Search for a file
- Press Cmd+F. The cursor goes to the search box (Hyperdrive search on a Mac, Fast search on Windows or with Classic).
- Type part of the name, for example
report-2026. - Press Enter. Fast Finder runs the search and goes to the results.
- Press Esc to leave the box.
- Press the x in the box to clear the search.
What a search covers
- By default, search covers your home folder.
- Other choices are "This folder" and "Whole Mac". Open Advanced under the box to choose.
- By default, search finds files only. Folders is an option under the box.
- Names match as you type them: the name must contain the exact text. Capital letters do not matter.
- Hidden items and system folders are never in search results.
The timing pill
The pill beside the box shows how long the search took. When Fast Finder knows it, the pill also shows how many items it searched.
The index ring
A spinning ring shows while the index builds. A faint note shows beside the search box. On a Mac with Hyperdrive, it says "Hyperdrive indexing... it takes a little while, but it is worth it." With Classic, it says "Indexing... it takes a little while, but it is worth it." In a narrow window, hover over the note to read all of it. The Windows beta has no index, so it shows no note.
Options under the box
- Files and Folders. Both cannot be off. Fast Finder remembers your choice.
- Advanced: Type (Applications, PDF, Images, Video, Audio, Code, Documents), Size, Modified, and Search inside files.
- Search inside files looks inside text, notes, Markdown and code files in your home folder. It does not look inside PDF or Word files.
- "Reset options" puts every option back to its default.
Type, Size and Modified need the search index. A search for one file extension can use Hyperdrive. The Type, Size and Modified filters, several extensions, several words, patterns, Whole Mac and Search inside files use Classic.
Typed words
You can also type: *.md, ext:pdf, size:>5mb, mtime:<7d, in:~/Folder.
Windows
The Windows beta has no index. Search reads names in the open folder and below it, for up to 8 seconds.
A search stops after 8 seconds. The list then shows only the files found until then. A file can exist and not be in the list. Open a smaller folder and search again.