Searching Within a Specific Folder
While the global search is useful for finding assets across your entire library, you can also limit your search to just the folder you are currently viewing. This is helpful for locating specific images within large project directories.
How to Toggle Folder-Specific Search#
Navigate to the folder
Select the folder you wish to search from the left-side directory browser.
Locate the search bar
Go to the search input field at the top center of the application.
Toggle the search mode
By default, you will see a globe icon inside the right side of the search bar (indicating Global Search). Click the globe icon to transform it into a folder icon (indicating Folder-Specific Search mode).
Enter your term
Type your keyword (e.g., "food").
Review results
MetaPhotoAI will now display only the images and videos within the active folder that match your search term.
Search Mode Indicators#
| Icon | Mode | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Globe | Global Search | All imported folders in your library |
| Folder | Folder-Specific | Only the currently selected folder |
Switching Back to Global Search#
To broaden your search again:
Click the folder icon
Click the folder icon in the search bar.
Confirm change
It will change back to the globe icon, and your search results will automatically update to include matches from your entire media library.
When to Use Folder-Specific Search#
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Large projects | Search within a single project folder |
| Similar content | Find specific shots in a folder with many similar images |
| Quick filtering | Narrow down results when you know the folder |
| Focused editing | Stay within context while searching |
Combining with Other Features#
Folder-specific search works well with:
| Feature | Usage |
|---|---|
| Filters | Apply filters after searching to narrow further |
| Color tags | Search, then filter by tag color |
| Metadata status | Search, then filter by "No Title" etc. |
Tip
By using the folder-specific search toggle, you can quickly narrow down your focus and find exactly what you need within a targeted set of media.
Keyboard Shortcuts#
While there's no dedicated shortcut for toggling search scope, you can quickly access search:
Mac:⌘+F|Win:Ctrl+FThen click the scope icon to toggle between global and folder-specific modes.
Next Steps#
- Use global search for library-wide searches
- Filter media by metadata attributes
- Search folders in the sidebar