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HoudahSpot

HoudahSpot

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  • Mac


  • Version 6.6.1


  • macOS 10.14 or later


  • 48.1 MB


  • 3 languages

HoudahSpot is an app that enhances file search on Mac. Go beyond simple keyword search. HoudahSpot lets you combine various criteria, search across specific locations, preview files, save searches as templates, and more. Get your hands on hard-to-find files in seconds.

  • Combine different criteria to find files

  • Search even if you don’t know the name

  • Save frequent searches as templates

  • Use quick look and preview to peek inside

HoudahSpot features


Perform a quick search

To get started, simply type what you’re looking for in the quick search field. Maybe you remember that your file contains words like “invoice” or “logo” — that’s perfectly enough. Hit Return to see the results once you’re ready.


Narrow down search results

Add more criteria to refine your search. HoudahSpot can search by name, text, size, date, tag, author, resolution — and even combine different criteria to return the results that match at least one of those. You can also set the app to search across specific locations and exclude the rest.


Customize results display

HoudahSpot knows a lot about files stored on your Mac. But you can decide what properties should be displayed — names or tags, date last modified or date created, file path or file size. Maybe all of them? Choose from among hundreds of columns to customize your search results.


Info pane, Quick Look, and Text Preview

Learn about file properties from a handy Info pane. Peek inside your files with Quick Look and Text Preview. HoudahSpot can highlight search terms as well as fold text preview to show only the parts that contain these search terms. No need to open the file to know whether it’s the one.


Save searches as templates

Save time with HoudahSpot’s search templates. They allow you to combine and save custom properties for specific file types. For instance, if you need to find an audio file, you can set up a template with properties like genre, composer, and bit rate. The app comes with a few ready-to-use templates.


Automate your flow

Once you get to know the ropes, try a few power user features to streamline file search even more. Run HoudahSpot searches from third-party apps, automate search with Apple Script, drop files onto the Info pane to inspect their properties, and more.


HoudahSpot icon image

Ratings and reviews


HoudahSpot

98%

852 ratings

  • John Benenati

    Dec 20, 2025

    App version: 6.6.1

    Great app

  • Mike Scimerx

    Dec 17, 2025

    App version: 6.6.1

    I’m getting used to HoudahSpot. It seems better than spotlight in a few ways: construct and save detailed custom searches, results can include file meta, easy to pull up files and go to files in finder. One glitch, it seems, is if I do a custom search and then start another similar search by changing the word(s) in the tags or name box, HoudahSpot starts searching one letter by letter. This freezes the program and finder. The memory usage goes up to 250 GB (lots of files). One needs to call up a new custom search each time, it seems. Maybe user error, but I can’t solve this issue.

  • Greg Hollingsworth

    Dec 10, 2025

    App version: 6.6.1

    So far, a great addition. I could do most of this in Finder, but the interface is much friendlier.

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HoudahSpot

HoudahSpot

Find files faster

Try free

Yours with Membership. Free for 7 days.
Get this app and hundreds of others.