Getting Started with AnySearch 3.2

Installation

AnySearch is available on the Mac App Store. Download and install it like any other Mac app.

Requirements: macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later. AI Search requires Apple silicon; regular filename search still supports Intel Macs.

First Launch

When you first open AnySearch, it will ask for permission to access your files. Grant access to the folders you want to search — typically Desktop, Documents, and Downloads.

AnySearch will begin indexing your files in the background. Priority directories (Desktop, Documents, Downloads) are indexed first for immediate use. The full index builds progressively and is usually complete within a few minutes.

Basic Search

Start typing in the search bar and results appear instantly. AnySearch ranks exact names, prefixes and word-boundary matches first, then uses recency, path depth and files you opened through AnySearch to refine the order.

Names can be searched directly, by Pinyin or initials (baogao / bg → “报告”), or with syntax such as ext:pdf, kind:image and modified:7d. If there is no exact match, typo-tolerant subsequence matching is offered automatically.

Local AI Search

Forgot the file name? Click ✦ AI beside the search field or press ⇧⌘I and describe a photo, screenshot, document or video moment in your own words. Complete the initial download, choose your search folders and let AnySearch prepare them. You can then search offline while file contents and searches stay on your Mac. See Local AI Search.

Recent Files and Searches

When the search box is empty, recent searches appear as reusable chips and files recently opened through AnySearch lead the recent list, followed by recently modified files. History stays on this Mac and can be disabled or cleared in Settings.

File Landscape

Press ⌘⇧L to inspect your indexed files by type, extension, folder, activity and disk; review largest files and possible duplicates; then click any row to drill into search. See File Landscape.

QuickLook Preview

Select any file from the search results and press Space to preview it instantly, just like in Finder. Press Space again or Esc to close the preview. Use arrow keys to browse through files while the preview stays open.

Global Hotkey

Press ⌥ Space (Option + Space) to summon AnySearch from anywhere on your Mac. You can customize this in Settings → General.

For a compact floating panel, press ⌥ ⇧ Space (Option + Shift + Space).

Free Tier

AnySearch offers 100 free searches per app launch with full feature access. When you're ready for unlimited searches, check out our pricing plans.