Apple introduced a slew of major design and feature updates for all its working techniques at WWDC 2025, and identical to yearly, the corporate has once more in-built some options that have been beforehand obtainable by way of third-party apps. Within the Apple world, that is known as “Sherlocking.”

Within the late ’90s, Apple launched a search app named Sherlock for macOS 8 to let customers search the net and recordsdata on native techniques. One other firm known as Karelia Software program had an current $29 search app known as Watson, with plug-ins for higher web search. In 2002, Apple launched Sherlock 3, which had options just like Watson, forcing Karelia to ultimately shut its app down.

Since then, tech folks have used the time period “Sherlocking” to allude to when Apple builds a brand new function that does the identical factor as an current third-party app.

Listed here are the brand new options that Sherlock what numerous apps have accomplished previously:

The brand new Highlight app on macOS

Sherlocked apps: Raycast, Launchbar

Sure, Raycast does rather more than stringing shortcuts collectively, and it supplies a developer platform too. However when Apple confirmed off the brand new Highlight seek for Mac through the keynote on Monday, you couldn’t assist considering of Raycast.

While you open Raycast, it exhibits you urged apps and instructions, which is precisely what the brand new Concentration is going to let customers do for recordsdata, apps, and shortcuts. The kicker, although, is Apple’s “Actions,” which allow you to do all types of stuff like placing an occasion in your calendar, making a GIF, or making a folder, identical to Raycast allows you to do.

Highlight now additionally allows you to entry gadgets from the menus for any lively home windows. Plus, you may outline a brief string to carry out particular actions — for instance, you might set the string “newr” to create a brand new reminder merchandise. Highlight can be getting help for the Intents API so builders can add actions from their very own apps.

Final yr, Raycast expanded to Windows and iOS with a suite of AI-powered features.

Flight monitoring through Dwell Actions

Sherlocked apps: Flighty

Flightly, which helps you to monitor your personal or your folks’ flights and handle check-ins, beforehand gained an Apple Design Award. With iOS 26, Apple is updating Pockets to permit customers to see and share flight standing by way of Dwell Actions.

Maps can be getting the power to allow you to navigate the airport with data like gates, safety, retailers, bag claims, meals, and restrooms. Flighty additionally affords a few of these options.

AI mannequin integration with XCode

Sherlocked apps: Alex for Xcode

Apple is now making ChatGPT the default assistant for the Xcode 26 coding tool, and can be permitting builders to hook up different AI fashions utilizing API keys.

This takes on a Y-Combinator-backed app known as Alex for Xcode, which is an assistant that lets builders carry out net searches, repair points, run terminal instructions, search codebases, use native fashions, change inline code, and extra.

Report podcasts domestically

Sherlocked apps: Riverside

On the iPad, a brand new Native Seize function now lets creators document movies utilizing any video calling app, and share the recordings with others.

Riverside has helped customers do that for years, and in addition supplies a full enhancing suite. It’s not clear how helpful or highly effective Apple’s enhancing instruments can be for recording or enhancing podcasts.

Notes for Apple Watch

Sherlocked apps: Plenty of apps with similar functionality

Apple lastly introduced the official Notes app to Apple Watch with the WatchOS 26 replace.

This replace Sherlocks a number of apps that make it simpler for customers to take notes on Apple Watch.

Name screening

Sherlocked apps: Robokiller, Truecaller

Apple says iOS 26’s new Name Help function can take calls from unknown numbers silently, be aware the caller’s title and cause for calling, and present you these particulars, letting you select to just accept or reject the decision. You can even kind in a response to ask the caller extra questions.

Robokiller and Truecaller each supply this performance, along with different options like SMS spam safety.

Parcel monitoring

Sherlocked apps: Package tracking apps

Pockets can now monitor orders, too, utilizing Apple Intelligence to trace and summarize order standing by finding out the emails despatched by retailers or supply companies. This function Sherlocks a number of apps in the marketplace that allow you to monitor orders utilizing monitoring numbers.

What lies forward

Given Apple’s historical past of constructing in options made in style by third-party apps, those who supply a slender vary of performance won’t final lengthy. Nevertheless, builders have discovered that Apple’s implementation of sure options typically ends in customers changing into conscious of these capabilities, and plenty of choose to make use of third-party apps for a extra custom-made expertise. For instance, beforehand Sherlocked apps, Bezel for iPhone Mirroring, and Unite for net apps on Mac, have launched new variations with extra options for specialised use instances.