Find any file by name
Search every file and folder name from your last scan, in an instant, protected folders included.
- Time
- 2 minutes
- Steps
- 5
What you need
- A saved Storage scan.
Steps
Step 1. Open Locate
Press ⇧⌘L. The first time, Locate prepares a name index from your saved scan. It does not read the disk again. The line under the search field says how many names it holds and when the scan was taken.
LocateFind files and folders by name in your saved Storage scan.Search or jump to…⌘KMatches38matches on page 1invoice⌘F2,184,306 indexed names · saved Storage snapshot of/· captured 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12KindAllFilesFoldersReload Saved IndexOpen StorageSaved snapshotIndex readyComplete saved scanMatches names, ignoring case and accents. Enter 3 or more characters to match anywhere; 1–2 characters match the start of a name.Name matchingLiteralFilter results…Sort resultsDiscovery orderExact names firstNameFull pathKindOn diskFile sizeModifiedinvoices/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoicesFolder48.6 MB47.9 MB9 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-031.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-031.pdfFile184 KB181 KB2 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-030.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-030.pdfFile176 KB172 KB18 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-029.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-029.pdfFile192 KB190 KB4 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-028.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-028.pdfFile168 KB166 KB21 Aug 2026Invoice template.pages/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…s/Invoice template.pagesFile412 KB409 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-logo.png/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…mplates/invoice-logo.pngFile64 KB61 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-export.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ports/invoice-export.csvFile28 KB24 KB30 Sep 2026invoice-export-2025.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/invoice-export-2025.csvFile96 KB93 KB3 Jan 2026Unpaid invoices.numbers/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/Unpaid invoices.numbersFile264 KB262 KB6 Oct 2026Invoices 2025.zip/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Invoices 2025.zipFile38.2 MB38.2 MB8 Jan 2026Supplier invoices/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Supplier invoicesFolder6.2 MB5.9 MB14 Mar 2026invoice-scan-0412.png/Users/sam/Pictures/Scans/invoice-scan-0412.pngFile2.4 MB2.4 MB12 Apr 2026invoice-generator/Users/sam/Developer/invoice-generatorFolder126 MB118.4 MB21 Aug 2026invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…generator/src/invoice.pyFile12 KB9 KB21 Aug 2026test_invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…or/tests/test_invoice.pyFile8 KB6 KB19 Aug 2026Roundtable invoice Q3.pdf/Users/sam/Downloads/Roundtable invoice Q3.pdfFile92 KB90 KB1 Oct 2026invoice-notes.txt/Users/sam/Desktop/invoice-notes.txtFile4 KB2 KB28 Sep 2026Invoice draft.pages/Users/sam/Desktop/Invoice draft.pagesFile388 KB384 KB5 Oct 2026invoices-backup/Users/sam/Desktop/To sort/invoices-backupFolder18.4 MB17.8 MB2 Feb 2026Page 1PreviousNextDiscovery order1 selectedQuick LookReveal in FinderInvoice 2026-031.pdfFileWhere it lives/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoices/Invoice 2026-031.pdf- On disk
- 184 KB
- File size
- 181 KB
- Modified
- 2 Oct 2026
From the saved snapshot. The item is checked again, by exact path, before any cleanup review.
In the basketQuick LookReveal in FinderCopy PathShow BasketSelect ShownClear BasketReview Basket…1 of 200 in the basketSelections stay through searches, filters and pages.Results reflect the saved scan, including its permission gaps. Sizes marked ≥ are incomplete. Refresh or choose a different scan root in Storage.Step 01 Step 2. Type part of the name
Press ⌘F to put the cursor in the field and type. Three or more letters match anywhere in a name. One or two letters match the start. Capitals and accents are ignored.
LocateFind files and folders by name in your saved Storage scan.Search or jump to…⌘KMatches38matches on page 1invoice⌘F2,184,306 indexed names · saved Storage snapshot of/· captured 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12KindAllFilesFoldersReload Saved IndexOpen StorageSaved snapshotIndex readyComplete saved scanMatches names, ignoring case and accents. Enter 3 or more characters to match anywhere; 1–2 characters match the start of a name.Name matchingLiteralFilter results…Sort resultsDiscovery orderExact names firstNameFull pathKindOn diskFile sizeModifiedinvoices/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoicesFolder48.6 MB47.9 MB9 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-031.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-031.pdfFile184 KB181 KB2 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-030.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-030.pdfFile176 KB172 KB18 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-029.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-029.pdfFile192 KB190 KB4 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-028.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-028.pdfFile168 KB166 KB21 Aug 2026Invoice template.pages/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…s/Invoice template.pagesFile412 KB409 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-logo.png/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…mplates/invoice-logo.pngFile64 KB61 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-export.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ports/invoice-export.csvFile28 KB24 KB30 Sep 2026invoice-export-2025.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/invoice-export-2025.csvFile96 KB93 KB3 Jan 2026Unpaid invoices.numbers/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/Unpaid invoices.numbersFile264 KB262 KB6 Oct 2026Invoices 2025.zip/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Invoices 2025.zipFile38.2 MB38.2 MB8 Jan 2026Supplier invoices/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Supplier invoicesFolder6.2 MB5.9 MB14 Mar 2026invoice-scan-0412.png/Users/sam/Pictures/Scans/invoice-scan-0412.pngFile2.4 MB2.4 MB12 Apr 2026invoice-generator/Users/sam/Developer/invoice-generatorFolder126 MB118.4 MB21 Aug 2026invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…generator/src/invoice.pyFile12 KB9 KB21 Aug 2026test_invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…or/tests/test_invoice.pyFile8 KB6 KB19 Aug 2026Roundtable invoice Q3.pdf/Users/sam/Downloads/Roundtable invoice Q3.pdfFile92 KB90 KB1 Oct 2026invoice-notes.txt/Users/sam/Desktop/invoice-notes.txtFile4 KB2 KB28 Sep 2026Invoice draft.pages/Users/sam/Desktop/Invoice draft.pagesFile388 KB384 KB5 Oct 2026invoices-backup/Users/sam/Desktop/To sort/invoices-backupFolder18.4 MB17.8 MB2 Feb 2026Page 1PreviousNextDiscovery order1 selectedQuick LookReveal in FinderInvoice 2026-031.pdfFileWhere it lives/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoices/Invoice 2026-031.pdf- On disk
- 184 KB
- File size
- 181 KB
- Modified
- 2 Oct 2026
From the saved snapshot. The item is checked again, by exact path, before any cleanup review.
In the basketQuick LookReveal in FinderCopy PathShow BasketSelect ShownClear BasketReview Basket…1 of 200 in the basketSelections stay through searches, filters and pages.Results reflect the saved scan, including its permission gaps. Sizes marked ≥ are incomplete. Refresh or choose a different scan root in Storage.Step 02 Step 3. Narrow it down
Kind limits results to files or folders. Filter results… adds a folder to search within, a size range and a date range. Sort results orders them by name, size or date.
If you only half remember the name, switch Name matching to Approximate. It tolerates typos and fragments.
LocateFind files and folders by name in your saved Storage scan.Search or jump to…⌘KMatches38matches on page 1invoice⌘F2,184,306 indexed names · saved Storage snapshot of/· captured 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12KindAllFilesFoldersReload Saved IndexOpen StorageSaved snapshotIndex readyComplete saved scanMatches names, ignoring case and accents. Enter 3 or more characters to match anywhere; 1–2 characters match the start of a name.Name matchingLiteralFilter results…Sort resultsDiscovery orderExact names firstNameFull pathKindOn diskFile sizeModifiedinvoices/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoicesFolder48.6 MB47.9 MB9 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-031.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-031.pdfFile184 KB181 KB2 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-030.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-030.pdfFile176 KB172 KB18 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-029.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-029.pdfFile192 KB190 KB4 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-028.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-028.pdfFile168 KB166 KB21 Aug 2026Invoice template.pages/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…s/Invoice template.pagesFile412 KB409 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-logo.png/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…mplates/invoice-logo.pngFile64 KB61 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-export.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ports/invoice-export.csvFile28 KB24 KB30 Sep 2026invoice-export-2025.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/invoice-export-2025.csvFile96 KB93 KB3 Jan 2026Unpaid invoices.numbers/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/Unpaid invoices.numbersFile264 KB262 KB6 Oct 2026Invoices 2025.zip/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Invoices 2025.zipFile38.2 MB38.2 MB8 Jan 2026Supplier invoices/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Supplier invoicesFolder6.2 MB5.9 MB14 Mar 2026invoice-scan-0412.png/Users/sam/Pictures/Scans/invoice-scan-0412.pngFile2.4 MB2.4 MB12 Apr 2026invoice-generator/Users/sam/Developer/invoice-generatorFolder126 MB118.4 MB21 Aug 2026invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…generator/src/invoice.pyFile12 KB9 KB21 Aug 2026test_invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…or/tests/test_invoice.pyFile8 KB6 KB19 Aug 2026Roundtable invoice Q3.pdf/Users/sam/Downloads/Roundtable invoice Q3.pdfFile92 KB90 KB1 Oct 2026invoice-notes.txt/Users/sam/Desktop/invoice-notes.txtFile4 KB2 KB28 Sep 2026Invoice draft.pages/Users/sam/Desktop/Invoice draft.pagesFile388 KB384 KB5 Oct 2026invoices-backup/Users/sam/Desktop/To sort/invoices-backupFolder18.4 MB17.8 MB2 Feb 2026Page 1PreviousNextDiscovery order1 selectedQuick LookReveal in FinderInvoice 2026-031.pdfFileWhere it lives/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoices/Invoice 2026-031.pdf- On disk
- 184 KB
- File size
- 181 KB
- Modified
- 2 Oct 2026
From the saved snapshot. The item is checked again, by exact path, before any cleanup review.
In the basketQuick LookReveal in FinderCopy PathShow BasketSelect ShownClear BasketReview Basket…1 of 200 in the basketSelections stay through searches, filters and pages.Results reflect the saved scan, including its permission gaps. Sizes marked ≥ are incomplete. Refresh or choose a different scan root in Storage.Step 03 Step 4. Look before you open
Select a result. On a wide window its details appear on the right: where it lives, its size on disk and when it was modified. Press Space, or click Quick Look, to preview it. Reveal in Finder shows it in its folder.
LocateFind files and folders by name in your saved Storage scan.Search or jump to…⌘KMatches38matches on page 1invoice⌘F2,184,306 indexed names · saved Storage snapshot of/· captured 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12KindAllFilesFoldersReload Saved IndexOpen StorageSaved snapshotIndex readyComplete saved scanMatches names, ignoring case and accents. Enter 3 or more characters to match anywhere; 1–2 characters match the start of a name.Name matchingLiteralFilter results…Sort resultsDiscovery orderExact names firstNameFull pathKindOn diskFile sizeModifiedinvoices/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoicesFolder48.6 MB47.9 MB9 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-031.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-031.pdfFile184 KB181 KB2 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-030.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-030.pdfFile176 KB172 KB18 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-029.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-029.pdfFile192 KB190 KB4 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-028.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-028.pdfFile168 KB166 KB21 Aug 2026Invoice template.pages/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…s/Invoice template.pagesFile412 KB409 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-logo.png/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…mplates/invoice-logo.pngFile64 KB61 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-export.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ports/invoice-export.csvFile28 KB24 KB30 Sep 2026invoice-export-2025.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/invoice-export-2025.csvFile96 KB93 KB3 Jan 2026Unpaid invoices.numbers/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/Unpaid invoices.numbersFile264 KB262 KB6 Oct 2026Invoices 2025.zip/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Invoices 2025.zipFile38.2 MB38.2 MB8 Jan 2026Supplier invoices/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Supplier invoicesFolder6.2 MB5.9 MB14 Mar 2026invoice-scan-0412.png/Users/sam/Pictures/Scans/invoice-scan-0412.pngFile2.4 MB2.4 MB12 Apr 2026invoice-generator/Users/sam/Developer/invoice-generatorFolder126 MB118.4 MB21 Aug 2026invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…generator/src/invoice.pyFile12 KB9 KB21 Aug 2026test_invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…or/tests/test_invoice.pyFile8 KB6 KB19 Aug 2026Roundtable invoice Q3.pdf/Users/sam/Downloads/Roundtable invoice Q3.pdfFile92 KB90 KB1 Oct 2026invoice-notes.txt/Users/sam/Desktop/invoice-notes.txtFile4 KB2 KB28 Sep 2026Invoice draft.pages/Users/sam/Desktop/Invoice draft.pagesFile388 KB384 KB5 Oct 2026invoices-backup/Users/sam/Desktop/To sort/invoices-backupFolder18.4 MB17.8 MB2 Feb 2026Page 1PreviousNextDiscovery order1 selectedQuick LookReveal in FinderInvoice 2026-031.pdfFileWhere it lives/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoices/Invoice 2026-031.pdf- On disk
- 184 KB
- File size
- 181 KB
- Modified
- 2 Oct 2026
From the saved snapshot. The item is checked again, by exact path, before any cleanup review.
In the basketQuick LookReveal in FinderCopy PathShow BasketSelect ShownClear BasketReview Basket…1 of 200 in the basketSelections stay through searches, filters and pages.Results reflect the saved scan, including its permission gaps. Sizes marked ≥ are incomplete. Refresh or choose a different scan root in Storage.Step 04 Step 5. Remove from here, if that is why you came
Selecting results adds them to the basket at the bottom. Review Basket… opens the same exact-path review as every other tool, with Move to Trash as the default.
LocateFind files and folders by name in your saved Storage scan.Search or jump to…⌘KMatches38matches on page 1invoice⌘F2,184,306 indexed names · saved Storage snapshot of/· captured 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12KindAllFilesFoldersReload Saved IndexOpen StorageSaved snapshotIndex readyComplete saved scanMatches names, ignoring case and accents. Enter 3 or more characters to match anywhere; 1–2 characters match the start of a name.Name matchingLiteralFilter results…Sort resultsDiscovery orderExact names firstNameFull pathKindOn diskFile sizeModifiedinvoices/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoicesFolder48.6 MB47.9 MB9 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-031.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-031.pdfFile184 KB181 KB2 Oct 2026Invoice 2026-030.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-030.pdfFile176 KB172 KB18 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-029.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-029.pdfFile192 KB190 KB4 Sep 2026Invoice 2026-028.pdf/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ces/Invoice 2026-028.pdfFile168 KB166 KB21 Aug 2026Invoice template.pages/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…s/Invoice template.pagesFile412 KB409 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-logo.png/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…mplates/invoice-logo.pngFile64 KB61 KB12 Jan 2026invoice-export.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…ports/invoice-export.csvFile28 KB24 KB30 Sep 2026invoice-export-2025.csv/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/invoice-export-2025.csvFile96 KB93 KB3 Jan 2026Unpaid invoices.numbers/Users/sam/Documents/Fina…/Unpaid invoices.numbersFile264 KB262 KB6 Oct 2026Invoices 2025.zip/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Invoices 2025.zipFile38.2 MB38.2 MB8 Jan 2026Supplier invoices/Users/sam/Documents/Archive/Supplier invoicesFolder6.2 MB5.9 MB14 Mar 2026invoice-scan-0412.png/Users/sam/Pictures/Scans/invoice-scan-0412.pngFile2.4 MB2.4 MB12 Apr 2026invoice-generator/Users/sam/Developer/invoice-generatorFolder126 MB118.4 MB21 Aug 2026invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…generator/src/invoice.pyFile12 KB9 KB21 Aug 2026test_invoice.py/Users/sam/Developer/invo…or/tests/test_invoice.pyFile8 KB6 KB19 Aug 2026Roundtable invoice Q3.pdf/Users/sam/Downloads/Roundtable invoice Q3.pdfFile92 KB90 KB1 Oct 2026invoice-notes.txt/Users/sam/Desktop/invoice-notes.txtFile4 KB2 KB28 Sep 2026Invoice draft.pages/Users/sam/Desktop/Invoice draft.pagesFile388 KB384 KB5 Oct 2026invoices-backup/Users/sam/Desktop/To sort/invoices-backupFolder18.4 MB17.8 MB2 Feb 2026Page 1PreviousNextDiscovery order1 selectedQuick LookReveal in FinderInvoice 2026-031.pdfFileWhere it lives/Users/sam/Documents/Finance/invoices/Invoice 2026-031.pdf- On disk
- 184 KB
- File size
- 181 KB
- Modified
- 2 Oct 2026
From the saved snapshot. The item is checked again, by exact path, before any cleanup review.
In the basketQuick LookReveal in FinderCopy PathShow BasketSelect ShownClear BasketReview Basket…1 of 200 in the basketSelections stay through searches, filters and pages.Results reflect the saved scan, including its permission gaps. Sizes marked ≥ are incomplete. Refresh or choose a different scan root in Storage.Step 05
02Good to know
The small print, in plain words
Note1 / 3
Names, not contents
Locate searches file and folder names. It does not look inside files.
Note2 / 3
As fresh as your last scan
Results come from the saved scan, so a file created since then is not there yet. Refresh Storage, then use Reload Saved Index.
Note3 / 3
It also works from ⌘K
Search or jump to… shows up to five matching file names from the saved scan, and a row that takes your words to Locate.
03Keep going
