Find Text: File Content Search · for Mac

Find the words inside your files.

You remember a word, but not which file it was in. Type it into Find Text and see every document that contains it, with the word highlighted right where it appears.

Download on theMac App Store

Compare Basic and Pro

Free to start OCR on every plan Private on your Mac No account

Find Text searching for budget and Q3 across Word, Excel, and photo files, with highlighted matches in the preview and the same search run from Terminal with ft search budget Q3

Searches inside PDF Word Excel PowerPoint Pages Numbers Keynote Markdown JSON HTML CSV Text Scans & photos

How it works

Three steps, then just type.

Add folders

Choose the folders you want to search, including iCloud Drive folders. Find Text reads only what you add.

Build the index once

Document text and OCR are read in the background with a progress bar. The index stays on your Mac.

Type a word, press Return

Every file that contains it appears, with the match highlighted in the preview beside the results.

Features

Find the exact spot, not just the file.

Search inside documents, scans, and photos, then jump straight to each highlighted match.

See every match

Each keyword gets its own color and counter.

Matches are highlighted in the preview, and each keyword has a counter like budget 1/7 with arrows to step through a long document without scrolling.

Search up to 3 content keywords at once with Pro
Matching lines are shown under each result, so you can tell files apart before opening them
Drag a box over a PDF preview to zoom in up to 800% on drawings, tables, and small print

Find Text preview of a Word report with budget, campaign, and deadline highlighted in orange, green, and blue, each with its own match counter

Built-in OCR · every plan

Scanned PDFs and photos are searchable too.

Find Text reads the text in scanned documents, screenshots, whiteboard photos, and images, so a signed contract or a photo of a receipt shows up like any other file. OCR is now free on every plan.

Scanned PDFs and images: JPG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF, and BMP
Recognized text is highlighted on the page in the preview
Text recognition runs on your Mac

Find Text finding the word agreement on a scanned, signed PDF, with the recognized word highlighted on the scanned page

Partial-word search

Find a word or number from any part.

Keywords of three or more letters or digits also match inside longer words, so 4401 finds PN-44017 in orders, packing slips, spreadsheets, and notes. End a word with * to match its start, so ap* finds apple and approval.

Works with English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text
Useful for part numbers, invoice numbers, codes, and names you only half remember

Find Text searching 4401 and finding PN-44017 in a text note, a purchase order PDF, a packing slip, and an Excel budget

Narrow results fast

Combine file name, file type, and content.

Find "payment" only in PDFs, or notes named "2026" that mention "budget". With Pro, add exclude keywords to drop drafts or samples from the list.

File Name, Extension, Content, and Exclude fields work together
Open, Open With, Reveal in Finder, Show Path, and Copy Path from any result

Find Text with File Name set to invoice, Content set to payment, and Exclude set to draft, showing four invoice PDFs, and the same search in Terminal

iCloud Drive folders

Add iCloud Drive and other synced folders. Files need to be downloaded to your Mac to be indexed.

Automatic index updates Pro

Keep the index current as files are added and changed, or press Update Index any time.

Command line tool Pro

Run ft search from Terminal, scripts, and AI tools on the same local index.

Command line tool · Pro

Search from Terminal, scripts, and AI tools.

The find-text command, or the short ft, searches the same index as the app. Print names and paths, plain paths, or JSON with snippets and PDF page numbers.

Set up in Settings > Command Line Tool > Copy Setup Command
search, status, and update commands
The same filters as the app: --name, --ext, --exclude

Read the command line guide

Terminal

~ % ft search payment --name invoice --exclude draft --limit 2
1. Invoice INV-2026-0627.pdf
   /Users/Shared/FindTextDemo/Work/Invoices/Invoice INV-2026-0627.pdf
2. Invoice INV-2026-0603.pdf
   /Users/Shared/FindTextDemo/Work/Invoices/Invoice INV-2026-0603.pdf

Showing 2 of 4 results.

~ % ft search marketing --ext docx --paths-only
/Users/Shared/FindTextDemo/Work/Reports/Q2 2026 Marketing Report.docx
/Users/Shared/FindTextDemo/Work/Meeting Notes/2026-06-02 Budget Review.docx

~ % ft search agreement --json # adds snippets and PDF page numbers

Basic and Pro

Free to start. Upgrade when you need more.

Basic is free with no time limit. Pro is available as Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime in the app.

Basic

Free

FreeNo time limit, no account

Up to 2 folders
1 file name keyword and 1 content keyword
File type filter, combined with a file name or content keyword
OCR for scanned PDFs, images, and iWork files
Partial-word search and * prefix search
Previews with highlights, Open, and Reveal in Finder

Pro

Monthly, Yearly, or LifetimePrices are shown in the app and on the App Store

Everything in Basic, plus:
More folders
Up to 3 content keywords and multiple file name keywords
File-type-only search and exclude keywords
Automatic index updates
Command line tool (find-text and ft) for Terminal, scripts, and AI tools

Compare plans
Feature	Basic	Pro
Folders	Up to 2	More folders
Content keywords	1	Up to 3
File name keywords	1	Multiple
File type filter	With a keyword	Also on its own
OCR for scans and images	✓	✓
Highlights, match counters, PDF zoom	✓	✓
Exclude keywords	—	✓
Automatic index updates	—	✓
Command line tool	—	✓

There is no free trial: Basic stays free, and Pro unlocks as soon as you subscribe or buy Lifetime. Subscriptions are managed in your Apple Account.

Supported files

The documents you actually keep.

Documents

PDF, Microsoft Office, and Apple iWork files.

pdfdocxpptxpptmxlsxxlsmxltxxltmpagesnumberskey

Text and web

Notes, logs, data files, and saved web pages.

txttextlogmdmarkdowncsvtsvjsonhtmlhtm

Images (OCR)

Scans, screenshots, receipts, and whiteboard photos.

jpgjpegpngheictiftiffbmp

Private by design

Everything happens on your Mac.

Find Text only reads the folders you choose and builds its index locally. Read the privacy policy.

Your files, document text, and search history are never uploaded
The command line tool reads the same local index
No account or sign-in

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Is OCR included in the free plan?

Yes. Since version 1.2, built-in OCR for scanned PDFs and images is included on every plan, including Basic.

Do my files leave my Mac?

No. Find Text reads only the folders you add, builds its index on your Mac, and never uploads your files, document text, or search history. No account is needed.

Can I search part of a word or number?

Yes. Type 4401 to find PN-44017, or end a word with * to match its start, so ap* finds apple and approval. This works with English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text.

Can it search iCloud Drive?

Yes. Add an iCloud Drive folder like any other folder. Files that are stored only in the cloud need to be downloaded to your Mac before their text can be indexed.

How do I set up the command line tool?

With Pro, open Settings > Command Line Tool, turn it on, click Copy Setup Command, and paste the command into Terminal. Then run ft search followed by your keywords. See the command line guide for every option.

Is Find Text the same app as Quick Search File?

No. They are separate apps. Find Text searches the words inside your documents on Mac. Quick Search File is a different app for finding files by name. Find Text was previously listed on the App Store as "Quick Search Files & Find Text".

Free to start. Private on your Mac.

Add a folder, build the index, and type the word you remember.

Download on theMac App Store