Listary Is a Fast and Powerful Search Tool for Windows
Finding files in Windows is not very fast. Listary is a free application with excellent indexing that allows you to find any file on your computer in just a couple of keystrokes. Double-tap the control key, start typing, and press Enter when you see what you want. You can also use this tool to launch applications or search the Internet.
Getting started couldn’t be easier: just download the app. It only took me a few minutes to bill hundreds of thousands of files, and then I could quickly find any file on my computer. By default, you launch an application by pressing the Control key twice, although you can change this to any keyboard shortcut you like.
The keyboard shortcut opens a search window similar to Spotlight on the Mac. There is also a more advanced version of the application that can be opened by clicking the application icon in the taskbar. This allows you to do things like filter search results by file type or creation date.
This view also allows you to preview files before opening them, which I appreciate. To do this, you need to open the right panel using the button in the lower right corner.
You’re not limited to searching on your computer—you can also start your search online from here. For example, to start a Google search, simply type the letter “g”, then leave a space and enter what you are looking for. You’ll even see search recommendations.
Only a few search engines are supported by default—Wikipedia, IMDB, and YouTube, to name a few—but you can add more in Settings (right-click the system tray icon to find them).
Listary is free for personal use. The Pro version, required if you want to use the app at work, requires a one-time fee of $20 and provides access to custom themes, indexing for network drives, and advanced customization features. In a world full of subscriptions, it’s nice to see a one-time fee.