Freedom251 › Desktop Search Software
ProtonSearch

What ProtonSearch is
ProtonSearch is a free, local-first Windows launcher that opens with Alt + Space and finds items on a PC. It searches apps, files, folders, browser history, clipboard content, OCR text, Git activity, notes, Steam games, settings, commands, and AI chats. For supported documents, PDFs, Markdown, text files, and source files, it searches inside the text. OCR can locate words in images, screenshots, and copied clipboard images. Clipboard tools include searchable history, pinned clips, multiselect, image copying, editable text clips, and bulk cleanup. Circle to Search can send a selected screen region to Google Lens, and Hermes commands needing approval show an inline prompt. The maker says runtime data and the local database remain on the user’s PC. ProtonSearch is built with Rust and Win32 and uses SQLite FTS5 for full-text search. Windows installation is offered through PowerShell or GitHub Releases. Existing OmniSearch installations reportedly transfer their data during upgrade. The repository includes an MIT License permitting use, copying, modification, distribution, and sale subject to its conditions.
Who it suits
ProtonSearch suits Windows power users who want keyboard-driven local search across files, applications, clipboard data, and document text. It is limited to Windows.
What it does well
- Free Windows launcher
- Searches document contents
- OCR finds text in images
- Local-first data storage
- MIT License permits modification
What to know first
- Windows platform only
- Requires a Windows installation
- Some Hermes commands need approval
Verdict
ProtonSearch combines broad local indexing, content search, OCR, and clipboard tools behind one shortcut. Its Windows-only, local-first design is aimed at power users who want PC-based search.
Facts from ProtonSearch's own pages
- Agent approvals
- Commands that need approval show an inline prompt before they run. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- AI controls
- Hermes commands that need approval show an inline prompt before they run. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The maker describes ProtonSearch as made for Windows power users. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Clipboard
- Clipboard features include searchable history, pinned clips, multiselect, image copying, text editing, and bulk cleanup. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Clipboard tools
- Clipboard features include searchable history, pinned clips, multiselect, image copying, and editable text clips. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Document search
- It searches inside supported documents, PDFs, Markdown, text files, and source files. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- File content search
- It searches text inside supported documents, PDFs, Markdown, text files, and source files. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- The app is built with Rust and Win32 and uses SQLite FTS5 for full-text search. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Install
- The maker provides a PowerShell install command and a manual download from GitHub Releases for Windows. · protonsearch-windows.vercel.app, 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The maker provides a Windows PowerShell installer and a manual installer download through GitHub Releases. · protonsearch-windows.vercel.app, 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Circle to Search sends a selected screen region to Google Lens, and the launcher includes Hermes agent support. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes ProtonSearch as made for Windows power users. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Keyboard shortcut
- The launcher opens with Alt + Space. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository includes an MIT License granting permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell copies of the software subject to its conditions. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Migration
- The maker says existing OmniSearch installs carry their data over automatically when upgraded to ProtonSearch. · protonsearch-windows.vercel.app, 7 Oct 2026
- OCR
- It extracts OCR text from screenshots, pictures, and copied clipboard images for searching. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker describes ProtonSearch as local-first and says indexed data and runtime data are stored on the user's PC. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Product
- ProtonSearch is a local-first Windows launcher for finding and opening items on a PC from one keyboard shortcut. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Search
- It searches apps, files, folders, browser history, clipboard, OCR text, Git activity, notes, Steam games, settings, commands, and AI chats. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Search sources
- It can search apps, files, browser history, clipboard, OCR text, Git activity, notes, settings, commands, and AI chats. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Technology
- ProtonSearch is a native Rust/Win32 app using SQLite FTS5 for full-text search. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
- What it does
- ProtonSearch is a local-first Windows launcher for finding and opening items on a PC from one keyboard shortcut. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where ProtonSearch stands on Freedom251
- Desktop Search Software#26 of 57