A little help, one step at a time.

1. Start with one folder.

1. Open AiFILE and click Folders.
2. Click Choose a folder. Choose a small folder you recognise.
3. Give AiFILE time to read it. You can search the files already catalogued while the scan continues.
4. Type part of a filename or words from a supported document, then click Find it.
5. Click Open beside a result, or Show in Finder to see its location.

AiFILE reads only folders you choose. Hidden folders, app bundles and shortcuts to other folders are skipped. Some files are searchable only by name and location. Apple Notes and live email accounts are not connected; saved email files can be searched from a chosen folder.

2. Save your typing, then quit.

For a new quick memory, click Remember this. After editing a saved memory, click Save memory. For a project, click Save project.

Then use Quit or Command-Q. Save before quitting; do not rely on a closing message to save unfinished typing.

Completed catalogue work, chosen folders and saved board items are kept on this Mac. Reopen the same app to use them. When automatic checks are enabled, AiFILE checks for changes while it is running; unchanged files usually reuse their saved text.

An unfinished scan checks the folder again. It does not resume at the exact progress-bar position. Scanning stops when AiFILE closes. A backup is an extra copy of saved board items; you do not need to make one every time you quit.

3. Make an extra backup.

1. Click Backup in AiFILE.
2. Finder highlights a file whose name starts AiFile_Backup_ and ends .json.
3. Copy that file somewhere you keep backups.

The backup includes projects, memories, labels, file references and website links. It is unencrypted. It does not include your original documents, extracted-text index, recent trail or folder permissions. Keep separate backups of your original files.

4. Restore a backup.

1. Open Folders, then click Restore backup.
2. Select your AiFile_Backup_…json file.
3. Review the result. Restore merges saved information and can replace a matching memory with its backed-up version.
4. Choose folders separately to give this Mac access. File references restore only when matching files are already catalogued.

A restored backup does not grant folder permissions or bring back original documents that are missing.

A file is missing or will not open?

Check that its folder is listed in Folders. Wait for scanning to finish, then search a short part of its name. If AiFILE needs permission, choose that folder again.

For cloud-only files, download the file in Finder or its cloud app, then use Scan again. If Open fails, use Show in Finder and open that exact file there. Tell us about any message from the document app.

A folder can reach the 250,000-file scan limit. Choose smaller project folders for fuller coverage. Folders at the limit wait for review while other selected folders can continue updating.

Remove a catalogue, keep originals.

In Folders, Remove catalogue removes that folder’s catalogue entries and saved access. It leaves your original files in place. Another selected parent folder may catalogue the files again.

Delete written memories separately, and use Clear for the recent trail. Previously exported backups remain separate copies. See removing local information for the details.

Still need a hand?

1. Open the enquiry page.
2. Say “AiFILE support”, what you clicked and what happened. Your app and macOS versions are useful if you know them.
3. Click Open email draft. This opens your email application; it has not sent anything yet.
4. Check the message, then send it from your email app.

If your email app does not open, copy asicai@protonmail.com into a new message in your usual email service.

Use the same route for ideas or privacy questions. Please leave out passwords, identity documents, confidential documents and full catalogues. The website privacy notice explains correspondence.

Technical reports and the demo.

When AiFILE is open, Help → Save support summary saves a small technical report. A startup report is also available from the native startup screen or Mac Help menu when those controls respond. If a report cannot be saved, tell us what happened; you do not need to keep retrying.

Reports stay on your Mac until you separately choose to share one. They contain selected technical status and counts, not your file or memory contents. Review a report first; support can explain what is useful. Hide private names and paths in screenshots.

Watch the original recorded demo. Supported Macs and installation instructions will be listed with the final public release on the AiFILE page.