macOS app and Command Line Interface (CLI)

Desktop file search for large folders, AI workflows, and automation.

Quick Search for macOS gives you a native Mac app for visual searching plus optional Command Line Interface (CLI) access for Terminal, scripts, shell pipelines, Shortcuts, automation tools, and AI-assisted file work. The Mac app builds the local index; the CLI uses that same index for update, search, and status commands.

Available on the App StoremacOS appOptional CLI for subscribers
APPDownload

Available on the App Store for Mac.

Quick Search macOS iconquick-search search report 2026 --ext pdfquick-search search report --ext pdf --json --limit 10

Mac app

A focused desktop interface for indexed folders.

Use the app when you want a visual workflow: add folders, build or update the index, search by filename or extension, inspect paths, and open files from a native macOS interface.

Basic workflow

Add one or more folders, create or update the local index, and search with filename terms, extension filters, or both.

Results and file actions

Review clear filenames and paths, open files, and inspect full names or paths when a result is truncated.

Index updates

Update the index after adding, deleting, moving, or renaming many files. Automatic refresh is available with an active subscription.

macOS screenshots

Search examples from the macOS app.

Use extension search when you know the file format, or combine filename terms to narrow a larger document set quickly.

Quick Search for macOS showing extension search for pdf files
Extension searchFilter results by file type such as pdf.
Quick Search for macOS showing combined filename search results
Combined filename searchSearch multiple filename terms with default AND matching.

Lightning-fast search

Measured in milliseconds on a 100,000-file stress test.

The macOS App averaged millisecond-level search time when matching combined filename terms with default AND matching and an extension filter.

4.952 ms

Average macOS App search time across three 100,000-file test runs

Command line

The same shared index, available from Terminal.

The Command Line Interface (CLI) runs through Quick Search.app and uses the same app-authorized local index. Add folders and build the index in the Mac app first, then use quick-search or qs for update, search, and status commands. CLI features require an active subscription and must be enabled in Settings.

Command names

Use quick-search as the primary command. The optional qs alias is available when it does not conflict with another tool.

quick-search help

AI-ready output

Return readable text, paths-only output for shell pipelines, or JSON with structured metadata for AI assistants, scripts, and automation systems.

quick-search search report --ext pdf --json --limit 10

Update and inspect the shared index

quick-search updatequick-search status

Add folders and build the initial index in the Mac app so folder access stays aligned with macOS security-scoped permissions.

Search from Terminal

quick-search search report 2026 --ext pdfquick-search search report --ext pdf --paths-onlyquick-search search invoice contract --or

Shell pipeline examples

quick-search search report --ext pdf --paths-only | headquick-search search report --ext pdf --paths-only | pbcopyquick-search search report --ext pdf --paths-only | xargs -I {} open "{}"

Use with AI and automation

Use --json when another tool needs name, path, relative path, extension, root folder, and file size. Use --limit to keep AI context small and predictable.

quick-search search report --ext pdf --json --limit 10