Your files, apps, and everyday settings.
One shortcut to bring it all together.
Free beta 3 · Unsigned installer · No admin access needed
From a file you just downloaded to a quieter PC, start with what you want to do.
Illustrative examples of Scout. These previews do not search your PC or run commands.
Search by name, folder, type, or activity. Scout can distinguish when a file was modified, downloaded, or opened, using the records available on your PC.
“the pdf I just downloaded”
Optional Chrome or Edge integration provides completed-download evidence. Without it, Scout labels file-arrival estimates so you can tell the difference.
Try “files I opened this morning.” Matches depend on recorded Windows Recent Items or successful Scout launches.
Type a supported command, review the action, and press Enter. Everyday controls are right beside your files and apps.
wifi offTurn Wi-Fi offbluetooth offTurn Bluetooth offmuteMute your soundvolume upRaise output volumebrightness downLower display brightnessdarkToggle light / dark appearancelock screenLock your Windows sessionAlso turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on, unmute, and lower volume. Brightness controls require a supported integrated display; Windows policies and hardware can limit controls.
Results
Ask for “latest three files in Downloads.” Review the group, choose its members, and open them together.
Save a workspace with the files, apps, and links you use for a project. Search its name when you want to return to that set.
Workspaces reopen saved items. They do not restore unsaved document edits or an app’s previous window layout.
Choose the tool that fits how you work. Scout brings activity-based search, visible result evidence, and mixed workspaces into one launcher.
| Tool | Its focus | Where Scout fits |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Search | Built-in search for files, apps, and settings. Copilot+ PCs also offer semantic search. | Find work through supported activity phrases, inspect the evidence, then review groups or save workspaces. |
| Everything | Fast filename search and indexing, with an offline, local design. | Combine file retrieval with apps, optional browser links, everyday PC controls, and saved workspaces. |
| PowerToys Command PaletteAlso: PowerToys Run | Keyboard launchers for apps, files, and commands. Command Palette supports extensions. | Use Scout’s combination of activity-based queries, result evidence, and workspaces containing files, apps, and links. |
Tool names link to official documentation. This is a workflow comparison, not a speed or accuracy benchmark. Windows features vary by device; extensions can add capabilities to other launchers.
Find something, check it, and take the next step without leaving the launcher.
Preview PDFs, images, supported text, and Office document text. Reveal a file in Explorer or copy its path.
Ctrl + Space to preview
Search selected locations, filter by file type, and find folders—including empty ones. Optional content search covers supported documents and source files.
/pdf roadmap · /folder projects
Work out a percentage or a quick calculation. Press Enter to copy the result into whatever you’re working on.
15% of 240 36
Manage Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, supported display brightness, and appearance. Lock your screen or open Windows notification settings.
unmute · bluetooth on
Your index, pins, workspaces, and launch history stay on your PC. Choose the folders Scout searches and the optional features you enable.
Core search and system commands work without optional AI. Every launch or command requires Enter or an explicit Open action.
Install Scout for your Windows account, then press Ctrl + Space to get started.
Unsigned beta. Windows may show an unknown-publisher or SmartScreen warning. Download from the Scout GitHub release and check the checksum before choosing to proceed. Updates are manual.
Run Scout-Setup.exe and follow the prompts. Setup installs for your account without admin access, adds Scout to Start, and opens it when finished.
Press Ctrl + Space to open the panel. Closing the panel leaves Scout in the notification area. Press Ctrl + Q or choose Quit to exit.
Download the portable ZIP, extract the entire archive, and run Scout.exe. It uses the same local settings storage as the installer. ZIP checksum
No. Core search, supported folder and activity queries, calculations, system commands, and workspaces work without optional AI on Windows 11 x64. Local AI is off by default and requires separate runtime and model downloads with several GB of storage.
CPU inference is available but can be slow on ordinary laptops. CUDA requires a supported NVIDIA GPU. AI helps refine candidates; it does not guarantee a match or read document body text.
Optional content indexing covers supported text/source, Office, and OpenDocument files in selected folders. PDF body text and OCR are not indexed. Files larger than 16 MiB are skipped, and extraction is limited to 64,000 characters per file.
PDF page previews are available separately. Office and OpenDocument previews show text rather than the full application layout.
Radio, sound, and display controls depend on Windows policy, drivers, and hardware support. Scout reports failures. Brightness commands target supported integrated displays; external monitors commonly do not support them.
The dark command toggles appearance. Notification commands open Windows notification settings. Commands run only when you explicitly choose them.
Updates are manual. Quit Scout, then run the newer installer. For a portable copy, replace the extracted application folder with the newer ZIP’s contents.
Uninstall through Start or Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Settings and workspaces remain in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Scout for a later reinstall. Read the beta 3 release notes.