no API key and no data leaving your computer. Enable the server in LM Studio's Developer tab, then list the models you've downloaded:
```yaml
providers:
- id: lmstudio
name: LM Studio
base_url: http://localhost:1234/v1
# No `api_keys` - the local server doesn't require authentication
models:
- id: qwen/qwen3-14b # use the model id shown in LM Studio's server page
name: "Qwen 3 14B"
context: 32000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
```
Local agents work too. [OpenClaw](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/openai-http-api)'s gateway exposes an OpenAI compatible API, so you can chat with an agent that has its own tools and memory straight from Raycast:
```yaml
providers:
- id: openclaw
name: OpenClaw
base_url: http://127.0.0.1:18789/v1
api_keys:
# Your gateway token from `gateway.auth.token` or OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN
openclaw: YOUR_GATEWAY_TOKEN
models:
- id: openclaw/default # stable alias for your default agent
name: "OpenClaw"
description: Your local OpenClaw agent
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
```
You can also use [Hermes Agent](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/api-server) inside Raycast AI, complete with its own tools, memory, and skills. Enable its API server with `API_SERVER_ENABLED=true` and an `API_SERVER_KEY` in `~/.hermes/.env`, start it with `hermes gateway`, then point Raycast at it:
```yaml
providers:
- id: hermes
name: Hermes Agent
base_url: http://127.0.0.1:8642/v1
api_keys:
# The API_SERVER_KEY value from ~/.hermes/.env
hermes: YOUR_API_SERVER_KEY
models:
- id: hermes-agent # the default profile, or use a profile name
name: "Hermes Agent"
description: Your local Hermes agent
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
```
#### Using Custom Models
Custom provider models show up in the model picker grouped under the provider's name you set in the file. Pick them anywhere you'd pick a Raycast AI model, including [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai), [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat), and [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands). Since Raycast has no benchmark data for custom models, they don't show speed or intelligence scores in the model settings.
If you only want models from OpenRouter, adding an OpenRouter API key via [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key) unlocks its full catalog automatically. If you run local models with Ollama, Raycast supports this natively with [Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models) and detects your models automatically for you.
#### FAQ
##### Should I use Custom Providers or Bring Your Own Key?
They solve different problems. [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key) is for when you want to keep using the models Raycast AI already offers, but pay Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, or OpenRouter directly with your own API key. Setup is a single key, and Raycast handles the rest.
Custom Providers are for going beyond what Raycast AI supports natively. Use them to reach models from providers Raycast doesn't offer, or to route requests through a gateway, a team proxy, a local agent, or any other OpenAI API compatible endpoint. You describe the models yourself in a config file, in exchange for full control over where requests go.
##### Can I manage custom providers for everyone in an organization?
Yes, Enterprise organizations can upload a [Custom Provider Configuration](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider) that applies to every member. When one is configured, it replaces your local `providers.yaml`, and the Custom Providers section in settings shows that your organization manages the configuration.
##### Are my API keys sent to Raycast?
No. Your keys stay in the `providers.yaml` file on your device, and every request goes directly from your device to the provider. Raycast's servers never see your keys or your prompts for custom models.
##### Do custom models use Raycast AI credits?
No. Custom provider requests never pass through Raycast's servers, so they don't consume your [Raycast AI credits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits). Your only limits are the ones your provider sets for your key.
##### Does my providers.yaml sync between devices?
No. The file lives on disk outside of Cloud Sync, so each machine needs its own copy. Keep the file somewhere you can copy it from, or manage it with your own dotfiles setup.
#### Troubleshooting
##### I deleted or broke the template file
Click **Reveal Providers Config** in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** again. Raycast rewrites `providers.template.yaml` on every reveal, so it always documents the current schema.
##### My custom model returns errors or behaves oddly
First, test the same `base_url` and model id outside Raycast, for example with `curl`, to rule out a provider or key problem. If that works, the cause is almost always the `abilities` block. Double-check the model `id` matches the provider's identifier exactly, and review each ability against the provider's documentation. Declaring an unsupported ability, such as `tools` on a model without tool support, is the most common cause of failed requests.
##### My models don't appear in the model picker after saving
Work through these in order:
1. Open **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** and check for an **Invalid providers.yaml** badge next to Providers Config. Hover over it to see the parse error.
2. Make sure the file is named exactly `providers.yaml`, not `providers.template.yaml`, and sits in the `ai` folder that **Reveal Providers Config** opens.
3. Make sure each provider has at least one model with both an `id` and a `name`. Providers without valid models are skipped silently.
4. Check that the Custom Providers section doesn't say **Managed by your organization**. An organization configuration replaces your local file.
5. Confirm your Raycast Pro subscription is active, since custom models are Pro-only.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command so we can investigate (see [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) for more ways to get in touch):
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. **Your `providers.yaml` contents**, with every value under `api_keys` replaced by `REDACTED`. Never share your real API keys.
3. The **error text** from the **Invalid providers.yaml** badge tooltip, if one is shown.
4. The **model** you picked and the **AI feature** you used when the request failed.
5. Whether a **direct request to the provider works** outside Raycast, for example with `curl` against the same `base_url` and model.
6. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
### Bring Your Own Key
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key
Description: Connect your own API key from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, or OpenRouter to use those models across Raycast's AI features, paying the provider directly for what you use.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) lets you connect your own API key from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, or OpenRouter and use it across Raycast's AI features. If you already have credits with a provider, you can utilize them in Raycast, with usage bound only by what your key allows rather than Raycast AI limits. You'll be responsible for the API costs incurred at the provider's standard rates.
You can add one API key per provider from [Anthropic](https://console.anthropic.com/settings/keys), [Google](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey), [OpenAI](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys), and [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/settings/keys). Be sure to monitor the provider's API console to prevent costly surprises when using your own key. For Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, only [AI models available in Raycast AI](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai/models) will be available as models through BYOK. An OpenRouter key unlocks OpenRouter's full model catalog instead.
> [!NOTE]
> If using BYOK with Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI, requests are processed through our servers in order to unify the model APIs, integrate fallback behaviors, and do some final prompt management. OpenRouter is the exception: requests made with your OpenRouter key go directly to OpenRouter's servers. Learn more about BYOK and Privacy on the [Raycast AI Privacy & Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security) page.
#### Add a Key
**Desktop**
1. Open **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**.
2. In the API Keys section, click **Plus icon** to add your key.
3. Select your provider from the dropdown.
4. Paste your key into the API Key field, then click **Verify**. Raycast will check the key with the provider to ensure it can be used.
5. Once verified, click **Save**. The key is stored securely and the provider appears in your API Key list.
If you don't yet have a key, the **Manage in [Provider] Console** button opens the provider's key console page in your browser.
**iOS**
1. In the top right, tap your **Account Avatar -> AI -> Custom API Keys**.
2. Select your provider from the list.
3. Paste your key into the API Key field, then tap ** Verify**. Raycast will check the key with the provider to ensure it can be used.
4. Once verified, tap **the back icon** to save.
If you don't yet have a key, the **Manage in [Provider] Console** button opens the provider's key console page in the browser.
#### Managing & Deleting Keys
**Desktop**
Each configured provider entry in the API Keys list will show:
- A **toggle** to enable or disable the key without deleting it. Disabled keys won't be used for any AI request.
- **Trash button** Remove the key entirely.
- **NE Arrow button** Shortcut to the provider's console for rotating or revoking the key on their side.
When an API key is active, a small key icon appears next to that provider's model names in Raycast AI to show that the request will use your provided API key.
**iOS**
**Custom API Keys** will show all available providers you can use.
- **Key icon** Shows next to providers you have connected an API key with.
- Tap any active providers and tap ** Remove** to delete the API key.
When an API key is active, a small key icon appears next to that provider's model names in the AI Chat model picker to show that the request will use your provided API key.
#### FAQ
##### My key fails to verify when adding to Raycast
Double-check the key is pasted in full with no surrounding whitespace, and confirm it's active in the provider's console. If you've just created the key, give the provider a moment to propagate it on their end.
##### I can't see a model I want to use with BYOK in the model picker
Raycast is responsible for the list of AI models available for AI features inside the app. If a brand-new model isn't showing, we may still be working on adding it on our side. The [Raycast AI Models](https://www.raycast.com/core-features/ai/models) page lists all models available from each provider in Raycast AI. If the model is available on [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/models), connecting an OpenRouter API key gives you access to it without waiting on us.
##### My requests are using Raycast AI even though I've added my own key
Make sure the key has been enabled in API Keys under **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** on desktop or **Account Avatar -> AI -> Custom API Keys** on iOS, then re-pick the model where you wish to use it in Raycast.
##### I want to stop using BYOK in Raycast
You can either toggle the API key off in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** to keep the key available for later, or click the **Trash button** icon to remove it entirely. On iOS, you can only remove the key in the **Custom API Keys** settings.
### Bring Your Own Subscription
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription
Description: Connect a Claude or ChatGPT subscription to Raycast AI through Claude Code or Codex CLI, then use those models across Raycast's AI features.
Platforms: Mac, Windows
Tier: Pro Exclusive
Status: New
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Bring Your Own Subscription lets you use your Claude or ChatGPT subscription inside Raycast. Sign in using the provider's command line tool, and the models included in your plan show up in Raycast's model picker alongside everything else. Usage counts towards that subscription, not your Raycast AI credits.
> [!NOTE]
> Your prompts go straight from the provider's tool on your machine to Anthropic or OpenAI, never through Raycast's servers. Raycast never sees or stores your Claude or ChatGPT credentials.
#### Get Started
You'll need a paid Raycast plan, plus an active Claude or ChatGPT subscription. Accounts that only have API access don't qualify; use [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key) for those instead.
1. Open **Settings → AI → Models & Providers**.
2. Scroll to **Local AI Subscriptions** section and turn on **Enable Local AI Subscriptions**.
3. Install the provider's command line tool (if not installed already):
- **Claude**: Install [Claude Code](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview).
- **ChatGPT**: Install the [Codex CLI](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/codex/cli).
4. Sign in to the tool from Terminal:
- **Claude**: Run `claude`, then enter `/login`.
- **ChatGPT**: Run `codex login` and sign in with your ChatGPT account.
5. Back in Raycast, check that the **Claude Account** or **ChatGPT Account** row shows your account and plan. If it doesn't, click **Refresh account status**.
You're all set. Open the model picker in AI Chat, Quick AI, or an AI Command and choose a model from the **Claude Subscription** or **ChatGPT Subscription** section.
> [!NOTE]
> Raycast finds `claude` and `codex` in the usual places: your `PATH`, Homebrew, npm's global folder, and the Codex or ChatGPT desktop apps. If you installed a tool somewhere else, add it to your `PATH` and restart Raycast.
#### Using Subscription Models
Subscription models work in [AI Chat](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-chat), [Quick AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/quick-ai), and [AI Commands](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands), and for [Automations](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations). Raycast reads the list of models available to your account, and the list updates when the provider adds models.
Subscription models carry a small Claude or OpenAI badge in the picker and in the selected model text under the chat title so you can tell them apart from Raycast AI models.
Most of what you're used to carries over:
- **Attachments**: Send images and files as you normally would.
- **Reasoning**: Models that support it show a **Reasoning Effort** option in the picker.
- **Prompt suggestions**: With a Claude subscription model selected, an empty composer in AI Chat or Quick AI shows Claude's suggested next prompt as the placeholder. Press `Tab` or `→` to insert it.
- **Tools**: AI Extensions, MCP servers, and Skills all work. Raycast stays the tool host, so your tool permissions apply as usual.
- **Web search**: Runs through the provider's own search rather than Raycast's.
> [!NOTE]
> A few tools that Raycast runs on its own servers, such as image generation, still use a Raycast AI model for that step and count against your [AI credits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits). The conversation itself stays on your subscription.
#### Usage Limits
Your subscription usage limits are determined by the provider, not Raycast. Claude and ChatGPT both have rolling limits, typically a five-hour window and a weekly cap, that are shared with anything else you use the subscription for. When you hit one, Raycast tells you which limit you've reached and when it resets, and the chat pauses until then.
Raycast doesn't switch you to Raycast AI credits automatically. Wait for the limit to reset, or change the chat's model to a Raycast AI model or a different provider and continue. Open **Settings → Account** if you want to check your AI credit balance first.
#### Manage Subscriptions
The **Local AI Subscriptions** section in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers** shows the status of each account in the **Claude Account** and **ChatGPT Account** rows: connected with your plan title, signed out, or not installed.
- **Pause everything** by turning off **Enable Local AI Subscriptions**. Subscription models disappear from the picker, and any chat using one will ask you to pick another model. Turn it back on and they return; you won't need to sign in again.
- **Switch accounts or sign out** using the provider's own tool: run `claude` and enter `/logout`, or run `codex logout`. Raycast picks up the change the next time it checks the account. After you sign out, subscription models stay in the picker but appear muted, and a chat using one shows a notice above the composer with **Check Connection** and **Provider Settings** buttons.
- **Refresh** with **Refresh account status** if you've just signed in or changed plan and Raycast hasn't noticed.
#### FAQ
##### Which Claude and ChatGPT plans work?
Any Claude or ChatGPT subscription that lets you sign in to Claude Code or the Codex CLI. Raycast checks that the account is a subscription rather than API-only access, and reads the models it includes. If your plan changes, refresh the account in Settings and the model list updates.
##### How is this different from Bring Your Own Key?
[Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key) uses an API key and bills you per token at the provider's API rates, with requests routed through Raycast's servers. Bring Your Own Subscription uses your flat-rate consumer subscription, runs through the provider's tool on your computer, and is bound by that subscription's limits. If you already pay for Claude or ChatGPT, subscriptions are usually the cheaper option.
##### Do subscription models use my Raycast AI credits?
Not for the conversation itself. The exception is tools that Raycast has to run on its own servers, such as image generation, which use a Raycast AI model for that single step. Everything else counts towards your Claude or ChatGPT plan.
##### Do I need to set this up on each computer?
Yes. The connection depends on the provider's tool being installed and signed in on that machine, so repeat the setup on each Mac or PC. Subscription models synced from another device show as unavailable until you do.
##### Can I use subscription models on iOS?
Bring Your Own Subscription is only available on Mac and Windows, where the provider's tool runs. Subscription models can't run directly on your iPhone or iPad.
#### Troubleshooting
##### Settings says Claude Code or Codex isn't installed, but I have it
Raycast may not be able to see where the tool lives. Confirm it runs from a fresh Terminal window with `claude --version` or `codex --version`, then restart Raycast so it picks up your current `PATH`. If you installed it in an unusual location, add that folder to your `PATH`.
Raycast checks these locations:
- **Mac**: your shell's `PATH`, Homebrew, npm's global folder, `~/.local/bin`, and the copy of Codex bundled inside Codex.app or ChatGPT.app in your Applications folder.
- **Windows**: your `PATH`, the app's folder under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs`, and Codex Desktop's install under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI\Codex\bin`.
##### Raycast says the tool is installed but I need to sign in
Sign in from Terminal: run `claude` then `/login` for Claude, or `codex login` for ChatGPT. Make sure you sign in with your subscription account rather than an API key. Then click **Refresh account status** in Settings.
##### "This account doesn't include a supported subscription"
The signed-in account has API access but no consumer subscription, or Codex is signed in with an API key. Sign out and back in with the account that holds your Claude or ChatGPT plan. For API-only accounts, use [Bring Your Own Key](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-key) instead.
##### "This version is incompatible with Raycast's local subscription protocol"
Your copy of Claude Code or the Codex CLI is too old or too new for the version of Raycast you're running. Raycast needs Claude Code 2.1.245 or newer, or Codex CLI 0.142.5 or newer. Update the tool with the provider's instructions, make sure Raycast is up to date, then refresh the account in Settings.
##### A chat shows "Sign in to Claude" or "Sign in to ChatGPT"
Your sign-in with the provider has expired or been revoked. Choose **Provider Settings**, sign in again from Terminal, then click **Check Connection** in the notice above the composer or resume the chat.
##### Still having issues?
If none of the above resolves it, gather the following and send it to us via the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command so we can investigate (see [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) for more ways to get in touch):
1. **Your OS version** and **Raycast version** (found in **Settings → About**).
2. Which provider you're connecting, and the output of `claude --version` or `codex --version`.
3. The **status message** shown under the account in **Settings → AI → Models & Providers → Local AI Subscriptions**.
4. The **model** you selected and the **AI feature** you used when the problem occurred.
5. **Your Raycast logs**: use the built-in **Copy Raycast Logs** command to copy your latest log files to the clipboard, or **Reveal Raycast Logs** to open your log folder.
### Raycast AI Privacy & Security
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security
Description: Discover how Raycast AI keeps your data private, safe, and secure, with no prompt training, encrypted processing, opt-in feedback, and full user control.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
At Raycast, we prioritize your privacy and security in all our AI features. With this document, we aim to provide clarity and transparency about how AI works in Raycast and our commitment to privacy and security.
- [Terms of Service](https://www.raycast.com/terms-of-service)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.raycast.com/privacy)
#### Key Principles
You should know when and how AI is used and activated in Raycast. You should always be in control of your interaction with AI and have the ability to opt-out at any time. We will be transparent and open about how your data and AI inputs/outputs are used. We believe consent is crucial and aim to provide the best, most transparent AI user experience.
#### How Raycast AI Works
Raycast AI only runs when you explicitly trigger it; meaning, you ask AI a question, run an AI command, or otherwise interact with AI directly. There are two opt-in exceptions: Emoji Search, which requires your consent, and [Automations](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/automations), which run a prompt you wrote on a schedule you set.
Raycast AI does not monitor your activity. An automation runs only the prompt you gave it, at the times you chose, and nothing else; you can disable or delete it at any time. Your data is not used to train AI models. If you choose to send feedback, your data may be used to improve our AI system; this is strictly opt-in and you will be prompted to consent before data is sent.
#### About Raycast AI
##### Data Collection & Usage
- Your AI interactions are not recorded
- We do not collect or store sensitive information
- We do not log or retain any user prompts. We do store some basic metadata, such as the number of completion tokens, for operational purposes only.
- Cloud Sync: when enabled, the client sends content such as Snippets, AI Chats, etc. to our backend. We store this information encrypted in our databases.
- AI attachments: Image attachments are securely uploaded to our servers for AI processing, enabling you to access them later. If you delete a message or chat that includes attachments, those attachments will be deleted from the server.
- AI Feedback: If you choose to report feedback, the full chat thread — including AI Extension tool calls and results — will be sent to us. This is **entirely opt-in** and you must give explicit consent before any data is sent. **Please be mindful of any sensitive data the thread might contain**. We may use this information to improve the reliability of our AI System.
- All models provided by Raycast AI are Zero Data Retention (ZDR). Providers do not keep your prompts or outputs after the request completes. Two exceptions apply:
- **Mistral AI**: Retains data for a rolling 30-day window to monitor abuse. Data is deleted after that window
- **xAI**: Retains data for 30 days before automatic deletion
##### AI Personalization & Memory
When enabled, Raycast AI can build a memory summary from your conversations to personalize future responses. Memory is stored locally and encrypted at rest and in transit when synced via Cloud Sync. It follows the same privacy and security standards as all AI features. Your data is never used to train models. You can view, edit, or delete your memory at any time. You can learn more on the [Personalization](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/personalization) page.
##### Dictation
[Dictation](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation) is designed to be private by default. Your voice is never used to train AI models, and we don't store your audio or transcriptions on our servers.
- Your audio is sent to our speech‑to‑text partner solely to produce a transcription, and isn't retained on Raycast servers after the request completes. Our partners are contractually prohibited from using it to train their models.
- Every transcription is saved to your local app's database on your device, not in our cloud, so you can find and reuse it later. You can delete individual transcriptions or wipe the entire history at any time in the **Dictation History** command.
- Your dictation statistics are computed on‑device from your local history and are never sent to Raycast as analytics or telemetry.
- If App Context is enabled, nearby text and app details are used only for that single transcription request and discarded as soon as the transcription is complete. Nothing is stored.
#### AI Processing & Partners
- Raycast AI features are powered by AI model providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, and more (see the complete list of [AI providers we use and their Terms below](#ai-providers-terms))
- Raycast-provided model requests use secure server infrastructure to protect our API keys
- When using Raycast-provided models, [our agreements with providers](https://www.raycast.com/terms-of-service#viii-generative-ai) prohibit them from using any AI interactions to train their models. When you use our AI features, we:
- Forward your input to the AI provider's API
- Exclude any personal information when doing so
- Only share the minimum necessary data
- BYOK (Bring Your Own Key):
- Anthropic, Google, OpenAI: Requests are processed through our servers in order to unify the model APIs, integrate fallback behaviors, and do some final prompt management. This helps to maintain the quality and consistency of output when using your own API key vs. ours.
- OpenRouter: Requests are routed directly from your device to OpenRouter's servers.
- Custom API keys are stored locally on the user’s computer, not in our backend
- When using BYOK, you maintain the contractual relationship with the AI provider. Please consult their privacy policies and terms for more details.
- AI input and output is encrypted during transmission
##### Bring Your Own AI Exceptions
When you supply the model yourself, your prompts don't go through Raycast's servers and Raycast's provider agreements above don't apply. Instead, the terms and privacy settings of the provider you connected govern how your data is handled. In every case, your chat history is still stored by Raycast, and synced if you have Cloud Sync enabled, the same as any other chat.
- **Connected Subscriptions**: With [Bring Your Own Subscription](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/bring-your-own-subscription), your prompts go from Raycast to Claude Code or the Codex CLI on your computer, and from there directly to Anthropic or OpenAI. Raycast never sees or stores your provider credentials; those stay with the provider's tool.
- **Custom Providers**: With [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/custom-providers), requests go directly from your device to the endpoint you configured. Your API keys live in the `providers.yaml` file on your device and are never sent to Raycast. If the endpoint is a gateway or team proxy, its operator's policies apply too.
- **Local Models**: With [Local Models](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/local-models), requests go from Raycast to the Ollama server on your machine, or to a remote Ollama host you configured. Nothing is sent to Raycast or to any third party.
##### Projects and Automations
A [Project](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/projects)'s instructions and memory are only shared with chats inside that project. A project's working directory is stored on the device where you set it and is never synced. Automations are device-local too: the schedule and prompt stay on the device where you created them and don't sync through Cloud Sync. The chats an automation produces are ordinary chats, so they follow your chat history and Cloud Sync settings.
#### User Control & Transparency
- AI features are optional and user-controlled. Users can completely disable AI.
- Before using Raycast AI, you will be prompted to read and accept our Terms of Service if you haven’t accepted them in the past. AI does not run in the background and you must actively consent before AI can be activated. The only thing that runs unattended is an automation you scheduled yourself, and disabling or deleting it stops any future runs.
#### AI Providers Terms
| Provider | Terms of Service |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| OpenAI | [Services Agreement](https://openai.com/policies/services-agreement), [Usage Policies](https://openai.com/policies/usage-policies) |
| Anthropic | [Commercial Terms](https://www.anthropic.com/legal/commercial-terms) |
| Perplexity | [API Terms of Service](https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/legal/perplexity-api-terms-of-service) |
| Groq | [Terms of Use](https://groq.com/terms-of-use) |
| Mistral AI | [Terms](https://legal.mistral.ai/terms) |
| Google Gemini | [Gemini API Terms](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/terms) |
| xAI | [Terms of Service (Enterprise)](https://x.ai/legal/terms-of-service-enterprise) |
| Replicate | [Terms](https://replicate.com/terms) |
| Baseten | [Terms and Conditions](https://www.baseten.co/terms-and-conditions/) |
| Cerebras | [Terms of Service](https://cloud.cerebras.ai/terms) |
#### Open Source Extensions
As a company that believes in the value and importance of open source software, Raycast has a rich and expansive extension ecosystem. Note that third-party extensions may use their own logic for AI. As all extensions are [open source](https://github.com/raycast/extensions), you can refer to an extensions’ README or source code for further information.
---
Raycast continuously review and update its privacy practices to maintain the highest standards of data protection while delivering powerful AI capabilities. If you have questions or suggestions, you can contact us via [privacy@raycast.com](mailto:privacy@raycast.com).
## iOS
### iOS
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ios
Description: Raycast for iOS brings AI, Dictation, Notes, Snippets, and Quicklinks to iPhone and iPad with deep integrations across iOS widgets, Shortcuts, and the keyboard.
Last updated: 06 July 2026
Your productivity powerhouse, now in your pocket. Raycast for iOS brings Raycast AI, Dictation, Notes, Snippets, and Quicklinks to your iPhone and iPad whilst on the go. Deep integration with iOS features including widgets, shortcuts, and a keyboard means Raycast works naturally across your apps too.
> [!TIP]
> Add Raycast shortcuts for AI Chat, Calculator, and Notes to your Home Screen for quick access. Learn more on [Ray.so](https://www.ray.so/ios-icons).
- [AI](https://manual.raycast.com/ai): Raycast AI, whenever and wherever you need it
- [Notes](https://manual.raycast.com/notes): Notes that live in Raycast, on every device
- [Quicklinks](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks): Open your favorite sites in a single tap
- [Snippets](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets): Saved text, ready whenever you need it
- [Keyboard](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/keyboard): Bring Raycast power to every text field
- [Widgets & Controls](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/widgets-and-controls): Quick access to Raycast from your home screen
- [Apple Shortcuts](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/apple-shortcuts): Trigger Raycast actions from the Shortcuts app
- [Share Extension](https://manual.raycast.com/ios/share-extension): Share links, text, and files directly into Raycast
### Keyboard
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ios/keyboard
Description: Add Raycast as a keyboard on iOS to access AI Commands, Dictation, Snippets, and Quicklinks in any app you type in as a secondary keyboard.
Platforms: iOS
Last updated: 06 July 2026
The Raycast Custom Keyboard on iOS gives you direct access to your favorite Raycast features across every app on your phone.
> [!NOTE]
> The custom keyboard is designed as a _secondary_ keyboard. It doesn't replace your everyday typing keyboard — instead you'll use the Globe key icon in the bottom left to switch to Raycast when you need to access your content.
#### Setup
You can set up the custom keyboard by following the onboarding flow in Settings. You'll be guided and redirected to System Settings to toggle the keyboard and **Allow Full Access**. Enabling **Allow Full Access** is essential to the keyboard's functionality.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/install.mp4)
#### Features
The custom keyboard is packed with your favorite Raycast iOS features.
##### AI & AI Commands
You can run AI Commands on content in the active text field. By default, it uses the full content of the input. However, you can also select specific text if you only want to run a command on a portion of the input.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/fixspell.mp4)
##### Dictation
Tap Waveform button on the keyboard to dictate into any text field. The first tap opens Raycast to start recording, then maintains a 5-minute background session so subsequent dictations skip the redirect. Format with built-in **Email** and **Notes** styles, or pipe through any custom AI Command.
See the [Dictation page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation) for recording controls, languages, and post-processing.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/dictate.mp4)
##### Quicklinks
Effortlessly share your Quicklinks with others from the keyboard. Dynamic placeholders also work for more advanced links.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/quicklink.mp4)
##### Snippets
Breeze through your emails, or access your library of symbols. Dynamic placeholders also work here.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/snippet.mp4)
##### Recents
The first thing you'll see when switching to the Raycast keyboard is a tile of recent items. This gives you quick access to the commands and content you use most frequently.
#### Settings & Customization
There's a few settings and options to configure for the custom keyboard. All accessible through **Settings → Keyboard**.
##### AI Model
For the Ask AI command, you can select the AI model to be used.
##### Languages
You can configure which languages the typing keyboard supports — used when typing in Search, Ask AI, or Dynamic Placeholders.
To switch language, long-press the bottom right of the space bar.
[Watch video](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/videos/app/ios/keyboard/LanguageSwitch.mp4)
##### Dictation Insert
By default, the dictation output is added to the input automatically — the most efficient workflow. If you'd prefer a review step before inserting the output, you can change this setting.
##### Recording Disabling
By default, a dictation session is set up when you first use dictation. It lasts 5 minutes, allowing you to start more quickly without redirecting to the main app. You can change this to disable immediately — meaning each time you use dictation you'll be redirected to the main app to start the recording.
##### Switch to Next Keyboard
This setting is disabled by default. When enabled, if you dismiss the keyboard, then on reactivation you'll be switched back to the next keyboard. So if you have your primary keyboard alongside Raycast, dismissing while Raycast is active will switch you back to your primary keyboard.
#### Discover More Tips
Pedro recorded a walkthrough video for the keyboard, sharing tips and ideas on how to best use Raycast Keyboard on iOS.
[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lta7_MCTzxo)
### Widgets & Controls
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ios/widgets-and-controls
Description: Put Raycast on your home screen, lock screen, and Control Center with widgets and controls — instant access to AI, voice, and custom commands.
Platforms: iOS
Last updated: 28 April 2026
Customize your iPhone with Raycast widgets and controls so your most-used commands are always within reach — on the home screen, lock screen, and Control Center.
#### Widgets
##### Home Screen
Customize your home screen with the AI Widget — quickly trigger the camera, voice, or Ask AI — or use the Favorites widget to surface your most-used commands.
###### Adding a Widget
1. On your home screen, hold down until your apps begin to wiggle.
2. Tap the **+** in the top left.
3. Search for **Raycast**.
4. Tap Raycast and browse the widgets.
##### Lock Screen
Customize the lock screen with a set of actions, like Open Voice, Create Note, Snippets, and more.
###### Adding a Widget
1. Lock your device.
2. Long-press the screen.
3. Tap **Customize**.
4. Tap **Lock Screen**.
5. Tap **Add Widgets**.
6. Search for **Raycast**.
7. Tap or drag a widget.
8. Dismiss the sheet.
9. Tap **Done** in the top right.
#### Controls
Controls are much like widgets or shortcuts, giving you quick access to frequently used actions. Controls live on your Lock Screen (replacing the camera and torch buttons in the bottom corners) or in Control Center (swipe from the top right).
You can add a control to start a new AI Chat, Open Camera Attachment, or Create Note.
##### Add to Lock Screen
To replace the Torch or Camera control on your lock screen:
1. Lock your device.
2. Long-press the screen.
3. Tap **Customize**.
4. Select **Lock Screen**.
5. Tap minus on the existing control to remove it.
6. Tap **+** to add a control.
7. Search for **Raycast**.
8. Select your control (Ask AI, Open Camera, Open Voice, etc.).
9. Tap **Done** (top right) to save.
##### Add to Control Center
To add a control to Control Center:
1. Swipe down from the top right.
2. Tap the **+** button (top left).
3. Tap **Add a Control** (bottom).
4. Search for **Raycast**.
5. Select your control (Ask AI, Open Camera, Open Voice, etc.).
6. Drag a corner to resize, or drag to rearrange.
7. Tap an edge to exit edit mode and return to Control Center.
### Apple Shortcuts
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ios/apple-shortcuts
Description: Connect Raycast to Apple Shortcuts on iOS. Run Ask AI, AI Commands, and Open Voice from Spotlight, custom shortcuts, or your iPhone's Action Button.
Platforms: iOS
Last updated: 28 April 2026
Enhance your experience and access Raycast across iOS without switching context with our set of Apple Shortcuts. Perform actions quickly outside of the Raycast app or use them to automate repetitive tasks.
#### Accessing Default Actions
You can access Ask AI, AI Commands and Open Voice shortcut actions through the Shortcuts app, or by searching in Spotlight Search.
#### Building Custom Shortcuts
You can go one step further and integrate one of our many actions into a shortcut — like using Ask AI to fill out a Linear issue from a brief description.
#### Action Button
If your iPhone has an Action Button, you can choose which function you want it to perform when you press it. Raycast Shortcuts can be triggered straight from the Action Button — like Ask AI or opening a specific Raycast Note.
##### Setting an Action Button Action
1. Open Settings and search for **Action Button**.
2. Swipe until you see the **Shortcut** option.
3. Tap the button to select a Shortcut.
4. Search for **Raycast**.
5. Select one of the built-in actions or any custom shortcut that uses Raycast.
### Share Extension
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/ios/share-extension
Description: Run Raycast AI Commands on any text in iOS via the Share Extension — rewrite, translate, summarize, or trigger a custom command from any app.
Platforms: iOS
Last updated: 06 July 2026
The Share Extension on iOS gives you access to your AI Commands from almost any app.
#### Running AI Commands
To run an AI Command, select text and swipe across the selection menu until you find **Share**. Look for the Raycast app to initiate the share extension. You should see your list of built-in and custom AI Commands which you can tap to run.
#### Add to Favorites
You may wish to add Raycast to your favorites — this means it'll always appear in the first set of apps in the share sheet, making it easier to access and run AI Commands.
## Account
### Account Management
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/account-management
Description: Discover how to manage your entire Raycast account in one place. Update account settings, polish your profile, control billing, and see your organization in Teams.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
You can control and manage your Raycast account from the [Raycast website](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account). Sign in to edit your account details, update your billing information, and review the organizations you belong to.
#### Account
- **Developer Credits**: Credits are awarded for creating and contributing to [Extensions](https://manual.raycast.com/extensions/). Details on redeeming credits are coming soon.
- **View Billing Info**: View and edit your subscription billing information. Learn more on [Billing](https://manual.raycast.com/billing).
##### Account Details
- **Email**: Change the email address associated with your Raycast account. You will be asked to verify the change via a confirmation email, and two-factor authentication if enabled, before it's updated.
- **Change Password**: Change your Raycast account password. You will be asked to verify your account with two-factor authentication before the change takes effect.
- **Two-Factor Authentication**: Enable or disable an additional layer of security on your account when signing in, or when taking sensitive actions.
- **Delete Account**: Delete your Raycast account permanently.
##### Auth Providers
Add **Google**, **GitHub**, or **Apple** accounts to your Raycast account using the ** Add Account** button and use them as an authentication provider to sign in. You can connect multiple accounts under one auth provider, or remove them using the **Remove** button next to the account.
##### Extension Issues
Select whether you would like to receive a weekly email summary of issues for extensions you maintain on the [Store](https://manual.raycast.com/extensions#store). You can view and resolve the issues across all of your extensions on the [Extension Issues](https://www.raycast.com/extension-issues) portal.
#### Profile
Customize how your public profile appears on the Raycast website. Some information is also visible inside Raycast when browsing Extensions on the Store. Set your **avatar**, **full name**, **username**, **location**, **website**, **Twitter username**, **GitHub** handle, and **bio**.
Prefer to keep things private? Enable **Make Profile Private** and your profile won't be publicly accessible or appear in search results. Your email address is never shown publicly on the Raycast website or in the app.
#### Organization
When you're part of an organization in Raycast, you can find and manage related organization settings on this page.
- **View Billing Info** and **Change Billing Interval**: View and edit your organization billing information.
- **Cancel Plan**: Cancel your paid Raycast Teams subscription. See [Billing](https://manual.raycast.com/billing) for current plans and subscription management.
##### Members
View the full list of members added to an organization, including their **full name**, **email address**, **role**, and their current **2FA** status.
- **Copy Invite Link**: Invite members to an organization from an invite link.
- **Reset Invite Link**: Rotate your invite link to a new one and invalidate the previous invite link.
- **Export Members**: Export a full list of an organization's members, including email address, handle, full name, role, and date added.
##### Create an Organization
Not yet in an organization? You can create an organization by selecting **Create an Organization**, then uploading an **organization avatar** and setting your **organization name** and **handle**.
### Billing
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/billing
Description: Manage your billing settings, payment methods, and subscription options for Raycast in one place.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
Raycast is free to use, with paid plans that unlock more powerful features and AI across macOS, Windows, and iOS. One subscription covers all three platforms. Just sign in with the same Raycast account on each device. You don’t need separate accounts to use Raycast on different platforms.
#### Plans
##### Raycast Free
Raycast Free includes core features such as Clipboard History, Quicklinks, Calculator, Snippets, Emoji Picker, and Window Management, alongside five Raycast Notes and access to Raycast for iOS. You can also browse thousands of extensions, create extensions, and use Raycast’s developer tooling.
> [!NOTE]
> Unlock Raycast AI with [Raycast Pro](https://raycast.com/pro). AI features aren’t included in Raycast Free.
##### Raycast Pro, Pro+, Max
Paid plans add Raycast AI to everything in Free: fast and powerful models from all leading providers, monthly credits to use them, and context from your files, screen, memory, and Profile. Generate images, connect your tools, or bring your own AI. You also get Cloud Sync, Dictation, Translator, unlimited Notes and Clipboard History, Custom Window Management, and Custom Themes.
| Individual plan | Monthly | Yearly | Monthly AI credits | AI models |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- |
| Raycast Pro | $10 | $96 | 500 | Fast and powerful models |
| Raycast Pro+ | $20 | $192 | 3,000 | All models, including top-tier |
| Raycast Max | $50 | $480 | 7,500 | All models, including top-tier |
Pro includes fast and powerful models from all leading providers. Pro+ and Max unlock every model, including top-tier models for your most demanding tasks.
Unused monthly credits roll over for one extra billing cycle, and you can learn the full details on [Usage Limits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits). For the latest prices and billing options, head to [raycast.com/pricing](https://raycast.com/pricing).
##### Change to Subscription Tiers
The Advanced AI add-on no longer exists. It has been replaced by **Raycast Pro+**, a standalone plan, and it can no longer be added to a Pro subscription.
- Existing Raycast Pro subscriptions stay on Pro and receive monthly credits.
- If you previously subscribed to Pro with the Advanced AI add-on, your subscription moves to **Raycast Pro+** automatically.
- **Raycast Max** is a new plan.
To make the transition easier, existing subscribers receive double credits. On September 10, 2026, existing subscribers receive two full monthly credit packs at once, and these credits expire after 30 days.
Unlike the add-on, which could be added or removed at any point during a subscription, Pro+ follows the same rules as every other plan: downgrades and cancellations take effect at your next billing renewal date.
##### Raycast for Teams Free
Raycast for Teams Free includes everything in Raycast Free for every member, plus a Private Store and Shared Commands, Snippets, and Quicklinks: up to 5 commands and up to 30 Snippets and Quicklinks. Teams Free isn't a trial and doesn't expire, so you can use it for as long as you want.
> [!NOTE]
> Unlock Raycast AI for your whole team with [Raycast for Teams Pro](https://raycast.com/teams). AI features aren’t included in Teams Free.
##### Raycast for Teams Pro, Pro+, Max
Paid Teams plans give every member everything in the matching individual plan: Raycast AI with the same models, monthly credits, and bring your own AI. You also get unlimited Shared Commands, Snippets, and Quicklinks alongside the Private Store.
| Teams plan | Monthly per member | Yearly per member | Monthly AI credits per member | AI models |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- |
| Teams Pro | $15 | $144 | 500 | Fast and powerful models |
| Teams Pro+ | $25 | $240 | 3,000 | All models, including top-tier |
| Teams Max | $65 | $624 | 7,500 | All models, including top-tier |
Credits are per member and aren't pooled across the team. There's no minimum or maximum number of seats. Add members whenever you need to, and pay per user, per month. For the latest prices and billing options, head to [raycast.com/pricing](https://raycast.com/pricing).
If your plan is provided by an organization, **Settings → Account** identifies the team managing it. Members with billing permission can choose **Manage Team Plan**. Your account also shows your credit balance and the option to purchase a top-up.
##### Raycast for Enterprise
Enterprise runs on dedicated enterprise terms and SLAs that replace the standard Terms of Service, with custom pricing billed annually. It is not available to purchase from the website. To get started, head to [raycast.com/enterprise](https://www.raycast.com/enterprise) or contact us at [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com).
#### Create an account
You can create your Raycast account from our website at [raycast.com](https://www.raycast.com/).
Alternatively, if using the iOS version of Raycast, you can create a new account when launching the app for the first time. Simply tap **Create Account** on the splash screen that appears on first launch or when the app is logged out.
#### Start a new subscription
You can either create an account first or start a new subscription right away. Head to the [Pricing](https://www.raycast.com/pricing) section of our website and choose a subscription and billing interval.
If you're using the iOS app, you can sign up for a subscription whilst creating your account, or log in to your account and open Settings. Either tap **Try Free** at the top of the Settings page to begin a 7-day free trial, which is available for the Pro plan only, or tap **Subscription** to subscribe to any plan directly. Pro+ and Max don't include a trial and start billing right away.
#### How you are billed
Billing works identically whether you are on a Raycast Individuals plan or a Teams plan. Raycast for Enterprise has custom pricing and is billed annually. Contact us directly at [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com) to learn more.
##### Paid Plans
All paid plans, whether Pro, Pro+, or Max, can be billed either Monthly or Yearly. You choose your billing cycle at checkout.
###### Trial period
Free trials apply to the Pro plan only. New users begin a 7-day trial immediately when they create an account, and existing v1 users begin theirs when they move to Raycast v2. If you already have a paid subscription, it carries over as is, with no new trial. If you started a Pro subscription at checkout, you will automatically be billed when the trial ends, depending on the billing cycle chosen. To avoid being charged, you can cancel before the trial period ends via your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account).
Each user account is entitled to one free trial. If you end your subscription and resubscribe later, your new subscription will begin billing immediately with no new trial period.
The free trial includes 500 AI credits and access to the models available on the Pro plan. Top-tier models in Pro+ and Max are not part of the trial. Trial credits expire 7 days after they're granted, and if you upgrade during your trial, any remaining trial credits are used before your monthly plan credits.
###### Monthly billing
Monthly subscriptions to Pro, Pro+, or Max bill on the day you subscribe, then on the same date each month. For the Pro plan, which comes with a 7-day free trial, billing starts on the day the trial ends. Start a Pro trial on 3rd March, for example, and you'll be billed on 10th March, 10th April, and so on until you cancel.
###### Yearly billing
Yearly subscriptions to Pro, Pro+, or Max bill on the day you subscribe, then on the same date each year. For the Pro plan, which comes with a 7-day free trial, billing starts on the day the trial ends. If your Pro trial ends on 14th March 2026, for example, you'll be billed on 14th March 2027, 14th March 2028, and so on until you cancel.
> [!NOTE]
> Going yearly saves you money. Head to [raycast.com/pricing](https://raycast.com/pricing) to see the latest offers.
###### Auto-renewal
Both Monthly and Yearly subscriptions automatically renew. You'll be billed at the next billing date unless you cancel before.
###### Cancelling your subscription
You can end your subscription at any time from your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account). This will end your auto-renewal. You'll continue to receive your plan's benefits right up until your renewal date and will then revert to a Free account.
###### Changing plans
You can upgrade or downgrade between Pro, Pro+, and Max at any time from your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account). Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at your next billing renewal date, and you keep your current plan's benefits until then.
##### Top-Up Credits
You can purchase additional AI credits at any time from **Top Up** in **Settings → Account**. Top-up credits expire 12 months after purchase. Credits are used in order of expiry date, so the credits that expire first are spent first. This usually means monthly credits are used before top-up credits. Note that using credits requires an active paid subscription. Learn more about credits on [Usage Limits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits#top-up-credits).
#### Manage your subscription
##### Subscriptions from Raycast.com
Head to your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account). From here, you'll be able to:
- Review available plan changes.
- Change your billing cycle from Monthly to Yearly.
- View and update your billing card/method.
- View your invoices.
- Cancel your subscription.
Please note, you cannot make changes to a subscription if you have an invoice that is currently open.
##### Subscriptions from the iOS app
Open the Raycast app, then head into Settings (the icon on the top right of the screen, usually your initials or profile photo). Tap **Subscription**, then **Manage Subscription**. This will take you to the App Store, where you'll be able to change your plan, your billing cycle, or cancel your subscription.
Alternatively, open the iOS App Store, tap Settings (top-right icon), then tap **Subscriptions**.
> [!WARNING]
> If you created a subscription on iOS, you must manage it via your iOS device. We cannot cancel or
> make changes to subscriptions created via the iOS App Store.
#### Frequently Asked Questions
##### Plans & Accounts
##### Do I need a subscription to use Raycast?
No, our Free plan is totally free, forever!
##### Why is Raycast free for personal use?
We think of Raycast as a productivity layer that everybody should use to get work done faster. To make it accessible, we don't charge for the individual plan. The plan covers all built-in extensions, such as Clipboard History, Calendar or Window Management, and provides access to all public extensions built by our community.
##### Do I need separate accounts to use Raycast on Mac, Windows and iOS?
No, you only need one Raycast account to access the same features on each platform that account is logged into.
##### Can I get a paid plan without AI?
No, all paid plans include AI. However, you can turn off AI completely in Settings, which will disable all AI features.
##### What happened to the Advanced AI add-on?
Advanced AI has been replaced by the **Raycast Pro+** plan. If you subscribed to Pro with the Advanced AI add-on, your subscription moves to Pro+ automatically, and existing subscribers receive double credits.
##### AI Credits
##### What is free and paid in Raycast AI?
Raycast AI is included in paid plans. Eligible new accounts can start a free Pro trial with access to Pro models. Top-tier AI models are included with Pro+ and Max, and are not part of the trial.
##### What are AI credits?
AI credits are how AI usage is measured in Raycast. Every paid plan includes a monthly amount of credits, and you can top up if you need more. Each model spends credits at its own rate, so cheaper models go further. Learn more on [Usage Limits](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/usage-limits).
##### Do AI credits expire?
Yes. Trial credits expire after 7 days, monthly plan credits expire after 60 days (so unused credits roll over for one extra billing cycle), and top-up credits expire 12 months after purchase. Cancelling your plan doesn't change when credits expire, but you'll need an active paid subscription to use them.
##### Payments & Billing
##### Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major payment cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, and UnionPay through our billing partner, Stripe. We also accept PayPal.
##### How do I change the payment method for my subscription?
Head to your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account) and click **View Billing Info**. You'll be able to update your payment method there.
##### Which currencies do you support?
We support payments in US dollars (USD).
##### What happens if a payment fails?
We'll send an email to the billing contact if a payment doesn't go through. You can easily update your card details anytime from your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account).
Our system will automatically retry the payment over the next few days. If payment still does not go through, you'll be reverted back to our free plan. Please reach out to us at [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com) if you need any assistance.
##### Something went wrong at checkout?
Please contact us at [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com) and we'll sort it out for you as soon as possible!
##### I paid my overdue invoice but my subscription did not reactivate?
Subscriptions don't automatically renew after paying an overdue invoice. Reach out to us at [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com) and we'll get this reactivated for you.
##### I cannot change my plan
Check your [Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account) for outstanding invoices or a scheduled cancellation. For an organization plan, contact the member who manages your team's billing. If you still need help, contact [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com).
##### Trials & Discounts
##### Do you offer any trials or discounts?
New users automatically begin a free 7-day trial of the Pro plan when they create an account, and existing users receive one when moving to Raycast v2. Trials apply to the Pro plan only.
Raycast offers a 50% Pro plan discount to verified students. You can apply by completing [this form](https://raycastapp.typeform.com/to/hSoIknLJ). Please note that the student discount only applies to the Raycast Pro plan.
##### My student discount code shows invalid at checkout?
Student discount codes can only be used once, so if you previously used one for a Pro subscription that you've since ended, it will not work again if you resubscribe. If you're still a verified student, contact us at [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com) and we can issue you with a new one.
##### Teams & Organizations
##### Can I use the Free and Teams plans in my organization?
Yes, the Raycast Free and Teams plans are available for both personal and organizational use, including in corporate environments. You are not required to upgrade to a paid tier to use the free features for your organization.
##### Is the free Teams plan a trial?
No, the free plan for Teams doesn't expire, and isn't a trial. You can use this plan for as long as you want within your organization, however you are limited to just 30 shared Snippets, 30 shared Quicklinks, and 5 Commands across all of your Extensions.
##### How many seats do I get in a Teams plan?
There is no minimum or maximum amount of seats that your team can have. You add users to your plan when you need to add to your team, and pay per user, per month.
##### Can I have personal Extensions and Team Extensions?
Yes, you can create personal Extensions that are personalized to you and speed up your productivity, and have team Extensions that can be shared around in your organization for everyone to use. Team Extensions will be available in the Store command, behind a filter for your Team. This is where all of your Team Extensions will live, and where you can install them.
##### Can I be part of multiple organizations?
Yes, there is no limit to how many organizations you can be part of. It's important to remember to avoid using multiple email addresses for different organizations, as you need to log in to the app in order to access the shared Snippets, Quicklinks and Extensions.
##### Something Else
##### I've paid for a Pro subscription, but don't seem to have unlimited Clipboard History?
You need to enable unlimited Clipboard History manually. Head into Settings → Clipboard History and change the **Keep history for…** setting to your liking ("unlimited" is one of the options).
##### Who can I contact if I have other issues?
Please reach out to us at [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com).
### Raycast Teams
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/teams
Description: Bring your team together in Raycast with private extensions, shared Snippets and Quicklins, and Pro AI.
Raycast Teams brings your organization together with private extensions, shared Quicklinks, shared Snippets, and team-wide controls to standardize how your team works. Teams makes it easy for everyone to access the same tools and processes, reducing friction and keeping your organization aligned.
> [!NOTE]
> Some Teams features are available in Raycast for Mac v2 and Windows, with full support coming in future updates. Raycast v1 and iOS remain unchanged.
- [Quickstart with Teams](https://manual.raycast.com/v1/getting-started-with-teams): Set up your Raycast organization and invite your team
- [Roles & Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/teams/roles-and-permissions): Control what each member of your team can do
- [Shared Features](https://manual.raycast.com/teams/shared-features): Share Snippets, Quicklinks, AI features, and more across your organization
- [Shared Extensions](https://developers.raycast.com/teams/publish-a-private-extension): Publish private extensions for your organization
### Roles & Permissions
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/teams/roles-and-permissions
Description: Understand the Manager, Billing, and Member roles in Raycast organizations and what each can do, from inviting members to configuring Enterprise controls.
Last updated: 06 July 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Some Teams features are available in Raycast for Mac v2 and Windows, with full support coming in future updates. Raycast v1 and iOS remain unchanged.
Raycast organizations support 3 user roles with different permission levels: **Manager**, **Billing**, and **Member**. Roles are assigned by Managers in the Members section of the Organization Settings page.
Throughout this page, **shared features** refers to Snippets, Quicklinks, AI Commands, Agents, Skills, and Dictation Styles shared with the organization. Private extensions are managed separately through the Private Store.
#### Manager
The Manager role has full administrative control over the organization:
- Access the complete list of organization members, including name, email, role, and **2FA status***
- Create, edit, and delete shared features
- Remove extensions from the Private Store
- Export information about organization members
- View and update billing details
- Edit organization details such as name and avatar
- Manage subscription (upgrade, cancel, reactivate, or change billing interval)
- Invite new members to the organization using an invite link
- Remove members from the organization
- Modify the roles of organization members
- Reset the invite link (if invitations are enabled)
- **Enterprise** Enable or disable enforcement of 2FA
- **Enterprise** Add or remove organization AI API keys (when BYOK is enabled)
- **Enterprise** Configure all Admin Controls, AI Control Center settings, the Extensions Allow-List, and MCP Servers
#### Billing
The Billing role can manage billing and view member information:
- Access the complete list of organization members, including name, email, and role
- Create, edit, and delete shared features
- Remove extensions from the Private Store
- Export information about organization members
- View and update billing details
#### Member
The Member role has basic visibility:
- Access the complete list of organization members, including name, email, and role
- Create, edit, and delete shared features
- Remove extensions from the Private Store
#### Roles & Permissions Comparison
| Permission/Action | Member | Billing | Manager |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|:------:|:-------:|:-------:|
| Access full organization member list: name, email, role, and **2FA status*** | | | Yes |
| Create, edit, and delete shared features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remove extensions from the Private Store | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export organization member information | | Yes | Yes |
| View and update billing details | | Yes | Yes |
| Edit organization details (name, avatar) | | | Yes |
| Manage subscription (upgrade, cancel, reactivate, change billing interval) | | | Yes |
| Invite new members using invite link | | | Yes |
| Remove members from the organization | | | Yes |
| Modify roles of organization members | | | Yes |
| Reset invite link (if invitations enabled) | | | Yes |
| Enable or disable enforcement of 2FA* | | | Yes |
| Add or remove organization AI API keys (when BYOK is enabled)* | | | Yes |
| Configure all Admin Controls, AI Control Center settings, Extensions Allow-List, and MCP Servers* | | | Yes |
* These actions, including accessing 2FA statuses, are only available on Raycast for Enterprise
> [!NOTE]
> Want to learn more about Raycast for Enterprise in your organization? Send us an email at [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com).
### Shared Features
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/teams/shared-features
Description: Share Snippets, Quicklinks, AI Commands, Agents, Skills, Dictation Styles, and private extensions across your organization so everyone works from the same set of tools.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Last updated: 28 July 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Some Teams features are available in Raycast for Mac v2 and Windows, with full support coming in future updates. Raycast v1 and iOS remain unchanged.
Raycast Teams lets you share the building blocks of your workflow — Snippets, Quicklinks, AI Commands, Agents, Skills, Dictation Styles, and private extensions. Publish them once and every member gets the same setup, keeping your team aligned and onboarding fast.
Anything you share lives in your organization alongside your personal items, so members can tell at a glance what's theirs and what comes from the team. Members of any role can create, edit, and delete shared features; see [Roles & Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/teams/roles-and-permissions) for the full breakdown.
#### Snippets
_(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_
Share frequently used text — boilerplate replies, support macros, code stubs — so the whole team expands the same Snippets everywhere with Raycast. See the [Snippets page](https://manual.raycast.com/snippets) for more information.
#### Quicklinks
_(Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS)_
Put the dashboards, docs, and internal tools your team opens every day a single keyword away, with shared Quicklinks everyone reaches the same way. See the [Quicklinks page](https://manual.raycast.com/quicklinks) for more information.
#### AI Commands
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Roll out your best AI prompts — summarize a thread, polish copy, draft a reply — to the whole team, so nobody rewrites the same AI Command twice. See the [AI Commands page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/ai-commands) for more information.
#### Agents
_(Only on Mac)_
Give the whole team a shared cast of Agents — a code reviewer, a support-reply writer, a researcher — each carrying the same instructions, model, and tools every time it's used. See the [Agents page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/agents) for more information.
#### Skills
**Coming Soon**
Skills teach Raycast AI your team's way of working: publish your coding conventions, brand voice, and domain knowledge once, and they load in automatically whenever a chat calls for them. Sharing Skills across your organization isn't available yet — for now, Skills stay personal. See the [Skills page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/skills) for more information.
#### Dictation Styles
_(Only on Mac)_
Keep everyone's dictation on-brand with shared Styles for email, messaging, or meeting notes — one set of formats the whole team transcribes into. See the [Dictation page](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/dictation#styles) for more information.
#### Extensions
_(Available on Mac and Windows)_
Ship internal integrations as private extensions — your team installs them straight from your organization's Store, with nothing ever exposed on the public Store. See the [Publish a Private Extension guide](https://developers.raycast.com/teams/publish-a-private-extension) for more information.
### Raycast for Enterprise
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise
Description: Take your team a level up with AI governance, SSO, SCIM, and organization compliance with Raycast for Enterprise.
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
**Raycast for Enterprise** adds advanced controls over identity, data, and AI. Get compliance reports and granular admin controls. Bring your own AI API keys, or connect your own AI gateway with Custom Providers. Built for security-conscious organizations, Enterprise gives you the governance and visibility to manage Raycast at scale while keeping full control over how AI is used across your organization.
- Everything in Raycast Teams Pro
- Access to SOC2 Type II and Penetration test reports
- Identity & Access Management: SAML & SCIM, Domain Capture, MDM Sign-In Enforcement
- Organization Admin Controls: 2FA Enforcement, Full Cloud Sync Control, Extensions Allow-List, IP Allow-List
- AI Governance: Organization-Wide Toggle, Bring Your Own Key, AI Provider Allow-List, Custom AI Provider
- Enterprise Terms & SLAs: Dedicated, tailored enterprise terms, conditions, and service level agreements that replace the standard [Terms of Service](https://www.raycast.com/terms-of-service)
- Custom pricing, billed annually
- [Quickstart with Enterprise](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/quickstart-with-enterprise): Set up your Raycast organization and invite your team
#### Identity & Access Management
- [SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/saml-sso): Connect your identity provider so members sign in with your company credentials
- [SCIM Provisioning](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/scim): Create, update, and deactivate accounts automatically from your identity provider
- [Domain Capture](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/domain-capture): Route everyone who signs in with your email domain to your identity provider
- [MDM Sign-In Enforcement](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/mdm-sign-in-enforcement): Require an approved work email on Macs that your MDM manages
#### Admin Controls
- [2FA Enforcement](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/two-factor-authentication): Require two-factor authentication for every member of your organization
- [Cloud Sync Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/cloud-sync-control): Decide whether members can sync their settings and data across devices
- [Invitations Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/invitations-control): Choose whether new members join by invite link or only through SSO and SCIM
- [Clipboard History Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/clipboard-history-control): Set retention limits and exclude sensitive applications
- [IP Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ip-allow-list): Limit access to your corporate network or VPN ranges
#### AI Governance
- [Organization-Wide AI Toggle](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-toggle): Turn Raycast AI on or off for every member in one switch
- [AI Feedback Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-feedback): Control whether members can rate Raycast AI responses
- [AI Provider Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/provider-allow-list): Restrict which AI providers your members can use
- [Custom API Keys (BYOK)](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/byok): Bring your own Anthropic, Azure, Google, or OpenAI keys and bill usage directly
- [Custom Provider Configuration](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider): Enforce organization-wide AI provider settings that override local configuration
#### Additional Controls
- [Extensions Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/extensions-allow-list): Curate which extensions your team can install
- [Security & Compliance](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/security-and-compliance): SOC 2 Type II reports, penetration tests, and data handling
> [!NOTE]
> For queries relating to Raycast for Enterprise, contact us at [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com).
### Quickstart with Enterprise
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/quickstart-with-enterprise
Description: Get your Raycast Enterprise organization up and running with this step-by-step guide, covering identity management, advanced admin controls, AI Control Centre, extension allow-listing, and seamless member onboarding.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Once your organization is set up, Managers can configure all features in [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account) by clicking **Organization** in the left sidebar. Here are the recommended setup steps:
1. **Configure identity & access:** Set up [SAML SSO](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/saml-sso) and/or [SCIM provisioning](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/scim) to connect your identity provider. You can also enable [Domain Capture](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/domain-capture) and [MDM Sign-In Enforcement](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/mdm-sign-in-enforcement).
2. **Set admin controls:** Configure [2FA Enforcement](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/two-factor-authentication), [Cloud Sync Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/cloud-sync-control), [Invitations Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/invitations-control), [Clipboard History Control](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/clipboard-history-control), and the [IP Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ip-allow-list) based on your security requirements.
3. **Configure AI settings:** Set up the [AI Control Centre](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-toggle) according to your requirements. You can disable AI features completely, [add your AI API keys (BYOK)](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/byok), [select the AI providers to expose](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/provider-allow-list), and [configure a Custom AI Provider](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider).
4. **Manage extensions:** Define which Store extensions are available to your organization's members via the [Extensions Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/extensions-allow-list).
5. **Invite members:** Add members to your organization via invite link, SAML SSO, or SCIM provisioning. Manage what each member can do with [Roles & Permissions](https://manual.raycast.com/teams/roles-and-permissions).
### SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/saml-sso
Description: Enable secure, seamless authentication for Raycast Enterprise by connecting your organization’s SAML identity provider. Follow step-by-step instructions to simplify access management and user onboarding.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 26 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Raycast Enterprise supports SAML-based Single Sign-On, allowing your organization to authenticate users through your existing identity provider. Once SAML is configured, users can sign in to Raycast via your IdP. When combined with [Domain Capture](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/domain-capture), users with your organization's email domain are automatically directed to your IdP for authentication.
**Supported identity providers include:**
- Okta
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Any SAML 2.0 compliant identity provider
**How it works:**
1. Contact Raycast to enable SAML eligibility for your organization.
2. Configure a SAML application in your identity provider using the setup guide.
3. Share the SAML metadata URL (or XML file) and your email domain with Raycast.
4. Raycast completes the configuration and enables SSO.
5. Users can then sign in via SSO. New users who authenticate through your IdP are automatically added to your organization.
#### Integrate with Okta
1. In Okta Admin Console, navigate to Applications → Applications and press Create App Integration
2. For Sign-in method, select SAML 2.0
3. Fill out the General Settings. You can find Raycast logos [here](https://www.raycast.com/press).
4. Fill out the SAML Settings
- Single sign-on URL:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{organization-handle}/acs
```
- Audience URI:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{organization-handle}/metadata
```
- Name ID format: `EmailAddress`
5. In Feedback section mark the app as internal and press Finish
6. On the next page, make sure to copy the Metadata URL and share it with Raycast
7. On Attribute statements section click on Show legacy configuration and Edit
8. Add a new profile attribute statement and press Save
- Name: `email`
- Value: `user.email`
9. Inform Raycast that you have completed these steps
10. Once the setup is complete on Raycast's side, you can verify that SSO is working by assigning the Application to a user in Okta, and then using that user to sign in to Raycast. A new user is expected to be created, and this user should be part of your organization.
#### Integrate with Google Workspace
1. In Google Admin Console ([admin.google.com](https://admin.google.com/)), navigate to Apps → Web and mobile apps
2. Press Add app and select Add custom SAML app
3. Fill out the App details. You can find Raycast logos [here](https://www.raycast.com/press).
4. Press Download Metadata to get your Metadata XML file and share it with Raycast
5. Fill out the Service provider details:
- ACS URL:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{your_organization_handle}/acs
```
- Entity ID:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{your_organization_handle}/metadata
```
- Name ID format: `EMAIL`
6. On the Attribute mapping screen press Finish
7. Inform Raycast that you have completed these steps
8. To enable this for the users in your Organization or a Group within it, you will need to press the top right corner of the User access card
#### Integrate with Microsoft Entra ID
1. In Microsoft Entra Admin Center ([entra.microsoft.com](https://entra.microsoft.com/)), navigate to Entra ID → Enterprise apps and press Create your own application
2. Name it Raycast, pick "Integrate any other application you don't find in the gallery" and press Create
3. In the app overview navigate to Single sign-on and select SAML
4. Edit Basic SAML Configuration
- Identifier (Entity ID):
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{organization-handle}/metadata
```
- Reply URL (ACS):
```text
https://www.raycast.com/saml/{organization-handle}/acs
```
5. Edit Attributes & Claims
1. Click on Unique User Identifier (Name ID) under Claim name
- Name identifier format: `Email address` (default value)
- Source: `Attribute` (default value)
- Source attribute: `user.mail`
2. Setup three Additional claims
- Name: `email`
- Namespace: (empty)
- Source: `user.mail`
- Name: `firstName`
- Namespace: (empty)
- Source: `user.givenname`
- Name: `lastName`
- Namespace: (empty)
- Source: `user.surname`
6. Copy the App Federation Metadata Url and share it with Raycast
7. Inform Raycast that you have completed these steps
### SCIM Provisioning
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/scim
Description: Automatically create, update, and deactivate Raycast for Enterprise accounts from your identity provider with SCIM, keeping access in sync as your team changes.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 26 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) allows you to automatically provision and deprovision Raycast user accounts from your identity provider. This ensures that when employees join or leave your organization, their Raycast access is updated automatically.
**Supported operations:**
- **Create Users:** Automatically create Raycast accounts when users are assigned in your IdP
- **Update Users:** Sync profile changes from your IdP to Raycast
- **Deactivate Users:** Automatically remove Raycast access when users are unassigned
#### Provision with Okta
1. In the Application General tab → App Settings press Edit and select SCIM for Provisioning
2. Press Save
3. Navigate to the Provisioning tab and press Edit
4. Fill out the SCIM Connection settings
- SCIM connector base URL:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/scim/{organization-handle}
```
- Unique identifier field for users: `userName`
- Supported provisioning actions: Select the first 3 items
- Authentication Mode: `HTTP Header`
- Authorization: Paste the SCIM Token that Raycast shared with you through 1Password
5. On the To App section, select the first three checkboxes: Create Users, Update User Attributes and Deactivate Users
6. Press Save
7. Assign the Application to users to ensure their accounts are created in Raycast
#### Provision with Microsoft Entra ID
1. In the [Microsoft Entra admin center](https://entra.microsoft.com), navigate to Entra ID → Enterprise apps and select the Raycast enterprise application
2. Open the Provisioning tab and press New configuration
3. Fill out the Admin credentials
- Select authentication method: `Bearer authentication`
- Tenant URL:
```text
https://www.raycast.com/scim/{organization-handle}
```
- Secret token: Paste the SCIM Token that Raycast shared with you through 1Password
4. Press Test connection to confirm that Entra ID reaches the Raycast SCIM endpoint
5. After the test passes, press Create
6. Still in the Provisioning tab, expand the Mappings section
- Confirm that Provision Microsoft Entra ID Users is enabled
- Confirm that Provision Microsoft Entra ID Groups is disabled, because groups are not supported yet
7. Press Provision Microsoft Entra ID Users
- Check that `userName` maps to `userPrincipalName` with Matching precedence `1`
- Confirm that Create, Update and Delete are checked under Target Object Actions
8. Go back to the Provisioning tab and expand the Settings section
- Scope: `Sync only assigned users and groups`
- Send an email notification when a failure occurs: unchecked
- Prevent accidental deletion: unchecked
9. Set Provisioning Status to On and press Save at the top
10. Assign the Application to users in the Users and groups tab to ensure their accounts are created in Raycast
### Domain Capture
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/domain-capture
Description: Instantly direct users signing in with your company’s email domain to your identity provider via SAML SSO, and seamlessly onboarding new members to Raycast for Enterprise.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Domain Capture requires [SAML SSO](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/saml-sso) to be configured first. Once enabled, any user who logs in to Raycast with your organization's email domain is automatically directed to your identity provider (IdP) for authentication.
> [!NOTE]
> Domain Capture is configured by the Raycast team upon request. To enable it, please contact
> [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com).
#### How Domain Capture Works
When a user enters their company email address on the [Raycast log in page](https://www.raycast.com/users/sign_in), Domain Capture automatically recognizes the domain. Instead of the usual password or send magic link options, only a **Log in** button is presented to the user.
Clicking the button redirects the user to your organization's identity provider (IdP) for authentication. This ensures all authentication happens through your company's security infrastructure.
##### Authentication Flow
1. User enters their company email (e.g., `user@company.com`)
2. Raycast recognizes the domain and shows only the **Log in** button
3. Clicking **Log in** redirects to your IdP
4. After successful authentication, the user is either:
- Automatically added to your Raycast organization (if new member)
- Signed in (if existing member)
5. User is redirected back to Raycast
### MDM Sign-In Enforcement
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/mdm-sign-in-enforcement
Description: Secure your organization by requiring Raycast users on managed Macs to sign in with an approved work email, using MDM solutions to enforce seamless compliance.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you
> require these features in your organization.
Enforce that your organization members are logged in to their Raycast client with your organization's email. This is configured through an MDM (Mobile Device Management) configuration profile deployed by your IT team to managed Macs.
When the MDM profile is deployed with the `RequiredSignInDomain` key set to your organization's domain, Raycast will:
- Block access to the client until the user logs in with an account matching the required domain (see image below).
- Show an error if a user attempts to log in with an account from a different domain.
- Disable the log out option to prevent users from bypassing the enforcement.
This is compatible with any MDM solution that supports managed preferences on macOS (e.g., Jamf, Kandji). The MDM profile is deployed by your IT team, Raycast respects the configuration when present. This follows Apple's standard managed app configuration framework.
This ensures that enterprise management settings configured in the Organization Settings are always applied, and prevents users from using Raycast outside of your organization's control.
#### Setup MDM Sign-In Enforcement
1. [Download](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/files/v1/raycast-required-domain.mobileconfig) template `.mobileconfig` file
- Replace `UNIQUE-UUID-1` and `UNIQUE-UUID-2` with unique identifiers
- Replace `your-domain.com` with your company's email domain (e.g., `company.com`, `raycast.com`)
2. Create a new/custom Profile in your MDM
- Upload the `.mobileconfig` file to the profile
- Assign the appropriate target users or device that require this enforcement
3. After deploying the profile, verify it's installed on managed devices:
- On the macOS device, open **System Settings → General → Device Management**
- Look for the "Raycast Required Sign-In Domain" profile in the list
- The profile should appear under the MDM management section (similar to the screenshot below)
##### Configuration Reference
| Setting | Value | Description |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `PayloadDisplayName` | Any string | Human-readable name shown in System Settings |
| `PayloadIdentifier` | `com.raycast.mdm.requiredsignin` | Unique identifier for the profile |
| `PayloadUUID` | `UNIQUE-UUID-X` | Unique UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) |
| Bundle ID | `com.raycast.macos` | Raycast's macOS application identifier |
| `RequiredSignInDomain` | Your domain (e.g., `company.com`) | Email domain users must use to sign in to Raycast |
### Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Enforcement
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/two-factor-authentication
Description: Require two-factor authentication for every member of your Raycast for Enterprise organization, with per-member status visibility for organization Managers.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Require two-factor authentication for all members of your organization. When enabled, members who do not have 2FA set up will be prompted to configure it when logging in.
*Default: **Disabled***
#### Setup Two-Factor Authentication Enforcement
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. Click the toggle next to Two Factor Authentication Enforcement
3. Once enabled, a message reading "2FA requirements updated successfully" will appear, and the toggle will show as Enabled
Managers can view each member's 2FA status (Enabled "2FA" / Disabled "No 2FA") in the Members section of the Organization Settings page.
### Cloud Sync Control
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/cloud-sync-control
Description: Decide whether members of your Raycast for Enterprise organization can sync settings and data across Apple devices via Cloud Sync, for stricter data privacy.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Control whether Cloud Sync is available for your organization's members. [Cloud Sync](https://manual.raycast.com/cloud-sync) synchronizes users' settings and data across Apple devices via Raycast's servers.
*Default: **Enabled***
#### Configure Cloud Sync Control
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. Click the toggle next to Cloud Sync Enabled to enable or disable it
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
When disabled, members will not be able to enable this feature in their Raycast client settings and sync their Raycast data across their Apple devices (see image below).
### Invitations Control
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/invitations-control
Description: Control whether new members can join your Raycast Enterprise organization via invite link, or restrict access to SAML SSO and SCIM provisioning only.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
> [!WARNING]
> If SAML SSO is enabled for your organization, the Invitations Control setting is automatically disabled.
> ### Read more
>
> Memberships are managed through your identity provider instead, so members cannot be invited to your organization with an invite link. To add members, assign them to Raycast in your identity provider.
> 
> Copy and Reset Invite Link options are no longer available in the Members section.
> 
>
Control whether new members can join your organization via invite link.
- **Invitations enabled (default):** Managers can copy and share an invite link. Anyone with the link can join the organization.
- **Invitations disabled:** The invite link is deactivated. New members can only be added via SAML SSO or SCIM provisioning.
#### Configure Invitations Control
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. Click the toggle next to Disable Invitations to enable or disable it
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
#### Copying the Invite Link
When invitations are enabled, managers can copy the invite link from two places:
###### Option 1: Organization Settings (Web)
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization**
2. Click **Copy Invite Link** button in the Members section
###### Option 2: Manage Organizations Command (Raycast App)
1. Open Raycast app
2. Search for **Manage Organizations** command
3. Select your organization (if you are part of multiple organizations)
4. Press Enter to **Copy Invite Link**
Managers can also **Reset Invite Link** at any time to invalidate previously shared links from both places mentioned above, the new link will be immediately available.
### Clipboard History Control
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/clipboard-history-control
Description: Enforce Clipboard History retention limits and exclude sensitive applications across your Raycast for Enterprise organization to meet data handling policies.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Manage Clipboard History settings across your organization with two controls:
#### Clipboard History Retention
Set how long Clipboard History is retained for all organization members. Enforce a specific period for your clipboard history retention policy, or select "No restriction" to allow users to set their own retention period.
##### Configure Clipboard History Retention
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. Click the dropdown next to Clipboard History Retention and select your retention period
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
When a clipboard history retention period is set, members will not be able to change the retention duration in their Raycast client settings and their clipboard history will be limited to the configured period (see image below).
#### Clipboard History Disabled Applications
Exclude specific applications from clipboard history tracking for all organization members. Enter application bundle IDs (one per line) to prevent clipboard history from recording content copied in those applications. For example, `com.googlecode.iterm2` to exclude iTerm2.
This control helps organizations comply with data handling policies by ensuring sensitive clipboard data from specific applications is never stored.
##### Configure Clipboard History Disabled Applications
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. In the input field below Clipboard History Disabled Applications enter the application bundle IDs (one per line) you want to exclude and click on **Save Bundle IDs**
3. A message reading "Clipboard History disabled applications updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
When applications are excluded, members will not be able to remove them from the Disabled Applications list in their Raycast client settings, where they appear marked as "Managed by your organization" (see image below).
### IP Allow-List
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ip-allow-list
Description: Restrict Raycast for Enterprise access to specific IPv4 or IPv6 ranges and CIDR blocks, so only requests from your corporate network or VPN are allowed.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Restrict access to your organization based on IP addresses. Configure IP address restrictions to limit backend API access to specific IP ranges (e.g., your corporate VPN).
- Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
- Enter one IP address or CIDR range per line
- Examples: `10.0.0.0/8` (single IP or subnet), `192.168.1.0/24` (IP range)
- Leave empty to allow all IP addresses
When enabled with configured IP ranges, all API requests must originate from the allowed ranges. If IP restrictions are enabled but no IP ranges are configured, no restrictions will be applied.
#### Configure IP Allow-List
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Admin Controls**
2. In the input field below IP Allow-List enter the IP addresses or CIDR ranges you want to allow and click on **Save IP Addresses**
3. A message reading "IP restrictions updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
### Organization-Wide AI Toggle
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-toggle
Description: Control Raycast AI features for every member of your Enterprise organization in one switch.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Control whether AI features are available for your organization's members.
**When disabled:**
- The AI section is disabled in the Raycast client settings (see image below)
- All AI commands are unavailable in the Raycast client
- All AI-related API interactions are blocked
- This applies to any user who belongs to the organization, even if they also belong to other organizations where AI is enabled
*Default: **Enabled***
#### Configure AI Features Toggle
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → AI Control Center**
2. Click the toggle next to AI Features to enable or disable it
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
When disabled, members will not be able to enable this feature in their Raycast client settings (see image below).
### AI Feedback Control
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-feedback
Description: Control whether thumbs up/down feedback on Raycast AI responses is available in your Enterprise organization to address data sharing or privacy concerns.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Control whether AI feedback (thumbs up/down icons on AI responses) is available for your organization. This is relevant when AI is enabled but your organization prefers not to share feedback data, typically due to privacy concerns.
**When disabled:**
- Feedback icons are not displayed in the Raycast client
- The AI feedback API is inaccessible for affected users
*Default: **Enabled***
#### Configure AI Feedback Control
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → AI Control Center**
2. Click the toggle next to Share AI Feedback to enable or disable it
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
The images below show how AI responses appear in the Raycast client with AI feedback enabled and disabled.
### AI Provider Allow-List
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/provider-allow-list
Description: Restrict which AI providers your Enterprise organization members can use or limit to custom providers only.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Restrict which AI providers your organization's members can interact with. When the Allow-List setting is enabled for your organization, you can select which providers are available.
**Available providers:** Anthropic, Baseten, Google, Groq, Mistral, OpenAI, Perplexity, Raycast, xAI
**How AI Provider Allow-List works:**
- **No providers selected:** All built-in AI providers are disabled. Members can only use AI features through [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider) or Local Models.
- **Providers selected:** Only the selected built-in AI providers are available, alongside any [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider) or Local Models.
> [!NOTE]
> When the Allow-List is disabled for your organization, all built-in AI providers are available to members.
#### Configure AI Provider Allow-List
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → AI Control Center**
2. Under AI Provider Allow-List, check the providers you want to allow and uncheck the ones you want to block
3. A message reading "Settings updated successfully" will appear, confirming the change
When an AI provider is not allowed, its AI models are hidden in the Raycast client, and members will not be able to select them.
### Custom API Keys (BYOK)
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/byok
Description: Seamlessly integrate your organization's Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI API keys with Raycast AI features, ensuring all usage is billed directly to you and providing granular control over costs and provider choice.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Connect your organization's own Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI account to Raycast. Your provider bills you directly at their standard rates, so AI usage runs on your existing accounts and commitments instead of Raycast's included tokens.
Managers add keys under **Organization → AI Control Center**. Once a key is saved, every member's AI requests use that account. Requests still pass through Raycast to unify the provider APIs, handle fallbacks, and apply final prompt management. See [Raycast AI Privacy & Security](https://manual.raycast.com/ai/raycast-ai-privacy-security) for how that data is handled.
This gives organizations full control over AI spending and provider choice while maintaining the same Raycast AI experience.
**Supported providers:** Anthropic, Google and OpenAI
**How Custom API Keys work:**
- **No API key configured:** Members use the AI models included in your plan, alongside any [Custom Providers](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider) or Local Models.
- **API key configured:** Only AI models from your connected provider are available. Raycast's built-in models are switched off and all usage is billed to your provider account.
#### Configure Custom API Keys
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → AI Control Center**
2. Click the dropdown below Custom API Keys (BYOK) and select your provider
3. Insert your provider API Key in the input field and click on **Save**
4. A message reading "API key saved successfully" will appear, confirming the change
The images below show how the API Keys section appears in the Raycast client settings with and without a Custom API Key configured for your organization.
### Custom Provider Configuration
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/custom-provider
Description: Use custom provider configuration to enforce organization-wide AI provider settings in Enterprise, overriding any local configuration set by members.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Connect Raycast directly with any OpenAI API compatible provider by uploading a custom `providers.yaml` file to configure organization-wide AI provider settings. When configured, this file overrides any local provider file set by members.
**When configured:**
- Your custom providers and models become available to every organization member
- Members cannot add their own local `providers.yaml`, and any existing local file is ignored
- Members can still use models from any provider enabled in the [AI Provider Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-provider-allow-list)
- The uploaded configuration displays version, checksum, and last updated timestamp for auditing
- Managers can upload a new file at any time to replace the existing configuration
> [!WARNING]
> Custom Provider Configuration does not disable Raycast's built-in AI providers.
> To restrict members to your custom providers only, uncheck every provider in the [AI Provider Allow-List](https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/ai-provider-allow-list).
#### Configure Custom Provider
1. [Download](https://fz1sd71lwhbqy6sh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/raycast/files/v1/ai-providers-template.yaml) or copy the template `.yaml` file below
```yaml
providers:
- id: openai
name: OpenAI
base_url: https://api.openai.com/v1
# Specify at least one api key if authentication is required.
# Optional if authentication is not required or is provided elsewhere.
# If individual models require separate api keys, then specify a separate `key` for each model's `provider`
api_keys:
openai: OPENAI_API_KEY
# Optional additional parameters sent to the `/chat/completions` endpoint
additional_parameters:
return_images: true
web_search_options:
search_context_size: medium
# Specify all models to use with the current provider
models:
- id: gpt-4o # `id` must match the identifier used by the provider
name: GPT-4o # name visible in Raycast
provider: openai # Only required if mapping to a specific api key
description: OpenAI GPT-4o model for general-purpose queries # optional
context: 200000 # refer to provider's API documentation
# Optional abilities - all child properties are also optional.
# If you specify abilities incorrectly the model may fail to work as expected in Raycast AI.
# Refer to provider's API documentation for model abilities.
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: false
reasoning_effort:
supported: false
- id: gpt-4o-mini
name: "GPT-4o-mini"
context: 200000
provider: openai # matches "openai" in api_keys
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
# provider with multiple api keys
- id: my_provider
name: My Provider
base_url: http://localhost:4000
api_keys:
perplexity: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY
anthropic: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
models:
- id: sonar
name: "Sonar"
context: 128000
provider: perplexity # matches "perplexity" in api_keys
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
- id: claude-sonnet-4
name: "Claude Sonnet 4"
context: 200000
provider: anthropic # matches "anthropic" in api_keys
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
- id: litellm
name: LiteLLM
base_url: http://localhost:4000
# No `api_keys` - authentication is provided by the LiteLLM config
models:
- id: anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514
name: "Claude Sonnet 4"
context: 200000
abilities:
temperature:
supported: true
vision:
supported: true
system_message:
supported: true
tools:
supported: true
```
- Replace the providers `id`, `name`, `base_url`, and `api_key` values with your own
- For each provider, specify a list of models along with their model abilities
2. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → AI Control Center**
3. Below Custom Provider Configuration, click **Choose File** and select your `.yaml` file
4. Click **Upload Configuration** below the banner showing your selected file name and size
5. A message reading "Provider configuration uploaded successfully" will appear, confirming the upload
#### Storage and Security
- Stored privately and encrypted at rest and in transit
- Never publicly accessible, only reachable through authenticated Raycast APIs
- Only Managers can upload, replace, or remove it
- Validated and size-limited on upload
### Extensions Allow-List
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/extensions-allow-list
Description: Control which Raycast Extensions your Enterprise organization members can install, so only vetted, approved third-party integrations are available.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 31 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Control which extensions from the Raycast [Store](https://www.raycast.com/store) your organization members can install and use, so only vetted and approved third-party integrations are available.
**How Extensions Allow-List works:**
- Only extensions on the allow-list are available to your organization members
- Extensions already installed but not on the allow-list stop working, whether they were installed before the allow-list was configured or later removed from it
> [!WARNING]
> When the allow-list is empty, all Store extensions are blocked for your organization.
When a member opens an extension that is not allowed, they see an "Extension not allowed" message asking them to contact their organization manager (see image below).
#### Configure Extensions Allow-List
1. In [Raycast Account Settings](https://www.raycast.com/settings/account), navigate to **Organization → Manage Extensions Allow-List**
2. In the search field below Search and Add Extensions, type the name of the extension you are looking for
3. In the search results, click **Add to Allow-List** next to the extension you want to allow
4. Once added, the extension appears under Current Allow-List
5. To remove an extension, click **Remove** next to it in Current Allow-List
Only allowed extensions appear in the Store command in the Raycast client, and members can install only those (see image below).
Installing from the web [Store](https://www.raycast.com/store) is blocked as well. The extension opens in the Raycast client marked **Managed by Organization**, and the install fails with a "Could not install extension" message (see image below).
### Security & Compliance
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/enterprise/security-and-compliance
Description: Access SOC 2 Type II reports and annual penetration test results for Raycast for Enterprise through the Trust Center, alongside our security commitments.
Tier: Enterprise Exclusive
Last updated: 26 August 2026
> [!NOTE]
> Support for Enterprise features in Raycast for Windows has not yet been added. Contact us if you require these features in your organization.
Raycast is SOC2 Type II compliant, providing assurance that our systems and processes meet rigorous standards for security, availability, and confidentiality. We also conduct annual penetration tests performed by independent third-party security firms to continuously validate our security posture.
As an Enterprise customer, you have access to:
- SOC2 Type II report
- Annual Penetration test report
These reports are available for download through our Trust Center at [trust.raycast.com](https://trust.raycast.com).
For any additional security questions or to discuss your organization's specific requirements, please reach out to the Raycast team at [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com).
## Resources
### Troubleshooting
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/troubleshooting
Description: Steps to diagnose and fix common Raycast issues on Mac, Windows, and iOS, plus how to gather the right information before reaching out to the team.
Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS
Last updated: 10 September 2026
If something isn't working as expected in Raycast, this page walks you through the steps you can take yourself, the diagnostic information that helps us pin down what's going wrong, and how to send it to the team.
The steps below cover Raycast for Mac, Windows, and iOS. Where the platforms differ, you'll see specific instructions for each. Working through this list before reaching out usually shortens the back-and-forth and gets you to a fix faster.
#### Try these first
Most Raycast issues fall into a handful of common patterns. Before sending a report, run through these quick checks. They take a few minutes and resolve a large share of issues on their own.
##### Update Raycast to the latest version
**Mac**
In Raycast, search for `Check for Updates` and install any pending update.
**Windows**
In Raycast, search for `Check for Updates`, or open the Microsoft Store, go to `Library`, and update Raycast from there. Microsoft sometimes takes a while to roll out updates regionally.
**iOS**
Open the App Store on your device, tap your profile picture, scroll to `Available Updates`, and update Raycast. Several recent iOS bugs (AI Chat crashes, dictation glitches) were fixed in point releases, so updating alone often resolves the issue.
Many issues are fixed within one or two releases of being reported. If yours has been around for a while, the latest version may already have the fix.
##### Check that Raycast has the right permissions
Several Raycast features rely on explicit OS permissions. If a feature stopped working after a system update, this is the first place to check.
**Mac**
- Open `System Settings → Privacy & Security`.
- Confirm Raycast is enabled under `Accessibility` (needed for hotkeys and snippet expansion; renamed `Device Control and Data Access` on macOS 27).
- Confirm Raycast is enabled under `Screen Recording` (needed for window management).
- If you use AI dictation, also check `Microphone`.
- On macOS 26 (Tahoe), also confirm Raycast is allowed in `System Settings → Menu Bar → Allow in the Menu Bar`. If a menu bar icon is missing — including [Calendar](https://manual.raycast.com/calendar)'s **Menu Bar Agenda** — check this OS-level list even when the corresponding Raycast setting is enabled.
- If Raycast appears in a list but the toggle looks off, toggle it off and on again.
**iOS**
- To use the Raycast keyboard outside the app, open `Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards`, tap `Raycast`, and turn on `Allow Full Access`. Without it, AI Commands and dictation won't work from the keyboard.
- For dictation, open `Settings → Raycast` and confirm `Microphone` is enabled.
- If you're hitting login issues like "Token expired", check `Settings → General → Date & Time` and make sure `Set Automatically` is on. An incorrect clock blocks token validation.
##### Make sure only one version of Raycast is running
- Open `Activity Monitor` and search for `Raycast`. If you see two processes, quit the one you don't want to use.
- If you use both intentionally, make sure `Enable Snippet Expansion` is on in only one of them.
##### Check for conflicts with other tools
If a specific keyboard or text feature is misbehaving, another app on your device may be intercepting the same input. Common culprits:
- **Text expansion tools** (TextExpander, aText, Espanso, PhraseExpress, macOS Text Replacements) competing with Raycast Snippets.
- **Keyboard remapping tools** (Karabiner-Elements on Mac, AutoHotKey or Kanata on Windows, PowerToys Keyboard Manager, BetterTouchTool, Hammerspoon).
- **Other launchers or hotkey apps** bound to the same shortcut (Spotlight, Alfred, LaunchBar on Mac; Windows Search, PowerToys Run, Flow Launcher on Windows).
- **Antivirus or endpoint protection** on Windows occasionally quarantines parts of Raycast as `IDP.Generic` or similar. If features stop working suddenly, check your antivirus quarantine and add Raycast to the exclusion list.
- **Other custom keyboards on iOS** can interfere with the Raycast keyboard's text replacements and dictation. If a feature suddenly stops working, switch to the default keyboard temporarily to see whether the issue follows.
- Temporarily disabling the suspected tool helps confirm whether the conflict is real.
#### Common situations
If the first-aid steps didn't help, see whether your issue matches one of the patterns below. Each one expands with steps specific to that situation.
##### Raycast won't open, or crashes immediately on launch
**Mac**
- Download the latest version from https://www.raycast.com/new and reinstall by dragging the new app into `Applications` (replace the existing one when prompted).
- If reinstalling doesn't help, fully uninstall Raycast with AppCleaner, then install fresh.
**Windows**
- Open the Microsoft Store, search for Raycast, and click `Update` if one is available.
- If the install or update itself fails (for example with error `0x80073cf9`), repair the Microsoft App Runtime: `Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps`, search for `Microsoft Windows App Runtime Singleton`, open `Advanced options`, click `Terminate`, then `Repair`, then `Reset` if Repair fails. Install Raycast again.
**iOS**
- Update iOS to the latest version. Several reports of "app won't open" on iOS resolved after a system update.
- Delete the Raycast app and reinstall it from the App Store. This clears local state that can cause launch crashes.
- If reinstalling doesn't help, grab the iOS crash log so we can investigate. See `A crash report` in the section below.
If Raycast still won't launch after a reinstall on any platform, see `A crash report` in the section below.
##### Raycast is unresponsive, frozen, or stuck on a loading screen
- Quit Raycast (or force quit if needed) and reopen.
- If the freeze comes back immediately, restart your device.
- If the freeze happens in a specific situation (opening a particular extension, switching tabs in a specific view, typing a specific query, opening a specific AI Chat), note exactly what triggers it. Steps to reproduce are the single most useful piece of information you can give us.
**Mac**
Run `Copy Raycast Logs` before doing anything else.
**Windows**
Run `Copy Raycast Logs` before doing anything else.
**iOS**
Enable Engineering Mode and export logs (see `Raycast logs` below).
##### Raycast doesn't open at login / startup
**Mac**
- Open `System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions` and confirm Raycast is in the `Open at Login` list and enabled.
- If it's already enabled but doesn't fire, remove it and re-add it. The macOS login-items database occasionally gets stuck.
**Windows**
- Open `Settings → General` and confirm `Open at Login` is enabled. On Windows, Raycast manages startup through Task Scheduler under the hood, so this setting is the source of truth (rather than `Startup Apps` in Task Manager).
- If you've enabled it but it still doesn't fire, update to the latest Raycast version. A series of fixes for autostart on Windows shipped in 0.56.2 and later.
- Raycast failing to open at login right after a Microsoft Store update is fixed in Raycast 2.3.
- If a brief PowerShell or terminal window flashes during login, that's the Raycast startup launcher and is harmless.
**iOS**
Not applicable. The iOS app is launched on demand from the Home Screen, App Library, Spotlight, or via the Raycast keyboard from within other apps.
##### The Raycast keyboard doesn't work in other apps
_(Only on iOS)_
- Open `Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards`, tap `Raycast`, and turn on `Allow Full Access`. Without it, dictation, AI Commands, and clipboard-based features can't run.
- If commands aren't showing up on the keyboard, delete and reinstall the Raycast iOS app. Some users have resolved missing commands this way.
- If the keyboard appears but seems to crash or freeze a third-party app (for example Microsoft Word or Excel), check whether the same crash happens with the default iOS keyboard. Some app-side bugs are unrelated to Raycast even when the timing makes it look like the keyboard is the cause.
##### A keyboard shortcut doesn't fire
- Open **Settings → Shortcuts** and confirm the hotkey is still assigned. System updates occasionally clear hotkeys.
- Make sure another app isn't holding the same shortcut. If you suspect a conflict, temporarily disable the other app and try again.
**Mac**
- Open `System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility` and confirm Raycast is enabled. Without it, no Raycast hotkey can register.
- If your hotkey is set through Karabiner-Elements or similar, that tool may take a few seconds to activate after your Mac wakes from sleep.
**Windows**
- Some shortcuts are reserved by Windows. `Ctrl Esc` opens the Start menu, so the default `Pop to Root` binding is disabled on Windows. Other `Esc` combinations and various `Win+...` shortcuts are also reserved. Pick a combination that isn't claimed by Windows.
- If you use a non-US keyboard layout, watch for `Alt` combinations that conflict with `AltGr` characters. In the Raycast hotkey recorder, you can choose between a key-equivalent binding and a layout-independent binding.
- If your hotkey is configured through AutoHotKey, Kanata, or PowerToys Keyboard Manager, try disabling that tool and binding the hotkey directly inside Raycast as a test.
##### Snippets aren't expanding when I type the keyword
- Check that `Enable Snippet Expansion` is on in `Settings → Snippets`.
- As a quick reset, toggle `Enable Snippet Expansion` off, wait a moment, then turn it back on.
- Make sure your keyword doesn't contain spaces, quotes, or backticks. Those act as delimiters and prevent the keyword from matching.
- Some apps with custom text input (certain code editors, terminals, password managers) don't support text replacement. Try the snippet inside another app to confirm the issue is broader, or run `Search Snippets` and paste manually.
_(Only on Mac)_ Verify Raycast has Accessibility permission in `System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility`.
##### Raycast is using a lot of memory
- Check the OS task viewer (Activity Monitor on Mac, Task Manager on Windows) to confirm the figure. Some third-party stats tools report inflated numbers.
- Quit and reopen Raycast. Memory should drop noticeably once it restarts.
- If you have very large file collections indexed, Raycast's file index can grow large. Add big or rarely-used folders to `Settings → File Search → Ignore Patterns` to keep the index smaller.
- If memory grows continuously over hours of use, that's a leak we want to know about. The steps below help us collect the data we need to investigate.
**Mac**
1. Quit Raycast fully via the menu bar icon or the `Quit Raycast` command, and wait a few seconds for it to disappear from Activity Monitor.
2. Clear existing logs: in Finder, press `⇧ ⌘ G`, paste `~/Library/Logs/com.raycast.macos`, and move the folder's contents to the Trash.
3. Relaunch Raycast and use it the way you normally do. Don't try to "force" the issue.
4. When you see a spike: note the exact time (with time zone), optionally screenshot Activity Monitor with Raycast expanded to show each subprocess, then run `Copy Raycast Logs`.
5. Send us the log files (from your clipboard) along with the time of the spike and any extra context (what you were doing right before).
**Windows**
1. Quit Raycast completely: right-click the system-tray icon → `Quit`, or use the `Quit Raycast` command.
2. Wait a few seconds for it to disappear from the system tray / Task Manager.
3. Clear existing logs: open File Explorer, paste `%LocalAppData%\Raycast` into the address bar, and delete the `Logs` folder.
4. Launch Raycast in Diagnostic Mode: open the Start menu, search for `Raycast`, and in the right-hand panel click `Diagnostic Mode`. This enables more verbose logging.
5. Use your computer as usual. Don't force the issue.
6. When you see a spike: note the exact time (with time zone), optionally screenshot Task Manager with Raycast expanded to show each subprocess, then run `Copy Raycast Logs`.
7. Send us the log files (from your clipboard) along with the time of the spike and any extra context (what you were doing right before).
Important: Raycast stays in `Diagnostic Mode` until you fully quit it. Diagnostic Mode is not persistent across reboots. After restarting your computer, Raycast starts in normal mode again unless you explicitly use Diagnostic Mode.
##### File Search is slow, missing files, or stuck indexing
- Open `Settings → File Search` and confirm the folders you expect are listed under `Search Scopes`.
- If indexing hangs on a very large folder, exclude it through `Ignore Patterns`.
**Mac**
Encrypted cloud-storage folders (for example Google Drive's `.Encrypted` folder) are a known hang point. Add these patterns to `Ignore Patterns`: `**/Library/CloudStorage/**/.Encrypted`, `**/Library/CloudStorage/**/.Encrypted/`, `**/Library/CloudStorage/**/.shortcut-targets-by-id`, `/Library/CloudStorage/**/.shortcut-targets-by-id/**`
**Windows**
Exclude network drives, virtual machine images, and large `node_modules` trees if you're indexing developer folders. Use the same `Ignore Patterns` field.
Quit and reopen Raycast so indexing restarts.
##### An extension crashes or behaves unexpectedly
- Try reloading the extension: in Raycast, search for the affected extension and run any of its commands again. Many transient failures clear on a re-run.
- Update the extension to the latest version from the Raycast Store (`Search Store` in Raycast).
- If the issue is reproducible, include the extension name and version (visible on its Store page) in your report.
- For locally developed extensions, make sure `@raycast/api` in your `package.json` is up to date and run `npm install` before `npm run dev` again. As a quick way to use the latest CLI without changing your `package.json`, run `npx @raycast/api@latest dev`.
##### Antivirus quarantined Raycast
_(Only on Windows)_
Some Windows antivirus tools occasionally flag Raycast as suspicious because it monitors clipboard contents and keystrokes, both of which are core to the launcher. The most common false positive is Norton's behavioral detection reporting `IDP.Generic`.
- Open your antivirus dashboard, find Raycast in the quarantine list, and restore it.
- Add Raycast to your antivirus exclusion / allow list so the same files aren't quarantined again.
- If the antivirus also deleted Raycast's startup task, you may need to reinstall from the Microsoft Store to re-create it.
#### Information to gather before reporting
When you do reach out, the more concrete information you can include, the faster we can reproduce and fix the issue. Most reports benefit from including each of the items below.
##### Your Raycast version and OS version
**Mac**
Raycast version: open `Settings → About`. macOS version: `System Settings → General → About` (for example `15.4`).
**Windows**
Raycast version: open `Settings → About`. Windows version: `Windows Settings → System → About`. Note the edition (e.g. `Windows 11 Pro`), version (e.g. `24H2`), build (e.g. `26100.x`), and architecture (`x64` or `ARM64`).
**iOS**
Raycast version: open the Raycast app, tap your account avatar, then `Settings → About`. The version is also included automatically when you use `Share Feedback` from the iOS app. iOS version and device: `Settings → General → About`. Note both the iOS version (e.g. `26.4.1`) and the device model (e.g. `iPhone 18,1`).
If you're using a beta version of Raycast or your OS, please call that out.
##### Steps to reproduce the issue
This is the single most valuable piece of information you can send. We can fix something we can see happen; something we can't reproduce often stays open.
- Write down the exact sequence: which command you opened, which keys you pressed, which option you selected, what was different about your state (network offline, multiple monitors connected, specific app in focus, etc.).
- Include whether it happens every time or only sometimes.
- If the issue only happens in a specific app or text field, name that app.
##### Raycast logs
Raycast logs include enough detail for us to trace what happened internally without exposing personal data. They're small text files and easy to attach to a report.
**Mac**
- In Raycast, search for `Copy Raycast Logs` to copy the latest log file to your clipboard, or `Reveal Raycast Logs` to open the log folder in Finder.
- If Raycast won't launch at all, open Finder, press `⇧ ⌘ G`, and paste `~/Library/Logs/com.raycast.macos`.
**Windows**
- In Raycast, search for `Copy Raycast Logs` or `Reveal Raycast Logs`.
- If Raycast won't launch, open File Explorer and paste `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Raycast\logs` into the address bar. Sort by date modified and grab the most recent files.
**iOS**
iOS log collection happens through Raycast's Engineering Mode. To enable it:
1. Open Safari and visit `raycast://engineering-mode-321`. When prompted, allow the link to open in the Raycast app.
2. Open Raycast, go to `Settings`, and you'll see a new `Engineering Mode` entry. Tap into it.
3. Reproduce the issue, then return to `Settings → Engineering Mode` and tap `Export Logs`. Share the exported file with your report.
While you're in Engineering Mode, also tap `Copy Anonymous ID` and paste the value into your report. This lets us look up any crash signatures we've received from your device.
##### A screen recording
A short recording is often clearer than any written description, especially for visual glitches or anything time-sensitive.
Capture one with a built-in tool:
**Mac**
Press `⇧ ⌘ 5` to open macOS's built-in screen recording controls. Choose `Record Selected Portion` to capture just the Raycast window, or `Record Entire Screen` if context outside Raycast matters.
**Windows**
Press `win Alt R` to start a recording with the Xbox Game Bar, or open the `Snipping Tool` and use its built-in screen recorder.
**iOS**
- Add the `Screen Recording` control to Control Center: `Settings → Control Center` → tap `+` next to `Screen Recording`.
- Open Control Center and tap the record button. Reproduce the issue, then stop the recording from the red status bar at the top of the screen. The video saves to your Photos library; attach it to your report.
##### A crash report
If Raycast quits unexpectedly, your operating system generates a crash report you can send us. This contains the stack trace at the moment of failure, which is by far the most useful information for diagnosing launch and crash bugs.
**Mac**
- Open `Console.app` (from `Applications → Utilities`, or search for it in Raycast).
- In the sidebar, select `Crash Reports`. Find the most recent entry with `Raycast` in the name, click it, then use `File → Save As` or right-click → `Reveal in Finder`.
**Windows**
- Open `Event Viewer` from the Start menu.
- In the sidebar, expand `Windows Logs` and select `Application`.
- Look for entries with `Source` of `Application Error` or `.NET Runtime` that mention `Raycast.exe` around the time of the crash.
- Right-click each relevant entry, choose `Copy → Copy Details as Text`, and paste it into your report. Include the faulting module, exception code, and any stack frames you see.
**iOS**
- Open `Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data`.
- Scroll to find entries that start with `Raycast` and look at the date and time to match the crash. Tap one to view it.
- Use the share button at the top right to send the file to yourself (Mail, AirDrop, etc.), then attach the file to your report. Pairing the crash report with the Anonymous ID from Engineering Mode is the most useful combination for iOS crashes.
Once you've gathered the information above, send it to us using the `Send Feedback` command inside Raycast (Mac and Windows) or the `Share Feedback` option inside the iOS app, or use one of the other channels listed on the [Contact Support](https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support) page.
### Community Guidelines
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/community-guidelines
Description: Keeping the Raycast community welcoming to everyone with ground rules when engaging with the other users and Raycast staff.
Last updated: 28 April 2026
These guidelines have the goal of clarifying how we expect members of this community to behave. It is put in place in order to protect our members and clear expectations. These guidelines are effective immediately as of posting on August 14, 2023.
#### Encouraged
- Ask questions, make suggestions, and discuss with other community members and Raycast team members.
- Answer questions and give your opinion.
- Respect each other, and have empathy as everyone comes from a different path.
- Offer constructive criticism.
- Be polite.
- Promote your extension! We are as excited as you are when you get it shipped or have a brand-new update.
#### Not acceptable
- Spam content or messages without context – Of course, mistakes happen and can be fixed.
- Hate speech, sexism, racism, harassment, and personal threats.
- Copyrighted content for which you don't have the rights to use.
- Ideological, religious, and political discussions (there are better places for that!).
- Sharing explicit material – Let's keep this community PG-13.
- Misleading information.
- Bots – This is a community for human beings, leave the AI for Raycast prompts :)
- Impersonation.
- Vulgar language and slurs.
#### Consequences
By not following the above, the community managers and other members of the Raycast team may apply penalties according to this order:
- Warning of misbehavior via Direct Message;
- Suspension (deactivation of account) for 15 days;
- Ban from the community by deleting the account.
Warnings may or may not be provided in between penalties. If the content is offensive to the community, the Raycast team, or Raycast as a company, it may be removed before a warning is issued.
#### Reporting
Our community managers are here to help! Contact **Stephanie Leong** or **Per Nielsen Tikær** if you think someone is not following our guidelines or you don't feel safe in our community. Raycast is built for the community and by the community. Together we can make this great!
### Extensions Guidelines
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/extensions-guidelines
Description: Guidelines for building, submitting, and maintaining high-quality Raycast Store extensions, including review process, requirements, and publishing tips.
Last updated: 24 June 2026
Extensions play an important role in the Raycast ecosystem. These Extensions Guidelines help ensure we can continue providing quality extensions for all Raycast users. The [Community Guidelines](https://manual.raycast.com/community-guidelines) also apply when you interact with users, fellow developers, and Raycast staff.
#### Definition
A Raycast Extension is code written by Raycast or third-party developers that extends Raycast's functionality. They typically integrate external services into Raycast, though extensions can also perform local actions, provide utilities, and more.
#### Creation and Review Process
##### Create your extension
Fork an existing extension or start from scratch. Setup instructions are available in the [Developers Getting Started](https://developers.raycast.com/basics/getting-started) guide.
##### Submit your extension
Submit your extension to be reviewed by opening a PR in the [Raycast Extensions repository](https://github.com/raycast/extensions).
##### Wait for review
The Community Managers review extensions first-in, first-out. You can expect first contact within a week, subject to Community Manager availability.
##### Respond to feedback
Answer the reviewer's comments promptly to ensure there's no delays in your submission review. Unanswered PRs will go stale and, eventually, be closed without approval.
To keep the backlog focused on extensions under active development, Pull Requests follow this lifecycle:
- Marked as stale after 14 days of inactivity since the last comment.
- Closed after 21 days of inactivity since the last comment.
- Stale or closed PRs can be re-opened whenever you're ready to pick them back up.
##### Published!
After your extension has been reviewed and approved by the Community Managers, your extension will be available on the [Raycast Store](https://raycast.com/store) for anyone to download.
#### Before Acceptance
##### Value & Uniqueness
- Make sure your extension is bringing value to Raycast users;
- We want your extension to bring something that Raycast or other extensions don't provide yet.
- At the same time, services must be grouped in one extension you must increment an existing extension rather than create a new one.
- Your extension should do more than Raycast's native features (Quicklinks, Snippets, Clipboard History, Calculator, etc.) already provide.
- Fun is a great value for Raycast! Just make sure that it is non-violent and respectful.
##### Quality & Documentation
- Make sure the extension works and that users have all the information they need to set it up and use it;
- This information should be in the extension's README file.
- State codes, APIs, credentials, and any other relevant information that the user might need to connect your extension and the service.
- All information collected from the user should not be used for any purpose other than connecting to the service and improving the extension's response.
#### After Acceptance
- You are responsible for your extension and any issues or feature requests that come up.
- You can easily keep track of them on the [Developer Hub](https://www.raycast.com/extension-issues).
- In case of a major bug in a popular extension (more than 1k downloads), Raycast has the right to step in to fix the issue as soon as possible.
- Normally, this is done in conjunction with the Author or the developers from the service provided by the extension.
- In case of abandonment, Raycast has the right to write and approve fixes without the extension Author's consent.
- Abandonment is defined as: the extension no longer functions, OR the Author hasn't responded to Raycast team contact (3+ attempts).
- Stalled PRs are also considered abandoned by the extension's Author.
- Raycast reserves the right to build extensions with the same functionality as an existing one.
- In that case, the Author will be informed in advance.
- The existing extension does not need to be removed from the Store.
#### Reasons to be rejected
- Violates our [Terms of Service](https://www.raycast.com/terms-of-service) and/or [Privacy Policy](https://www.raycast.com/privacy). This includes, but is not limited to the following;
- Providing access to content not intentionally made available or provided for through the Service.
- Impersonation.
- Promoting criminal activity.
- Violates the Terms of Service of the service provided. Example: scraping a website without permission.
- There is already a feature to accomplish this directly in Raycast, which offers comparable value.
- There is an extension on our Store providing very similar value.
- We encourage the Author to iterate on existing extensions, add new functionality, fix bugs, or even re-write it.
- There is an open PR for an extension providing very similar value.
- The extension does not follow our [technical guidelines](https://developers.raycast.com/basics/prepare-an-extension-for-store).
- The extension's name uses restricted words. Currently, we are restricting the use of the word "Assistant".
#### Featured Extensions
Every month, our Community Managers choose 3 extensions to feature on the Raycast Store. Featured extensions receive prominent visibility for one month, both online and in the app. We select based on:
- Innovation and creativity.
- Popularity and demand.
- Extensions that haven't been featured before.
Official extensions from our partners may receive priority consideration.
#### The Future of Raycast Developer API and Breaking Changes
Raycast may make breaking changes to our API in the future. Here's what this means for extension developers:
- A plan will be published beforehand.
- A guideline will be provided by Raycast's engineers on how to proceed, the changes made, and the consequences.
- Raycast engineers will be available to help with migration.
- Authors will be responsible for migrating their extensions.
### Contact Support
Source: https://manual.raycast.com/contact-support
Description: Learn how to get in touch with Rayacst Support to ask questions, report bugs, request billing help, or reach out to the Enterprise team.
Last updated: 31 July 2026
If you need help with Raycast, there's several ways to get in touch with Raycast Support.
#### Send Feedback
Need help? The best method is the [Send Feedback](raycast://extensions/raycast/raycast/send-feedback) command within Raycast. From there, you can share feature requests, report bugs, raise billing issues, or ask any other questions you may have.
You can also mention `@raycast-feedback` in AI Chat or Quick AI to send feedback with AI — describe your request in natural language, and Raycast will prepare a summary for you to review before anything is sent. Alternatively, use the [Feedback form](https://www.raycast.com/feedback) on the Raycast website.
#### Email Support
Prefer email? You can reach out to Raycast Support on the following email addresses best relating to your query:
- **General support or bug reports:** [support@raycast.com](mailto:support@raycast.com)
- **Billing queries:** [billing@raycast.com](mailto:billing@raycast.com)
- **Enterprise queries:** [enterprise@raycast.com](mailto:enterprise@raycast.com)
#### Slack Community
Join thousands of Raycast users on the [Raycast Community on Slack](https://raycast.com/community) to share tips, discover extensions, and get help from the people who use Raycast every day.