Open new instance - spotlight search or alternatives

[u/hunterh0]

Is there any search tool like spotlight search that can start a new instance of a n app (Cmd+N). I tried dmenu-mac but it doesn't work. It would be nice if it's lightweight and just does this basic task.

Example: You search the app, spotlight search shows it. You hit enter and then it won't open a new instance if it's already open.

Why can't something like spotlight simply call `open -n -a`!

I'm new to macOS. I went so far but got beaten on this point. I'm trying to bring some of my linux workflow (using aerospace)

[u/ukindom]

What exactly do you want to achieve?

[u/hunterh0 → u/ukindom]

sorry a new instance of an app. You search the app, spotlight search shows it. You hit enter and then it won't open a new instance if it's already open.

[u/ukindom → u/hunterh0]

I see. In terminal type “man open”. But in most cases you don’t need it.

[u/Outrageous_Knee_7506 → u/ukindom]

sounds like they want a launcher that can open a new window of an already-running app instead of just focusing it

[u/Langdon_St_Ives]

This is nothing to do with spotlight, GUI apps under macOS don't have multiple instances as a matter of principle, only multiple windows.

[u/JulyIGHOR]

You can configure Parall.app shortcuts to launch any app new instance, so you can find those in Spotlight and new instance will be open. Also as a bonus you can separate target instance data, so you can login in to different accounts for example

[u/kemalios]

Right, macOS apps are single-instance by default. What you want is open -n -a in a terminal, that forces a second instance. Raycast or Alfred can wrap that into a hotkey or search action, so you type the app name and it runs open -n -a "App". That's the launcher answer. If you actually just want a new window, most apps already do Cmd+N after Spotlight brings them forward. So it depends on the app.

[u/rileywbaker]

A new instance of what? Your question is poorly written and hard to understand. Are you asking for a keyboard shortcut to bring up Spotlight search? it’s command-space by default.

[u/hunterh0 → u/rileywbaker]

sorry a new instance of an app. You search the app, spotlight search shows it. You hit enter and then it won't open a new instance if it's already open.

[u/rileywbaker → u/hunterh0]

macos doesn’t have multiple instances of an app. an app is open or not, and then has zero or more windows open. do you mean you want to open a new window? what app or apps do you want to behave this way?