User Guide
Everything you need to know to get the most out of OmniFile.
Getting Started
Welcome to OmniFile! Here's how to set up and start searching your files in seconds.
Installation (macOS)
-
Download the DMG
Download the latest version from the Download page. -
Open the DMG
Double-click the downloadedOmniFile_x.x.x_x64.dmgfile. A window will open showing the OmniFile app and an Applications folder shortcut. -
Install the App
Drag OmniFile.app to the Applications folder. -
Eject the DMG
Right-click the OmniFile disk icon on your desktop or Finder sidebar and select "Eject", or drag it to the Trash. -
Launch OmniFile
Open OmniFile from your Applications folder or Launchpad.
First Launch on macOS
On first launch, macOS may show a dialog saying the app was downloaded from the internet. Click "Open" to proceed. If you see "Apple cannot check it for malicious software", right-click the app, select "Open", then click "Open" in the dialog.
First Launch
When you first launch OmniFile, you'll see the main search window. Before you can search, you need to tell OmniFile which folders to index.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the window, or press Ctrl + , to open Settings. -
Add Folders to Scan
In the "Scan Folders" section, click "Add Folder" and select the directories you want OmniFile to index (e.g., Documents, Desktop, Projects). -
Wait for Indexing
OmniFile will scan your selected folders and build an index. This may take a few moments depending on the number of files. -
Start Searching
Once indexing is complete, type in the search bar and results will appear instantly!
Tip
You can add multiple folders. OmniFile will search across all of them simultaneously.
Keyboard Shortcuts
OmniFile is designed for keyboard-first navigation. Master these shortcuts to find files faster than ever.
Global Shortcut
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Space | Show/hide OmniFile from anywhere on your computer |
Note
The global shortcut works even when OmniFile is minimized or hidden. It's the fastest way to search!
Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ↑ / ↓ | Move up/down through search results |
| Enter | Open the selected file |
| Ctrl + Enter | Show file in folder (reveal in Explorer/Finder) |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the file path to clipboard |
| Escape | Close Settings panel or hide the window |
Workflow Example
- Press Ctrl + Space to open OmniFile
- Type your search query (e.g., "quarterly report")
- Use ↓ to select the file you want
- Press Enter to open it, or Ctrl + Enter to reveal it in the folder
Workspaces
Workspaces let you create custom search scopes. Instead of searching everything, filter your results to specific sources, folders, or file names.
What is a Workspace?
A workspace is a saved filter that limits your search. For example:
- Work Projects - Only search files in your Projects folder
- Cloud Files - Search Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and SharePoint together
- Landscape Photos - Only show files with "landscape" in the name
- Development - Only search code files (.ts, .js, .py, etc.)
Creating a Workspace
-
Click "Add Workspace"
In the sidebar on the left, click the "+ Add Workspace" button. -
Name Your Workspace
Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Work", "Personal", "Photos"). -
Configure Filters
Set at least one of the following filters:- Sources - Select which sources to search: Local, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, Slack, Notion, GitHub, or iCloud Drive. Click to toggle each source on/off.
- Name contains - Only show files whose name includes this text. Works with both local and cloud files. Example: "report" to find all report files.
- Path contains - Only show files in folders matching this path. Note: This filter works best with local files. For cloud files, use "Name contains" instead.
-
Click "Add"
Your workspace is ready to use!
Using Workspaces
Click on a workspace in the sidebar to activate it. When a workspace is active:
- Only files matching all the workspace filters appear in search results
- The workspace name is highlighted in the sidebar
- Click "All Files" to return to searching everything
Editing and Deleting Workspaces
To manage your workspaces:
- Edit - Right-click on a workspace in the sidebar and select "Edit" to modify its filters
- Delete - Right-click on a workspace and select "Delete" to remove it
Workspace Examples
Here are some useful workspace configurations:
- Cloud Only - Enable Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, Notion, GitHub. Disable Local. Searches all your cloud storage at once.
- Documents - Name contains: ".pdf" or ".docx". Finds all document files across all sources.
- Project Files - Path contains: "/Projects/". Searches only within your Projects folder.
- Slack Messages - Enable only Slack source. Searches your Slack message history.
- Notion Notes - Enable only Notion source. Searches your Notion pages and databases.
- GitHub Code - Enable only GitHub source. Searches your repositories, issues, and code.
- Recent Reports - Name contains: "report". Quickly find all report files.
Tip
Combine filters for powerful searches. For example, create a workspace with "Local + Google Drive" sources and "invoice" in the name to quickly find all your invoices across local and cloud storage.
Pro Features
OmniFile Pro unlocks powerful features for power users. Here's how to set them up.
Activating Your License
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon or press Ctrl + , -
Go to License Section
Scroll down to find the "License" section and click "Upgrade to Pro". -
Enter Your License Key
The "Activate OmniFile Pro" dialog will appear. Paste the license key you received after purchase and click "Activate License".
Pro Features Overview
- Cloud Integrations - Connect Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, Slack, Notion, and GitHub to search all your files in one place. See Cloud Integrations for setup instructions.
- iCloud Drive Support - Add your iCloud Drive folder to search your Apple cloud files locally.
- Slack Sharing - Right-click on any search result to share it directly to a Slack channel. See Slack Sharing for details.
- Unlimited Workspaces - Create as many custom workspaces as you need
- Priority Support - Get faster responses from our support team
Privacy Note
OmniFile only reads file names and metadata for search indexing. Your file contents are never uploaded to our servers. All authentication happens directly between you and the cloud provider.
Don't have Pro yet? Upgrade now for a lifetime license!
Cloud Integrations
OmniFile Pro lets you search files across multiple cloud storage and productivity services. All integrations work the same way - click Connect, authorize in your browser, and your content becomes searchable.
Google Drive
Search your Google Drive files alongside local files.
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Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find Google Drive Section
Look for the "Google Drive" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Google authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Google account and grant permission. Your files will start indexing automatically.
Dropbox
Search your Dropbox files alongside local files.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find Dropbox Section
Look for "Dropbox (filename)" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Dropbox authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Dropbox account and grant permission.
Filename Search Only
Dropbox integration searches by filename. Full-text content search is available for Dropbox Business accounts only (this is a Dropbox API limitation).
Box
Search your Box cloud storage files.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find Box Section
Look for the "Box" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Box authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Box account and grant permission. Your files will become searchable.
SharePoint / OneDrive
Search your Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive files. This integration works with both personal Microsoft accounts and Microsoft 365 business accounts.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find SharePoint Section
Look for the "SharePoint" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Microsoft authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Microsoft account and grant permission. Files from your OneDrive and SharePoint sites will become searchable.
Slack
Search your Slack message history and shared files. Find conversations and documents across all your Slack channels.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find Slack Section
Look for the "Slack" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Slack authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Slack workspace and grant permission. Your messages and files will become searchable.
Certificate Warning
When connecting to Slack, your browser may show a security warning about an untrusted certificate. This is because OmniFile uses a local HTTPS server for the OAuth callback. To proceed:
- Chrome: Click "Advanced" (or "Details"), then click "Proceed to localhost (unsafe)" at the bottom of the page
- Firefox: Click "Advanced" then "Accept the Risk and Continue"
- Safari: Click "Show Details" then "visit this website"
iCloud Drive
Search your iCloud Drive files by adding the iCloud folder to your scan paths. iCloud Drive syncs to a local folder on your computer, so OmniFile can index it directly without OAuth.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find iCloud Drive Section
Look for the "iCloud Drive" button in the Scan Folders section. -
Click "Add iCloud Drive"
OmniFile will automatically detect your iCloud Drive folder and add it to your scan paths.
iCloud Drive Location
iCloud Drive is typically located at:
- macOS: ~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/
- Windows: %USERPROFILE%\iCloudDrive\ (requires iCloud for Windows)
Notion
Search your Notion pages and databases. Find information across your entire Notion workspace instantly.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find Notion Section
Look for the "Notion" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for Notion authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your Notion account and select the pages/workspaces you want to share with OmniFile. Your pages and databases will become searchable.
Page Access
When connecting Notion, you'll need to select which pages to share with OmniFile. You can modify this at any time from Notion's settings (Settings & Members > My Connections).
GitHub
Search your GitHub repositories, issues, pull requests, and code. Find files and discussions across all your personal repositories.
-
Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner. -
Find GitHub Section
Look for the "GitHub" section in Settings. -
Click "Connect"
A browser window will open for GitHub authentication. -
Authorize OmniFile
Sign in to your GitHub account and grant permission. Your repositories, issues, PRs, and code will become searchable.
What's Searchable
OmniFile searches only your own repositories. Search results include:
- Repositories - Find repos by name or description
- Issues & PRs - Search issues and pull requests you're involved in
- Code - Search by filename, path, or content within your repos
Tip
GitHub search works best with specific terms. Try searching for a filename like "HomeScreen.tsx" or a function name to quickly find the code you need.
Disconnecting Services
To disconnect a cloud service:
- Open Settings
- Find the service you want to disconnect
- Click "Disconnect"
Your files will no longer appear in search results, but your data on the cloud service is not affected.
Slack Sharing
With OmniFile Pro, you can share any search result directly to a Slack channel. This is perfect for quickly sharing files with your team.
Requirements
- OmniFile Pro license activated
- Slack connected in Settings (see Slack Integration)
Sharing a File to Slack
-
Search for a File
Use the search bar to find the file you want to share. -
Right-Click on the Result
Right-click on the search result to open the context menu. -
Select "Share to Slack"
Click "Share to Slack" in the context menu. -
Choose a Channel
In the modal that appears, select the Slack channel where you want to share the file. You can choose from public channels, private channels (that you're a member of), and direct messages. -
Add a Message (Optional)
Customize the message that will be sent along with the file link. -
Click "Share"
The file link will be posted to the selected Slack channel.
Tip
Slack Sharing works with all file types - local files, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, and even Slack messages. For cloud files, the link to the file in the cloud service is shared.
What Gets Shared
- Local files: The file path is shared
- Cloud files: A link to the file in the cloud service is shared
- Slack messages: A link to the original message is shared
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my files showing up in search?
Make sure you've added the folder containing those files in Settings > Scan Folders. After adding a folder, wait a few moments for indexing to complete. If files still don't appear, try clicking "Rescan" in the Local Index section.
Can I change the global shortcut?
Yes! Open Settings (gear icon) and find the Toggle Hotkey section. Click Change, then press your desired key combination (e.g. Ctrl + Shift + F). The new shortcut takes effect immediately and persists across restarts. To restore the default (Ctrl + Space), click the Reset button that appears next to the current shortcut.
Does OmniFile work offline?
Yes! OmniFile stores all file indexes locally on your device. You can search your local files without an internet connection. Cloud file search (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, Slack) requires internet access.
How do I uninstall OmniFile?
On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find OmniFile, and click Uninstall. On macOS, drag OmniFile from Applications to Trash.
Is my data safe?
Absolutely. OmniFile is privacy-first by design. All file indexes are stored locally on your device. We never upload, collect, or transmit your file data. When connecting cloud services, authentication happens directly between you and the provider.
Why do I see a certificate warning when connecting to Slack?
OmniFile uses a local HTTPS server for secure OAuth authentication with Slack. Because this certificate is self-signed (not from a trusted authority), your browser shows a warning. This is safe - the connection is only between your computer and itself. To proceed in Chrome, click "Advanced" (or "Details"), then click "Proceed to localhost (unsafe)". In Firefox, click "Advanced" then "Accept the Risk and Continue".
Can I share search results to Slack?
Yes! With OmniFile Pro and Slack connected, you can right-click any search result and select "Share to Slack". Choose a channel, customize your message, and the file link will be posted directly to Slack. See Slack Sharing for details.
How do I add iCloud Drive?
In Settings, look for the "Add iCloud Drive" button in the Scan Folders section. OmniFile will automatically detect your iCloud Drive folder and add it to your scan paths. Note: iCloud for Windows must be installed on Windows computers.
Why does my receipt show "TOUEI TATEMONO" or "Paddle"?
OmniFile uses Paddle as our payment processor (Merchant of Record). Your receipt email will come from Paddle and show "TOUEI TATEMONO CO., LTD" (our parent company) as the seller. Your credit card statement will show "PADDLE.NET* DEVTOOLSHQ". This is normal - you will also receive a separate email from OmniFile with your license key.
How do I contact support?
Email us at support@devtoolshq.net. We typically respond within 24 hours.