Mac Tip: View Files Instantly with Quick Look

We spend a lot of time opening and closing files just to check their contents. There is a built-in Mac shortcut that lets you preview almost any file instantly without actually opening the application that created it. It’s called Quick Look.

Select any file—a PDF, an image, a video, or even a presentation—and simply press the Spacebar. A preview window pops open instantly. Want to close it? Press the Spacebar again (or hit Esc).

This shortcut is simple, but it saves minutes every day. Combine it with the Stacks tip from before, and you’ll be blazing through your file organization.