Everything about this feels like what Microsoft should have done. It’s absolutely amazing to me that search is so broken in Windows and yet a free third-party tool can instantly find any file anywhere.
Saw this mentioned in a comment recently, I just downloaded, installed and used it to find a file while Windows Search was still saying 'Working on it...'. So I thought others might like to know.
I'm running the 1.5 Alpha for many of the reasons listed on its page: https://www.voidtools.com/everything-1.5a/ (especially Dark Mode and support for Properties/Tags/xattr/ADS/XMP)
I used this for a while. What I don't like is that it updates its database by creating an entirely new copy and then deleting/renaming. For me that meant a several-hundred-MB file was being unnecessarily rewritten on a regular basis. It's a rather excessive waste of resources and not a polite thing to do when a lot of people have SSDs now.
This tool has completely changed the way I work with files - I no longer need to remember where they are, just a part of the name. Coincidentally, this means my files are better organized, since I know I can always just jump straight there instead of having to think about the folder structure.
I use it so often that I put it in the search bar, so that I can open it with Win + 1.
I do like XYplorer as well and have a license for it too, but its startup time is just so slooooow that I can't reach for it like I reach for File Pilot.
Halfway because it is fast, but it's fast because it keeps the index entirely within RAM and thus you can't yet throw an arbitrarily-large disk of stuff at it to content-index.
Best thing about windows and biggest thing I miss. Have never been able to find equivalent for Mac — stuff that comes close but really not quite the magic of Everything. Same w Total Commander. Sad!
It's not a gui, but in case you hadn't heard of it before: unixes usually have a `locate` command that'll do ~instant file/folder name searches. The index is usually rebuilt via a cron job though, it's not always up to date like Windows can do.
Everything is amazing. Even better if you set a shortcut key (I use ctrl+shift+/) and it's just so fast. You can even query (I just recently learned this) like:
This is one of the first things I install on a new Win OS install. Combined with good tagging in file names it makes finding things so fast. It is absurd Windows doesn't have this built in since it is a simple index that leverages NTFS file table.
* The tool is truly amazing. Both for simple usage, and the advanced queries that it accepts. Very powerful, like a command line tool.
* As another comment says, v1.5 alpha has many advantages. Despite the alpha label, I find it to be very stable.
* Several software integrations exist: https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6326, I mostly like being able to see folder sizes instantly in explorer. I used xplorer2 in the past, which has a plugin, but I went back to native explorer, which has a Windhawk mod, feels like what Microsoft should have done: https://windhawk.net/mods/explorer-details-better-file-sizes
Everything about this feels like what Microsoft should have done. It’s absolutely amazing to me that search is so broken in Windows and yet a free third-party tool can instantly find any file anywhere.
I've been using this tool for a while. It is incredibly useful. Kudos to the developer(s).
The real question is: why is the default Windows search so terrible? Did Microsoft make it useless on purpose?
Because the default windows search actually iterates every folder/subfolder, rather than using the global file table, which "everything" uses
I think it also searches inside documents by default.
It now seems to serve the purpose of funneling users into edge, AI products, or serving ads.
Saw this mentioned in a comment recently, I just downloaded, installed and used it to find a file while Windows Search was still saying 'Working on it...'. So I thought others might like to know.
Previously on HN a year ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41337268 and probably other times
Thank you, whoever you were!
I'm running the 1.5 Alpha for many of the reasons listed on its page: https://www.voidtools.com/everything-1.5a/ (especially Dark Mode and support for Properties/Tags/xattr/ADS/XMP)
e: also available in WinGet as `voidtools.Everything.Alpha` https://github.com/microsoft/winget-pkgs/tree/master/manifes...
I used this for a while. What I don't like is that it updates its database by creating an entirely new copy and then deleting/renaming. For me that meant a several-hundred-MB file was being unnecessarily rewritten on a regular basis. It's a rather excessive waste of resources and not a polite thing to do when a lot of people have SSDs now.
I uninstalled it for that reason.
Amazing utility that just works. Windows version of ‘locate’
IIRC it loads the FS index into memory and queries directly off of it. If a simple metadata search is enough for you I don’t think you can do better
This tool has completely changed the way I work with files - I no longer need to remember where they are, just a part of the name. Coincidentally, this means my files are better organized, since I know I can always just jump straight there instead of having to think about the folder structure.
I use it so often that I put it in the search bar, so that I can open it with Win + 1.
You may find FlowLauncher useful too: https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher
It can be configured to use an existing Voidtools Everything install in its settings, so a universal launcher can double as the everything searchbar
Huh, looks cool! Thank you for sharing, will check it out.
This is most often used tool in my daily work.
I work on win11. I don't use native search because it sucks and is slow as tar drip experiment.
Onedrive/sharepoint files content search at least works at all but only in web version. Still slow as hell, unreliable, ui/ux is crap.
With Everything I search >500k real files/folders + >300k fake files in milliseconds.
WizTree uses a similar idea - load the file system indices and works almost instantly.
This is the first thing i install on windows for like 10 years. Then i set up Ctrl+alt+s to toggle the everything window.
This tool is legitimately one of the best utilities I've ever used. I've got my entire corporate branch using it.
It's a shame Microsoft can't figure their shit out and get a high quality native search figured out.
Literally the only good piece of software left on windows. Masterpiece
And File Pilot :) https://filepilot.tech/ (t. FP Pro license holder)
I prefer XYPlorer.
I do like XYplorer as well and have a license for it too, but its startup time is just so slooooow that I can't reach for it like I reach for File Pilot.
Now written in twinBASIC for 64-bit support! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42637089
I have it in my startup. No time wasted to open its window.
Do you think future devs on this tool can use a new fast method to find content within files?
1.5 Alpha kind of halfway does this: https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9793
Halfway because it is fast, but it's fast because it keeps the index entirely within RAM and thus you can't yet throw an arbitrarily-large disk of stuff at it to content-index.
Best thing about windows and biggest thing I miss. Have never been able to find equivalent for Mac — stuff that comes close but really not quite the magic of Everything. Same w Total Commander. Sad!
Cardinal: Fastest and most accurate file search app for macOS. https://github.com/cardisoft/cardinal
It's slower to start-up than Everything but just as useful once running.
There are a few Mac oddities like OneDrive files appearing twice because macOS is convinced they exist in two locations, but that's a minor annoyance.
As sibling notes, you can use locate just like the patriarchs (once you do some osx-specific fiddling)
https://egeek.me/2020/04/18/enabling-locate-on-osx/
It's not a gui, but in case you hadn't heard of it before: unixes usually have a `locate` command that'll do ~instant file/folder name searches. The index is usually rebuilt via a cron job though, it's not always up to date like Windows can do.
Compliments to the chef
Everything is amazing. Even better if you set a shortcut key (I use ctrl+shift+/) and it's just so fast. You can even query (I just recently learned this) like:
*.txt size:>1024kb
How does it handle files with long paths? Windows had limitations on that…
Love this program. .this plus filepilot makes windows almost usable
I love this I use it all the time.
I used this for years
It is a HUGE memory hog so buyer beware
This is one of the first things I install on a new Win OS install. Combined with good tagging in file names it makes finding things so fast. It is absurd Windows doesn't have this built in since it is a simple index that leverages NTFS file table.
HOLY SHIT that is fast. Thank you!