* The tool is truly amazing. Both for simple usage, and the advanced queries that it accepts. Very powerful, like a command line tool.

* As another comment says, v1.5 alpha has many advantages. Despite the alpha label, I find it to be very stable.

* Several software integrations exist: https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6326, I mostly like being able to see folder sizes instantly in explorer. I used xplorer2 in the past, which has a plugin, but I went back to native explorer, which has a Windhawk mod, feels like what Microsoft should have done: https://windhawk.net/mods/explorer-details-better-file-sizes

I've been using this tool for a while. It is incredibly useful. Kudos to the developer(s).

The real question is: why is the default Windows search so terrible? Did Microsoft make it useless on purpose?

Saw this mentioned in a comment recently, I just downloaded, installed and used it to find a file while Windows Search was still saying 'Working on it...'. So I thought others might like to know.

Previously on HN a year ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41337268 and probably other times

Thank you, whoever you were!

I'm running the 1.5 Alpha for many of the reasons listed on its page: https://www.voidtools.com/everything-1.5a/ (especially Dark Mode and support for Properties/Tags/xattr/ADS/XMP)

e: also available in WinGet as `voidtools.Everything.Alpha` https://github.com/microsoft/winget-pkgs/tree/master/manifes...

Amazing utility that just works. Windows version of ‘locate’

IIRC it loads the FS index into memory and queries directly off of it. If a simple metadata search is enough for you I don’t think you can do better

This tool has completely changed the way I work with files - I no longer need to remember where they are, just a part of the name. Coincidentally, this means my files are better organized, since I know I can always just jump straight there instead of having to think about the folder structure.

I use it so often that I put it in the search bar, so that I can open it with Win + 1.

WizTree uses a similar idea - load the file system indices and works almost instantly.

I used this for a while. What I don't like is that it updates its database by creating an entirely new copy and then deleting/renaming. For me that meant a several-hundred-MB file was being unnecessarily rewritten on a regular basis. It's a rather excessive waste of resources and not a polite thing to do when a lot of people have SSDs now.

I uninstalled it for that reason.

This is most often used tool in my daily work.

I work on win11. I don't use native search because it sucks and is slow as tar drip experiment.

Onedrive/sharepoint files content search at least works at all but only in web version. Still slow as hell, unreliable, ui/ux is crap.

With Everything I search >500k real files/folders + >300k fake files in milliseconds.

This is the first thing i install on windows for like 10 years. Then i set up Ctrl+alt+s to toggle the everything window.

This tool is legitimately one of the best utilities I've ever used. I've got my entire corporate branch using it.

It's a shame Microsoft can't figure their shit out and get a high quality native search figured out.

Literally the only good piece of software left on windows. Masterpiece

Best thing about windows and biggest thing I miss. Have never been able to find equivalent for Mac — stuff that comes close but really not quite the magic of Everything. Same w Total Commander. Sad!

Do you think future devs on this tool can use a new fast method to find content within files?

Everything is amazing. Even better if you set a shortcut key (I use ctrl+shift+/) and it's just so fast. You can even query (I just recently learned this) like:

*.txt size:>1024kb

How does it handle files with long paths? Windows had limitations on that…

Love this program. .this plus filepilot makes windows almost usable

Compliments to the chef

I love this I use it all the time.

I used this for years

It is a HUGE memory hog so buyer beware

This is one of the first things I install on a new Win OS install. Combined with good tagging in file names it makes finding things so fast. It is absurd Windows doesn't have this built in since it is a simple index that leverages NTFS file table.

HOLY SHIT that is fast. Thank you!