Everything

Name: Everything
Brand: Everything

Locate any file or folder on Windows by name, instantly, as you type.

softwareFile Managementfile-searchwindows-utilityindexing

What is Everything?

Everything is a Windows desktop utility from voidtools that indexes file and folder names across NTFS and ReFS volumes to deliver search results in real time, often before you finish typing. Instead of scanning the disk on demand like Windows Explorer's built-in search, it reads the NTFS Master File Table (or ReFS equivalent) once to build a compact index, then uses the USN/Change Journal to keep that index updated live as files are created, renamed, or deleted.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source❌ No

api available✅ Yes

support optionsCommunity forums, FAQ, online and offline (CHM/HTML) documentation

Key Features of Everything

Builds its index by reading the NTFS Master File Table (or ReFS equivalent) directly, so an initial index of hundreds of thousands of files typically completes in seconds.

Monitors the NTFS/ReFS USN Change Journal to update its index in real time as files are created, modified, renamed, or deleted, without needing to rescan the disk.

Supports an advanced search syntax with wildcards (* and ?), boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT via pipe and exclamation mark), grouping, and full regular expressions.

Offers filter functions like size:, ext:, dm: (date modified), parent:, file:/folder:, and preset filters such as audio:, pic:, video:, and doc: for narrowing results.

Includes an ETP/HTTP server mode that lets you search and optionally download indexed files remotely from a web browser, with username/password authentication and download-disable options.

Provides a free Everything SDK (DLL/Lib over IPC) with examples in C/C++, C#, Visual Basic, and Python so developers can embed instant search in their own applications.

Runs as a lightweight background service, using roughly 35 MB of RAM and about 14 MB of disk space to index around 250,000 files.

Ships as a standard installer, a portable ZIP archive, or a lite installer, each available in 32-bit and 64-bit builds.

Use Cases for Everything

Instant local file lookup

Replace slow Windows Explorer search with an index that finds any file or folder by name across all indexed drives in milliseconds.

IT and sysadmin file auditing

Use size, date-modified, and extension filters or regex queries to quickly locate large files, recently modified items, or specific file types across a machine.

Remote file search over a network

Run the built-in ETP/HTTP server so files on a machine can be searched (and optionally downloaded) from a web browser or FTP client on another device.

Embedding fast search in custom tools

Use the free Everything SDK to call Everything's index from a C#, C++, Python, or VB application, adding instant filename search to another program.

Pros & Cons of Everything

Pros

Index builds in seconds and search results appear instantly as you type, even across drives with hundreds of thousands of files
Completely free with no malware, spyware, or adware bundled
Very low memory and disk footprint compared to typical desktop search indexers
Powerful query syntax (regex, boolean logic, size/date/type filters) suits power users and scripting via the SDK

Cons

Windows-only; there is no native macOS or Linux version
By default it indexes file and folder names, not file contents, so contents searches are slow since content is not pre-indexed
NTFS/ReFS real-time indexing requires the Everything service or running as administrator, which some locked-down environments restrict

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Everything free to use?

Yes. Everything is distributed as free software by voidtools, with no purchase required and a voluntary donation option on the site.

Does Everything search file contents, not just names?

By default Everything indexes only file and folder names for instant results. It can search file contents using the content search function, but content is not pre-indexed so this mode is slower.

What file systems does Everything support for real-time indexing?

Everything provides real-time indexing on NTFS and ReFS volumes using the USN/Change Journal. Other file systems can be indexed but without the same live update mechanism.

Can I access Everything's search remotely or from another app?

Yes. Everything includes an ETP/HTTP server for browser-based remote search and download, plus a free SDK (DLL/Lib over IPC) for integrating its search engine into your own applications.

Pricing Overview

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Free

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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