← All Apps

SmartFiler Help

A powerful file organization tool for macOS

Getting Started

Welcome to SmartFiler! This app helps you clean up and organize your files with powerful automated tools.

First Steps

  1. Choose a Tool - Select from the main launcher screen
  2. Select a Directory - Pick the folder you want to organize
  3. Configure Settings - Access global settings via ⌘,
  4. Scan - Let the tool analyze your files
  5. Review & Act - Review results and take action
💡 Pro Tip: Start with a small test folder to familiarize yourself with each tool before using it on important directories.

Tools Overview

🔍 Find Duplicates

Locate files with identical content or same name to reclaim storage space.

🔗 Similar Files

Find files with similar names using fuzzy matching algorithms.

🗂️ Smart Buckets

Automatically sort files into custom buckets based on rules you define.

✨ Auto-Organize

Analyze patterns and automatically suggest folder groupings.

✏️ Filename Cleaner

Batch rename files by removing unwanted characters and patterns.

📅 Date Sort

Organize files into folders by creation or modification date.

Find Duplicates

Identify and remove duplicate files to free up disk space.

How It Works

  • Same Name - Finds files with identical filenames (may have different content)
  • Same Content - Uses SHA-256 hashing to find truly identical files

Features

  • Two-pass algorithm for efficient content comparison
  • Bulk review mode for quick decision making
  • Directory cleanup - keep files from one folder, delete from others
  • Visual indicators for identical vs. different content
💡 Tip: Use "Same Content" mode to safely identify true duplicates. Files with the same name but different content won't be flagged.

Similar Files

Find files with similar names using fuzzy string matching.

Similarity Threshold

Adjust the slider to control how similar filenames need to be:

  • 50% - Very loose matching (finds distantly related names)
  • 70% - Balanced (recommended default)
  • 100% - Exact matches only

Ignored File Types

Images, videos, and audio files are ignored by default. Manage ignored types via the "Manage..." button.

Example Matches

  • junk.sh ↔ myjunk.sh (77% similar)
  • report_2025.pdf ↔ report_2026.pdf (90% similar)

Smart Buckets

Create custom rules to automatically sort files into organized buckets.

Bucket Criteria Types

  • Filename Contains - Match files where the filename includes specific terms
  • Path Contains - Match files where any directory in the path includes the term
  • File Extension - Match by file type (.pdf, .jpg, etc.)

Creating a Bucket

  1. Click "New Bucket"
  2. Choose a name and color
  3. Select criteria type
  4. Enter search terms (comma or space separated for multiple)
  5. Click "Create"

Organizing Files

  • Enable/disable buckets with the toggle button
  • Drag to reorder bucket priority
  • Files match the first enabled bucket that fits their criteria
  • Choose whether to process directories first
💡 Tip: Use multiple search terms separated by commas: invoice, receipt, bill

Auto-Organize by Pattern

Let the app analyze your files and suggest intelligent groupings.

Grouping Strategies

  • File Extension - Group by file type
  • Date Pattern - Group files with dates in their names
  • Number Prefix - Group numbered files (001_, 002_, etc.)
  • Common Prefix - Group files sharing common name prefixes

Workflow

  1. Select source directory
  2. Choose destination (or use source)
  3. Set minimum group size (default: 3 files)
  4. Click "Analyze Directory"
  5. Review suggested groups
  6. Check/uncheck groups to organize
  7. Click "Preview Changes" then "Organize"
⚠️ Network Shares: If organizing to a network share, use "Enter Path..." if permissions fail with the file picker.

Filename Cleaner

Batch rename files by removing unwanted characters, fixing spacing, and applying case transformations.

Cleaning Options

  • Special Characters - Remove or replace: @ # $ % & * ! ? [ ] { } | \ / < >
  • Fix Spacing - Remove extra spaces and fix multiple spaces
  • Remove Numbers - Strip numeric characters from names
  • Case Conversion - Transform to lowercase, UPPERCASE, or Title Case
  • Custom Pattern - Use regex or simple text replacement

Preview Before Rename

All changes are previewed before applying. Select specific files to rename or use "Select All".

💡 Tip: Use "Re-apply Rules" to see how changes affect filenames without rescanning.

Global Settings

Access via ⌘, or Smart File Organizer → Settings

Scanning Options

  • Include Hidden Folders - Scan folders starting with "."
  • Include System Folders - Scan Library, System, Applications, etc.
  • Include Dot Files - Scan files starting with "."
  • Include .git Folders - Scan version control directories
⚠️ Caution: Enabling system folders can significantly slow down scans and may include files you don't want to organize.

Tips & Tricks

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • ⌘, - Open Settings
  • ⌘? - Get Support
  • ⌘⇧? - Open Help

Best Practices

  • Backup First - Always backup important files before bulk operations
  • Test on Small Folders - Verify behavior with non-critical files first
  • Use Trash - Files are moved to Trash, not permanently deleted
  • Recent Folders - Use the clock icon to quickly access previously selected directories
  • Cancel Anytime - All long-running operations can be cancelled

Performance Tips

  • Disable unnecessary scanning options in Settings
  • Exclude large system folders for faster scans
  • Use more specific bucket rules to reduce processing time
  • Start with subdirectories rather than scanning entire drives

Get Support

Need Help?

We're here to help! Reach out through any of these channels:

Reporting Issues

When reporting a problem, please include:

  • macOS version
  • App version (see About Smart File Organizer)
  • Tool being used
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Any error messages displayed
💡 Quick Access: Use ⌘? to quickly open support resources from anywhere in the app.