diff --git a/Berthly/BerthlyApp.swift b/Berthly/BerthlyApp.swift
index 7060062..94e6393 100644
--- a/Berthly/BerthlyApp.swift
+++ b/Berthly/BerthlyApp.swift
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright 2026 Berthly Contributors
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
 
+import AppIntents
 import SwiftUI
 
 @main
@@ -18,6 +19,17 @@ struct BerthlyApp: App {
     init() {
         StatusButtonImageDedupe.install()
         SheetTerminationPolicy.install()
+        // Intents run outside the view tree, so they reach the one service and bridge through
+        // the dependency manager. Both must be registered before any intent can run.
+        let service = Self.makeService()
+        let bridge = MenuBarBridge()
+        _service = State(initialValue: service)
+        _menuBarBridge = State(initialValue: bridge)
+        AppDependencyManager.shared.add(dependency: service)
+        AppDependencyManager.shared.add(dependency: bridge)
+        if SpotlightIndexer.shouldRun(environment: ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment) {
+            spotlightIndexer.start(service: service)
+        }
         if Self.disableAnimations {
             // SwiftUI transactions are handled per-scene below; these AppKit-level defaults
             // cover what transactions can't reach — window/sheet present-dismiss slides and
@@ -27,8 +39,9 @@ struct BerthlyApp: App {
         }
     }
 
-    @State private var service: ContainerServiceBase = Self.makeService()
-    @State private var menuBarBridge = MenuBarBridge()
+    @State private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+    @State private var menuBarBridge: MenuBarBridge
+    private let spotlightIndexer = SpotlightIndexer()
     @State private var buildJobManager = BuildJobManager()
     /// Sparkle self-updater (PLAN/UPGRADE.md). Not started under tests, so nothing can hit the
     /// update feed or pop update UI mid-test.
diff --git a/Berthly/Intents/ComputeEntities.swift b/Berthly/Intents/ComputeEntities.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be6f79a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Berthly/Intents/ComputeEntities.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Berthly Contributors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+
+import AppIntents
+import CoreSpotlight
+
+/// A container as Shortcuts, Siri and Spotlight see it. Carries display strings only; actions go
+/// back through the service by `id`, so a stale entity can never act on stale state.
+struct ContainerEntity: AppEntity, IndexedEntity {
+    static let typeDisplayRepresentation = TypeDisplayRepresentation(name: "Container")
+    static let defaultQuery = ContainerEntityQuery()
+
+    let id: String
+    let name: String
+    let image: String
+    let status: String
+
+    init(_ container: Container) {
+        id = container.id
+        name = container.name
+        image = container.image
+        status = container.status.label
+    }
+
+    var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation {
+        DisplayRepresentation(
+            title: "\(name)", subtitle: "\(image) · \(status)",
+            image: .init(systemName: "shippingbox"))
+    }
+
+    var attributeSet: CSSearchableItemAttributeSet {
+        let attributes = defaultAttributeSet
+        attributes.displayName = name
+        attributes.contentDescription = "\(image) · \(status)"
+        attributes.keywords = ["container", image]
+        return attributes
+    }
+}
+
+struct MachineEntity: AppEntity, IndexedEntity {
+    static let typeDisplayRepresentation = TypeDisplayRepresentation(name: "Machine")
+    static let defaultQuery = MachineEntityQuery()
+
+    let id: String
+    let name: String
+    let image: String
+    let status: String
+
+    init(_ machine: Machine) {
+        id = machine.id
+        name = machine.name
+        image = machine.image
+        status = machine.status.label
+    }
+
+    var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation {
+        DisplayRepresentation(
+            title: "\(name)", subtitle: "\(image) · \(status)",
+            image: .init(systemName: "desktopcomputer"))
+    }
+
+    var attributeSet: CSSearchableItemAttributeSet {
+        let attributes = defaultAttributeSet
+        attributes.displayName = name
+        attributes.contentDescription = "\(image) · \(status)"
+        attributes.keywords = ["machine", "virtual machine", image]
+        return attributes
+    }
+}
+
+/// Lookup rules shared by the queries and the tests. Utility machines (the internal default VM)
+/// are excluded for the same reason the sidebar hides them: they are runtime plumbing, not
+/// something a user starts or stops by name.
+enum ComputeEntityCatalog {
+    @MainActor
+    static func containers(in service: ContainerServiceBase, ids: [String]? = nil, matching text: String? = nil) -> [ContainerEntity] {
+        service.containers
+            .filter { ids?.contains($0.id) ?? true }
+            .filter { matches(text, $0.name, $0.image) }
+            .map(ContainerEntity.init)
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    static func machines(in service: ContainerServiceBase, ids: [String]? = nil, matching text: String? = nil) -> [MachineEntity] {
+        service.machines
+            .filter { !$0.isUtility }
+            .filter { ids?.contains($0.id) ?? true }
+            .filter { matches(text, $0.name, $0.image) }
+            .map(MachineEntity.init)
+    }
+
+    private static func matches(_ text: String?, _ fields: String...) -> Bool {
+        guard let text, !text.isEmpty else { return true }
+        return fields.contains { $0.localizedCaseInsensitiveContains(text) }
+    }
+}
+
+struct ContainerEntityQuery: EntityStringQuery {
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func entities(for identifiers: [String]) async throws -> [ContainerEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, ids: identifiers)
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func entities(matching string: String) async throws -> [ContainerEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, matching: string)
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func suggestedEntities() async throws -> [ContainerEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service)
+    }
+}
+
+struct MachineEntityQuery: EntityStringQuery {
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func entities(for identifiers: [String]) async throws -> [MachineEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.machines(in: service, ids: identifiers)
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func entities(matching string: String) async throws -> [MachineEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.machines(in: service, matching: string)
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    func suggestedEntities() async throws -> [MachineEntity] {
+        ComputeEntityCatalog.machines(in: service)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Berthly/Intents/ComputeIntents.swift b/Berthly/Intents/ComputeIntents.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a4f7a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Berthly/Intents/ComputeIntents.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Berthly Contributors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+
+import AppIntents
+
+/// What each intent does, apart from the App Intents plumbing. `@Parameter`/`@Dependency` assert
+/// when touched outside the system's intent runtime, so tests cover the behavior here instead of
+/// calling `perform()`.
+enum ComputeIntentActions {
+    @MainActor
+    static func start(_ item: ComputeItem, in service: ContainerServiceBase) async throws {
+        switch item {
+        case .container(let id): try await service.startContainer(id)
+        case .machine(let id): try await service.startMachine(id)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    static func stop(_ item: ComputeItem, in service: ContainerServiceBase) async throws {
+        switch item {
+        case .container(let id): try await service.stopContainer(id)
+        case .machine(let id): try await service.stopMachine(id)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @MainActor
+    static func open(_ item: ComputeItem, in bridge: MenuBarBridge) {
+        bridge.pendingIntent = .selectCompute(item)
+    }
+}
+
+struct StartContainerIntent: AppIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Start Container"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Starts a stopped container.")
+    static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Start \(\.$container)") }
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Container") var container: ContainerEntity
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.start(.container(container.id), in: service)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
+
+struct StopContainerIntent: AppIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Stop Container"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Stops a running container.")
+    static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Stop \(\.$container)") }
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Container") var container: ContainerEntity
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.stop(.container(container.id), in: service)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
+
+struct OpenContainerIntent: OpenIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Open Container"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Shows a container in Berthly.")
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Container") var target: ContainerEntity
+    @Dependency private var bridge: MenuBarBridge
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        ComputeIntentActions.open(.container(target.id), in: bridge)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
+
+struct StartMachineIntent: AppIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Start Machine"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Starts a stopped machine.")
+    static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Start \(\.$machine)") }
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Machine") var machine: MachineEntity
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.start(.machine(machine.id), in: service)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
+
+struct StopMachineIntent: AppIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Stop Machine"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Stops a running machine.")
+    static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Stop \(\.$machine)") }
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Machine") var machine: MachineEntity
+    @Dependency private var service: ContainerServiceBase
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.stop(.machine(machine.id), in: service)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
+
+struct OpenMachineIntent: OpenIntent {
+    static let title: LocalizedStringResource = "Open Machine"
+    static let description = IntentDescription("Shows a machine in Berthly.")
+
+    @Parameter(title: "Machine") var target: MachineEntity
+    @Dependency private var bridge: MenuBarBridge
+
+    @MainActor
+    func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
+        ComputeIntentActions.open(.machine(target.id), in: bridge)
+        return .result()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Berthly/Intents/SpotlightIndexer.swift b/Berthly/Intents/SpotlightIndexer.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f099762
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Berthly/Intents/SpotlightIndexer.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Berthly Contributors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+
+import AppIntents
+import CoreSpotlight
+import Observation
+
+/// What changed between two index snapshots, keyed by entity id. A snapshot maps id to a
+/// fingerprint of everything the index shows, so an unchanged poll costs nothing.
+nonisolated struct IndexDiff {
+    var upserts: [String]
+    var removals: [String]
+
+    init(previous: [String: String], current: [String: String]) {
+        upserts = current.filter { previous[$0.key] != $0.value }.keys.sorted()
+        removals = previous.keys.filter { current[$0] == nil }.sorted()
+    }
+
+    var isEmpty: Bool { upserts.isEmpty && removals.isEmpty }
+}
+
+/// Keeps containers and machines in Spotlight's index in step with the service. Entities are
+/// indexed through App Intents (`IndexedEntity`, macOS 15+), so the same code serves macOS 26
+/// and 27; the macOS 27 `IndexedEntityQuery` reindex callback is not adopted because this
+/// indexer already re-sends everything on launch.
+@MainActor
+final class SpotlightIndexer {
+    private var containerSnapshot: [String: String] = [:]
+    private var machineSnapshot: [String: String] = [:]
+    private var hasSyncedSinceLaunch = false
+    private var task: Task<Void, Never>?
+
+    /// No indexing under tests: UI and unit test hosts must not write mock or real container
+    /// names into the developer's system-wide Spotlight index.
+    nonisolated static func shouldRun(environment: [String: String]) -> Bool {
+        UpdaterService.shouldStartUpdater(environment: environment)
+    }
+
+    func start(service: ContainerServiceBase) {
+        guard task == nil else { return }
+        task = Task { [weak self] in
+            while !Task.isCancelled {
+                guard let self else { return }
+                await self.sync(service)
+                await Self.nextChange(of: service)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// `onChange` fires before the new value lands, but resuming only schedules this task's
+    /// continuation, so it runs after the mutating turn has finished and sees the new state.
+    private static func nextChange(of service: ContainerServiceBase) async {
+        await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+            withObservationTracking {
+                _ = service.containers
+                _ = service.machines
+                _ = service.isConnected
+            } onChange: {
+                continuation.resume()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func sync(_ service: ContainerServiceBase) async {
+        // Before the first poll lands the lists are empty, and diffing that against a previous
+        // launch's index would wipe it for nothing.
+        guard service.isConnected else { return }
+        let containers = ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service)
+        let machines = ComputeEntityCatalog.machines(in: service)
+        let index = CSSearchableIndex.default()
+
+        if !hasSyncedSinceLaunch {
+            // Drops entries for items deleted while Berthly was not running.
+            try? await index.deleteAppEntities(ofType: ContainerEntity.self)
+            try? await index.deleteAppEntities(ofType: MachineEntity.self)
+            containerSnapshot = [:]
+            machineSnapshot = [:]
+            hasSyncedSinceLaunch = true
+        }
+
+        containerSnapshot = await Self.sync(
+            containers, previous: containerSnapshot, index: index,
+            fingerprint: { Self.fingerprint(name: $0.name, image: $0.image, status: $0.status) })
+        machineSnapshot = await Self.sync(
+            machines, previous: machineSnapshot, index: index,
+            fingerprint: { Self.fingerprint(name: $0.name, image: $0.image, status: $0.status) })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the snapshot to keep: the new one after sending a change, the old one when nothing
+    /// changed. Duplicate ids keep the first entry instead of trapping.
+    private static func sync<Entity: IndexedEntity>(
+        _ entities: [Entity], previous: [String: String], index: CSSearchableIndex,
+        fingerprint: (Entity) -> String
+    ) async -> [String: String] where Entity.ID == String {
+        let current = Dictionary(entities.map { ($0.id, fingerprint($0)) }, uniquingKeysWith: { first, _ in first })
+        let diff = IndexDiff(previous: previous, current: current)
+        guard !diff.isEmpty else { return previous }
+        try? await index.indexAppEntities(entities.filter { diff.upserts.contains($0.id) })
+        try? await index.deleteAppEntities(identifiedBy: diff.removals, ofType: Entity.self)
+        return current
+    }
+
+    nonisolated private static func fingerprint(name: String, image: String, status: String) -> String {
+        "\(name)|\(image)|\(status)"
+    }
+}
diff --git a/BerthlyTests/ComputeIntentsTests.swift b/BerthlyTests/ComputeIntentsTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..242226c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BerthlyTests/ComputeIntentsTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Berthly Contributors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+
+import Testing
+@testable import Berthly
+
+@MainActor
+struct ComputeEntityCatalogTests {
+
+    @Test func containersMatchByNameOrImageIgnoringCase() {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let first = service.containers[0]
+
+        let byName = ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, matching: first.name.uppercased())
+        #expect(byName.contains { $0.id == first.id })
+
+        let byImage = ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, matching: first.image)
+        #expect(byImage.contains { $0.id == first.id })
+
+        #expect(ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, matching: "no-such-thing-xyz").isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    @Test func lookupByIdentifiersReturnsOnlyThoseContainers() {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let wanted = service.containers[0].id
+        let result = ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, ids: [wanted, "missing"])
+        #expect(result.map(\.id) == [wanted])
+    }
+
+    @Test func emptySearchTextReturnsEverything() {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        #expect(ComputeEntityCatalog.containers(in: service, matching: "").count == service.containers.count)
+    }
+
+    @Test func utilityMachinesAreNeverOffered() {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let offered = Set(ComputeEntityCatalog.machines(in: service).map(\.id))
+        let utility = Set(service.machines.filter(\.isUtility).map(\.id))
+        #expect(offered.isDisjoint(with: utility))
+        #expect(offered.count == service.machines.filter { !$0.isUtility }.count)
+    }
+
+    @Test func entityCarriesTheStatusLabelShownInTheApp() {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let container = service.containers[0]
+        #expect(ContainerEntity(container).status == container.status.label)
+    }
+}
+
+struct IndexDiffTests {
+
+    @Test func newChangedAndRemovedIdsAreSeparated() {
+        let diff = IndexDiff(
+            previous: ["a": "1", "b": "1", "c": "1"],
+            current: ["b": "1", "c": "2", "d": "1"])
+        #expect(diff.upserts == ["c", "d"])
+        #expect(diff.removals == ["a"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func identicalSnapshotsAreEmpty() {
+        #expect(IndexDiff(previous: ["a": "1"], current: ["a": "1"]).isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    @Test func indexingIsSkippedUnderTests() {
+        #expect(!SpotlightIndexer.shouldRun(environment: ["XCTestConfigurationFilePath": "x"]))
+        #expect(!SpotlightIndexer.shouldRun(environment: ["UITEST_USE_MOCK_SERVICE": "1"]))
+        #expect(SpotlightIndexer.shouldRun(environment: [:]))
+    }
+}
+
+@MainActor
+struct ComputeIntentActionsTests {
+
+    @Test func startContainerStartsTheContainer() async throws {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let stopped = try #require(service.containers.first { $0.status == .stopped })
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.start(.container(stopped.id), in: service)
+        #expect(service.containers.first { $0.id == stopped.id }?.status == .running)
+    }
+
+    @Test func stopContainerStopsTheContainer() async throws {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let running = try #require(service.containers.first { $0.status == .running })
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.stop(.container(running.id), in: service)
+        #expect(service.containers.first { $0.id == running.id }?.status == .stopped)
+    }
+
+    @Test func stopThenStartMachineChangesTheMachine() async throws {
+        let service = MockContainerService()
+        let machine = try #require(service.machines.first { !$0.isUtility })
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.stop(.machine(machine.id), in: service)
+        #expect(service.machines.first { $0.id == machine.id }?.status == .stopped)
+        try await ComputeIntentActions.start(.machine(machine.id), in: service)
+        #expect(service.machines.first { $0.id == machine.id }?.status == .running)
+    }
+
+    @Test func openAsksTheMainWindowToSelectTheItem() {
+        let bridge = MenuBarBridge()
+        ComputeIntentActions.open(.container("c1"), in: bridge)
+        #expect(bridge.pendingIntent == .selectCompute(.container("c1")))
+        ComputeIntentActions.open(.machine("m1"), in: bridge)
+        #expect(bridge.pendingIntent == .selectCompute(.machine("m1")))
+    }
+}