How to preview files on a Mac with Quick Look
Updated 2026-10-15
Quick Look shows a file in a floating window without opening an app. Select the file and press Space.
The basics
- Select a file in Finder or on the Desktop.
- Press Space to open Quick Look.
- Press the arrow keys to move to the next file.
- Press Space or Escape to close it.
Press Option and Space to preview in full screen.
What it can preview
Images, PDFs, video, audio, text files and many Office and Pages documents. You can often scroll through pages, play media and mark up images from the preview.
From a wall of thumbnails
FileSift includes Quick Look too, so you can check a file from a large thumbnail view without opening it.
Common questions
Can Quick Look edit a file?
It can mark up some images and PDFs, rotate images and trim video, but it is not a full editor.
Why is Quick Look blank for some files?
Some file types have no previewer, and iCloud-only files may need to download first.
FileSift shows your folders as large thumbnails, searches in plain English and clears duplicates. See what it does.