What it does
DigUp is a desktop app that lets you find files by describing their contents in your own words. You pick the folders to search, and it reads the pictures, PDFs, documents, audio recordings and videos inside them. Then you type something like "a dog on the beach" or "where they talk about sleep", and it finds the matching photo, PDF page or moment in a recording.
It uses Google DeepMind's EmbeddingGemma 2, an AI model that places text, images, sound and video in one shared space so they can be compared. The README says the model understands more than 100 languages, so a search in English can find a note written in another language. Exact words like invoice numbers and error codes are matched too. You can also turn on code search to find functions in your programming projects.
Everything runs on your own computer. The README says DigUp only goes online to download the model once and to check for updates, which you can turn off. It reads your files but never changes, moves or uploads them.
Who it's for
Anyone with lots of photos, documents, recordings or videos who wants to find things by describing them rather than remembering file names. Programmers can also use it to search their code.
Can I use it without coding?
Yes. It's a regular desktop app with installers for Mac, Windows and Linux. New to this? Start here.
Can I run it?
- Cost
- FreeNothing to pay or sign up for.
- Runs on
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Computer
- An ordinary computer is fine
- Privacy
- Runs on your own device: your data stays with you
- API key
- Not needed
Try it
- Open DigUp and pick the folders to search while the model downloads once.
- Press Shift+Command+Space on a Mac or Ctrl+Shift+Space on Windows and Linux, then describe what you're looking for.
Before you download
Plain-AyI is an independent guide: we link to each project's official pages, but we don't host, review or endorse the software, and we can't accept responsibility for how it works on your device. Please download and install at your own discretion.
Using Claude Code, Cursor or another AI coding assistant? Paste the prompt and it will walk you through the setup.New to this?
Before you install
- Only download from the official GitHub page or the official download page above. Copies with similar names exist for many popular projects.
- Plain-AyI is an independent guide and doesn't host or review the software it lists. Please check each project's official page before installing.
- License (MIT): Very permissive: free to use, change and share, including for business.
- More on staying safe