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My issue is as small as they get, but I like optimising my workflow. So I go to my Bluetooth settings multiple times a day; to switch headphones or when some other wireless peripheral acts up. I do this via Spotlight search and then type "blu". But then it finds "Bluetooth file exchange", and only after a second or two it shows a list of other options, like so:

Spotlight: blu

So I have to wait 2 seconds every time; instead of the usual fraction of a second. I figured I just change the name to "File Exchange Bluetooth" or something, but that doesn't seem possible.

What do?

P.S.: According to XKCD I'm allowed to allot 2 hours to solving this problem.

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  • Do you absolutely have to use Spotlight? If speed is the issue, you can create a keyboard shortcut to open the bluetooth sys prefs via an applescript.
    – arcdale
    Jun 28, 2018 at 10:45
  • If there are no other possibilities sure, but my preference is Spotlight. Can't I change the name of the program in terminal or something?
    – Herman
    Jun 29, 2018 at 12:48
  • Nope :/Applications/Utilities$ sudo mv Bluetooth\ File\ Exchange.app/ File\ Exchange\ Bluetooth.app/ mv: rename Bluetooth File Exchange.app/ to File Exchange Bluetooth.app/: Operation not permitted
    – Herman
    Jun 29, 2018 at 12:55
  • 1
    So many things I like about this visiting this web page today, thank you @Herman
    – Alien Life Form
    Feb 4, 2021 at 19:30

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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In Finder open /Applications/Utilities.

Next open System Preferences then choose the Spotlight preferences. Select the Privacy tab.

Now drag Bluetooth File Exchange from Finder to the Spotlight Privacy tab to exclude it from Spotlight (this will work because what is seen as app in by Finder in macOS is actually a folder, although you have to right click it in Finder and Show Package Contents to see it).

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Now try Spotlight again with "blu".

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If any other apps come up before Bluetooth preferences, drag them also into the Spotlight privacy pane.

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  • 2
    Solved it! And I think as a whole I spend about an hour on this issue. So in about 2,5 years it will have paid off ^^
    – Herman
    Jul 2, 2018 at 8:42
  • Is this intended? You can't add the app by clicking '+' and going through the menu. I just did it by dragging Bluetooth File Exchange to the Privacy tab, but it still shows up in Spotlight
    – Calvin Li
    Aug 12, 2019 at 16:26
  • Updating to Catalina actually removed it from the tab. I had to readd it again. Still a great solution though.
    – Herman
    Nov 18, 2019 at 9:45
  • 1
    I can't begin to tell you how much joy this solution brings.
    – Alien Life Form
    Feb 4, 2021 at 19:27
1

You can adjust your Spotlight search:

bl p works for Bluetooth

ss or s s works for Screen Sharing

a s for App Store (usually)

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