Fenn: Local AI search tool to find Mac computer files quickly

General Introduction

Fenn is a local file search tool designed for Mac users. It utilizes AI technology to quickly search all kinds of files in your computer, such as PDF, Word documents, video, audio, etc. The best feature of Fenn is that all the operations are done locally without the need of Internet connection, and will not upload files to the cloud to ensure user privacy and security. It is more powerful than Mac's own Spotlight, which can recognize the contents of files, such as video clips, pictures and text, etc. Fenn is suitable for people who need to manage files efficiently, especially those Mac users who have too many files to find.

Function List

• AI-powered local search: Quickly locate the contents of files through AI technology, not limited to file name search.
• Support for multiple file formats: Can search PDF, Word, video, audio, images and other documents, and even recognize text in pictures.
• Fully local operation: No internet connection is required and data is not uploaded to the cloud to protect user privacy.
• Visual and Semantic Understanding: Not only find files, but also understand their content, such as a scene in a video.
• Optimized for Apple chips: Runs smoother and faster on Macs with M1 and higher chips.
• Customized index ranges: The user can choose which folders need to be searched and which do not.

Using Help

Installation process

1. Visit the official website to download
   Open your browser and enter the official Fenn website. Click the "Get Fenn today" button on the homepage, the page will jump to the download area. Select the version for your Mac system (usually detected automatically) and click download. The download file is a.dmgThe format of the installation package, the size of about a few tens of MB, depending on the version.
2. Installation of Fenn
   Once the download is complete, double-click.dmgfile, the system will pop up an installation window. Drag the Fenn icon to the Applications folder icon and wait a few seconds for the installation to complete. If the Mac prompts "From an unknown developer", right-click on the.dmgfile, select "Open" and then click "Allow" in the pop-up window.
3. initialization
   Open the Applications folder, find Fenn, and double-click to launch it. The first time it runs, Fenn will ask for permission to access your files. Click "Allow" to let it scan your computer files. Next, Fenn will ask you to select folders to index, the default is the entire hard disk, but you can manually uncheck some areas you don't want to search, such as the "Downloads" folder.

How to use the main features

Search for documents

After launching Fenn, there is a search box on the interface. Enter what you're looking for, such as "2024 contract" or "cat videos". Within seconds, Fenn will list all the matches. The results not only include the file name, but also show a preview of the contents of the file, such as a page of text in a PDF or a frame in a video. Click on the result, you can directly open the file.

Recognize image and video content

If you want to find the text in a picture, for example, the number on an invoice, directly in the search box, type "invoice number", Fenn will scan all the pictures to find documents containing this word. If you want to find a scene in a video, such as "the beginning of a speech", enter the keyword, Fenn will locate the specific point in time of the video, click on it to play.

Setting the index range

If you want to make your search faster, you can limit the search scope of Fenn. Click the Settings icon on the top right corner of the interface, and select "Index Management". Here you can see the list of currently indexed folders. Uncheck the folders you don't need, such as "System Files", and then click "Update Index". The update process may take a few minutes, depending on the number of files.

Operation process details

• Daily Search: Open Fenn, enter the keyword, wait for the result, click to open the file, the whole process is not more than 10 seconds.
• Advanced Search: Preface the search box with a qualifier, such aspdf:合同Search PDF files only, orvideo:旅行Search only videos. fenn will automatically filter other types.
• Privacy ManagementFenn is not connected to the Internet by default, but you can check the "Network Status" in Settings to make sure it is always "Offline". If you delete the index by mistake, you can rebuild it in "Settings - Restore Defaults".
• performance optimization: On Macs with M1 or M2 chips, Fenn automatically enables hardware acceleration. If you feel laggy, check if your computer has insufficient storage space, Fenn needs at least 1GB free space to run smoothly.

Fenn is simple to use but powerful. When using it for the first time, it is recommended to spend a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the interface, especially setting the index range, which can greatly improve efficiency. When searching, the more specific the keywords, the more accurate the results. If you have questions, you can check the help page on the official website for common answers.

application scenario

1. Organize working documents
   You're a designer with thousands of PDFs and images of your designs on your computer. If you want to find a certain contract, just type in "contract number" and Fenn will find it in a few seconds without going through folders.
2. Finding Learning Materials
   You're a student, and you have a lot of class videos and notes on your hard disk. Type in "Linear Algebra Explained" and Fenn will locate the specific segment of the video in question, eliminating the need to manually fast-forward through it.
3. Managing Personal Audio and Video
   You like to make videos, and your hard drive is full of footage. Type in "birthday party 2023" and Fenn finds all the videos and photos taken that day, even picking out the ones with the cake.

QA

1. Does Fenn require an internet connection?
   No need.Fenn runs completely locally, all data stays on your Mac, no cloud uploads.
2. What Mac systems are supported?
   Fenn supports macOS 11 (Big Sur) and above, and is best experienced on Macs with M1 and M2 chips.
3. What about slow searches?
   Check if the index range is too large and reduce unnecessary folders. Make sure you have enough space on your hard disk, and cleaning up junk files can also speed things up.
4. Can you search for encrypted files?
   No. Fenn cannot read the contents of encrypted or password-protected files; it can only see the file name.