OmniSearch
Results as you type — any substring matches, no full words needed Reliable two-character Chinese lookups; full pinyin or initials both work
One Search Box, Done Properly
A local filename search engine built for Chinese users — focused, quiet, instant
Instant Results as You Type
A local SQLite index responds in milliseconds — no more watching Spotlight spin. Search even while the first scan is still running.
Chinese First
NFC/NFD normalization makes two-character Chinese queries match reliably, with no more missing character variants — Chinese is priority one, not an afterthought.
Pinyin Shortcuts
No input-method switching: type xiangmu or
xm to find「项目」— full pinyin and initials both
match.
Any-Substring Matching
Remember just a fragment? Any-position substring hits directly —
no complete words needed. ghos finds Ghostty.
Live Index Updates
FSEvents watches the file system; creations, renames, moves and deletions sync to the index instantly, so results stay fresh.
Privacy Red Line
Never reads file contents. No network, no telemetry, no accounts. The index stores only names, paths, sizes and timestamps.
One File, Many Ways to Find It
Every query below finds the very same file
Chinese IME, English keyboard, or just the sound — however you remember it, one keystroke finds it
Why Choose OmniSearch
Completely Free
Every feature unlocked — no paywall, no subscription, no in-app purchases
Spotlight Independent
Own local index, never hijacks system search — both tools coexist peacefully
Built for Chinese
Chinese filename search on macOS is often frustrating; OmniSearch makes it priority one
You Choose the Folders
Desktop, Documents, Downloads work out of the box; add any custom folder in one click
Global Hotkey
Summon the search window anytime — search, find, get back to work
Quick Look
Press Space to preview a result, Enter to reveal it in Finder
Get Started in 4 Steps
Launch the App
OmniSearch lives in your menu bar
Grant Folders
Pick Desktop / Documents / Downloads, or add custom folders
First Index Build
Quiet background scan, searchable while indexing
Search Anytime
Hotkey to summon, type to find
Compatibility
📥 Download for Mac
OmniSearch is coming to the Mac App Store — stay tuned
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OmniSearch free?
Completely free. Every feature is unlocked — no paywall, no subscription, no in-app purchases — and every folder you can grant is supported.
Does it read my file contents?
Never. OmniSearch only accesses metadata — names, paths, sizes and timestamps. Reading file contents is the product's privacy red line.
Does it conflict with Spotlight?
No. OmniSearch builds its own local index, doesn't depend on or take over Spotlight. Both tools can run side by side, each doing its own job.
Which folders can I search?
Desktop, Documents and Downloads work out of the box, and you can grant any custom folder. Authorization goes through the system's standard panel and can be revoked anytime.
How does pinyin search work?
Just type: full pinyin (xiangmu) or initials (xm) both match 「项目」— no input-method switching and no setup required.
What about external drives?
The current version focuses on a blazing-fast experience for built-in folders. External drives and more locations are on the roadmap and will be supported over time.