User Manual
Getting Started
Add a folder to your library
Add the folder you want to search from the folder area in the main window sidebar. You can also use File → Add Folder to Library. SeekShot indexes the selected root folder and its subfolders. The free version supports one root folder; SeekShot Pro supports multiple root folders.
Build the index
After a folder is added, SeekShot starts building the index. The first run may take time depending on the number and size of files. Indexed images appear progressively while processing continues. The index includes visual features, semantic features, face data, and recognized text from images.
Keep the index updated
Use the refresh button in the library to update a selected folder. In SeekShot Pro, you can enable background monitoring in Settings → Index so SeekShot keeps the index updated even when the main app is closed.
Search by Image
- 1Choose Image Search in the search panel
- 2Drop or select a reference image
- 3Choose a match preset: Default, Strict, Loose, or Custom
- 4Start the search
- 5Review matches, near matches, and similar results
Preset guide: Use a stricter preset to narrow results. Use a looser preset to find more possible matches.
Search by Meaning
- 1Choose Semantic Search
- 2Enter what you want to find, such as "summer beach with children" or "simple product photo on a white background"
- 3Adjust the semantic match level if needed
- 4Start the search
Text and meaning together: Semantic Search can find images by visual meaning and recognized text. If an indexed image contains readable text, you can search for that text from the same search field.
Videos: Videos are supported in Semantic Search only. Image Search and Face Search are for still images. In non-English environments, SeekShot can use local translation support for semantic search when available.
Search by Face
- 1Choose Face Search
- 2Select a reference image that contains a face
- 3If multiple faces are detected, click the face you want to search for
- 4Start the search
Tip: If no face is detected, try a clearer image where the face is larger and unobstructed.
Library
The Library shows indexed images and videos from your added folders. You can:
- Browse all indexed items or a specific folder
- Switch between list and grid views
- Filter by date, format, and file size
- Search within the library
- Show an item in Finder
- Use an item as a reference for Image Search or Face Search
- Open Quick Look
- Add selected items to collections or tags
Removing a folder from the library removes its index entries, but does not delete your original files.
Collections and Pinned Items
Collections let you save images for later use. The built-in Pinned collection replaces the older pin list. You can:
- Add search results or library items to a collection
- Create and rename collections
- Search within a collection
- Remove items from a collection without deleting the original file
- Export a collection to a folder
The free version supports up to 3 user-created collections. SeekShot Pro supports unlimited collections.
Tags
Tags help you organize reusable groups of images. You can create tags from selected search results or library items, add more images to existing tags, and search within a tag.
SeekShot Pro includes AI-assisted classification and tag candidate generation.
Settings Reference
Index
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Build Index Now / Stop Indexing | Manually start or stop indexing |
| Delete All Indexes | Delete index data and rebuild when needed. Your original files are not deleted |
| Last indexed | Shows the most recent index time |
| Enable background monitoring | Keeps indexed folders updated in the background (Pro only) |
| Folder Management | Folders are added, removed, selected, and refreshed from the main window sidebar |
Search
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Match presets | Controls how strict Image Search is |
| Semantic match level | Controls how strict Semantic Search is |
| Search language | Uses English or your primary language when local translation is available |
Display
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Use System, Light, or Dark appearance |
| Startup list view | Choose the default list or grid view |
| Startup grid size | Set the default grid density |
| Show match details | Shows match reason badges and numeric match data |
Performance
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Semantic search embedding cache | Keeps semantic search data in memory for faster searches |
| ANN | Uses faster approximate semantic search for larger libraries (Pro only) |
| Reset to defaults | Restores performance settings |
Privacy
SeekShot processes your files on your Mac. Image analysis, OCR, face search, and semantic search are performed locally. SeekShot does not upload your images or videos for indexing or search.
Collections, tags, notes, and indexes are stored locally on the same Mac.
Troubleshooting
Search results are empty
Check that the folder has been added to the library and indexed. Try a looser match level, or refresh the selected folder.
Text search does not find an image
Text inside images is available after OCR indexing. Rebuild the index if you changed the search language or OCR recognition language.
A folder is unavailable
If the folder is on an external drive, connect the drive again. If access was lost, remove the folder and add it again.
Quick Look does not open
Make sure the original file still exists locally. iCloud files may need to be downloaded first.
Background monitoring does not update
Background monitoring is available in SeekShot Pro. Confirm it is enabled in Settings → Index, and grant folder access again if prompted.