Following the update to macOS 27, code-named Golden Gate, a change to the user interface is causing confusion among Mac users. Anyone who enables Siri AI—a feature also available in the European Union—loses the familiar Spotlight magnifying glass icon from the top menu bar.
Siri AI icon does not replace keyboard search
As initially introduced with the launch of macOS 27 with enhanced Siri, Apple is integrating the AI assistant more deeply into the operating system. Once Siri AI is activated after clearing a brief waitlist, the chatbot replaces the classic system search. While core Spotlight features such as quickly finding and launching applications remain intact, mouse navigation becomes more cumbersome.
Along with the Spotlight magnifying glass, the corresponding toggle in System Settings—previously used to show or hide the icon—disappears as well. Although the search function within System Settings occasionally still displays the menu item, the actual switch is missing from the interface. While a dedicated menu bar icon for Siri AI appears automatically, it does not offer a direct replacement for text input: clicking it merely opens the animated Siri orb for voice input. The button does not accept typed commands.
What options users have left
For users who prefer operating their Mac with a mouse, there is currently no official setting to restore the magnifying glass icon while Siri AI is active. The behavior is hardcoded: if Siri AI is disabled in System Settings, the Spotlight icon immediately returns to the menu bar.
Those who do not want to forgo the AI features must get used to the keyboard shortcut. The Command + Space key combination continues to reliably bring up the combined input window for Spotlight and Siri AI. Alternatively, users can work around the issue using custom shortcuts pinned to the menu bar. Whether Apple will introduce an option in an upcoming update that allows clicking the Siri icon to open the regular search field remains unclear.
Sources: Heise – News
