Set new Spotlight window position to the computed coordinates and size

reset_spotlight_position.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2015-2025 dzogrim
# SPDX-FileContributor: dzogrim <[email protected]>
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# reset_spotlight_position.sh
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Description:
#   Re-centers the macOS Spotlight search bar on the main screen.
#   Optionally disables onboarding/suggestions and resets corrupted positioning.
#
# Usage:
#   ./reset_spotlight_position.sh          → safe reset (recommended)
#   ./reset_spotlight_position.sh --force  → full reset (includes .plist removal)
#
# Requirements:
#   - macOS (tested on macOS 15.5 Sequoia)
#   - Accessibility access for Terminal (osascript)
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Author: Sebastien L.
# Maintainer: dzogrim (Sébastien L.) — MIT License
# License: MIT
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

set -euo pipefail

# Default Spotlight window size
WIDTH=600
HEIGHT=52

# Handle --force .plist deletion mode
FORCE_MODE=false
if [[ "${1:-}" == "--force" ]]; then
  FORCE_MODE=true
fi

# Get main screen resolution via AppleScript
IFS=' ' read -r SCREEN_WIDTH SCREEN_HEIGHT <<< "$(
  osascript -e '
  tell application "Finder"
    set screenBounds to bounds of window of desktop
    set w to item 3 of screenBounds
    set h to item 4 of screenBounds
    return w & " " & h
  end tell' | tr -d ',' | xargs
)"

# Compute centered position
X=$(( (SCREEN_WIDTH - WIDTH) / 2 ))
Y=$(( (SCREEN_HEIGHT - HEIGHT) / 2 - 40 ))

# Apply reset logic
if $FORCE_MODE; then
  echo "⚠️ Forcing full Spotlight prefs reset ..."
  rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Spotlight.plist
else
  defaults delete com.apple.Spotlight lastVisibleScreenRect 2>/dev/null || true
fi

# Set new Spotlight window position to the computed coordinates and size.
defaults write com.apple.Spotlight lastVisibleScreenRect -string "{{${X}, ${Y}}, {${WIDTH}, ${HEIGHT}}}"

# Mark the Spotlight onboarding screen as already seen, to avoid the intro popup.
defaults write com.apple.Spotlight PresentationModeMenuSeen -bool true
# Disable Spotlight suggestions (e.g. web results, Siri suggestions).
defaults write com.apple.Spotlight SuggestionsEnabled -bool false
# Disable Lookup (dictionary) suggestions from Apple servers.
defaults write com.apple.lookup.shared LookupSuggestionsDisabled -bool true

# Checks the syntax of the Spotlight preferences file to ensure it is a valid property list (plist) file.
plutil -lint ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Spotlight.plist

# Restart the user-level preferences daemon so changes are picked up immediately.
killall cfprefsd 2>/dev/null || true
# Restart the SystemUIServer, which controls elements like Spotlight UI.
killall SystemUIServer 2>/dev/null || true

echo "✅ Spotlight repositioned to {${X}, ${Y}} on screen ${SCREEN_WIDTH}x${SCREEN_HEIGHT}"

# Open System Settings at Spotlight section
open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.spotlight"