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dave559

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 30, 2015
36
22
Does anyone know why Settings search isn't integrated into the main iOS search?

It's good that you can now search for individual settings controls, as this can be quicker than navigating through the menus, but I can't help but feel that Apple has missed a trick by not integrating Settings search into the main iOS search. Instead, you have to open Settings, then swipe down and then start typing in the Settings search box. It would be easier if I could just search Settings from within the main iOS search box instead, making it a one-stop place for everything on your phone?

I'm guessing perhaps that the technical reason might be that Settings is a separate app and the main system search can't "see inside it", but I think it would definitely be a usability improvement if this could be overcome?
 

Jessica Lares

macrumors G3
Oct 31, 2009
9,612
1,057
Near Dallas, Texas, USA
To be fair, OS X Spotlight doesn't do it either, and System Preferences has a search feature within it too.

It's probably not using the same hooks that are designed to work with the indexing. But yeah, it makes a lot of sense to have it. Would make up for the limit on 3D Touch shortcuts anyway.
 

gsmornot

macrumors 68040
Sep 29, 2014
3,672
3,853
Settings is in the list but no settings appear when you search, you're right. I had not tried it until you mentioned it even in settings but I can see where it would be helpful. Generally speaking I only use Spotlight for quickly finding apps but this habit has caused me to miss out on the force touch quick actions now added to icons since I never go to the icon to open the app.
 

GreyOS

macrumors 68040
Apr 12, 2012
3,358
1,694
I'm guessing perhaps that the technical reason might be that Settings is a separate app and the main system search can't "see inside it", but I think it would definitely be a usability improvement if this could be overcome?

Apple actually opened up spotlight to 3rd party apps with iOS 9, so their content can be indexed and deep linked. So it's strange one of their own stock apps doesn't support it. Stock apps like Mail can be searched from spotlight. Skype is one example of a 3rd party app that supports it.
 
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