Free Mac App Finds Any File by Describing It

A new free app for Mac called DigUp changes how you find files. Instead of remembering file names or folder locations, you just describe what you remember. For example, typing "zebra in a video" opens the clip at the moment the zebra appears. "Where they talk about sleep" jumps to that minute in a podcast. "The clause about pets in the lease" shows the right page of a PDF with your words highlighted. It even works for photos, like "a dog on the beach," and in multiple languages such as Bengali or Arabic. If you're a coder, you can search for code snippets too.

So why should you care? This app could save you hours of frustrating searching. It runs entirely on your Mac, so your files never leave your computer—privacy is built in. The AI model is downloaded once (about 865 MB), and then it works offline. Searches are lightning fast: results appear about a tenth of a second after you stop typing. Indexing your files uses less than 2 GB of memory, and the helper quits when done, so it won't slow down your system.

The catch? It's only for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. Also, the first time you index your files, it might take a while depending on how many you have. And while it handles many file types, it's not perfect—complex or unusual formats might not work as well. But for most everyday needs, it's a powerful tool that feels like magic.

Developed by an independent creator and released for free under the MIT license, DigUp is a promising example of how AI can make our digital lives easier without compromising privacy. If you're a Mac user, it's definitely worth a try.