How to Search Cloud  & Network with Listary

For individuals with tons of files—or teams that collaborate regularly—cloud drives and network folders can quickly become a mess. The more files there are, the more chaotic things get. Often, no one remembers which folder a file was saved in, and finding it becomes a time-consuming headache.

That’s why we highly recommend Listary. It not only searches your local files instantly, but also searches files in cloud storage and network drives.

It doesn’t matter where the file is. Just type in a keyword and the file pops right up. No more clicking through folder after folder. Just search—and done.

Listary supports searching files from the following locations:

The following guide shows you how to set up Listary to instantly search files in cloud drives, network drives, and more.

Local Files

After installing Listary, it will automatically index all NTFS drives on your computer—no manual setup required. You can start searching files right away. Since most Windows PCs use NTFS as the default file system, Listary usually scans and indexes all your local files out of the box.

If you’re not sure about your disk formats, just go to “Options > File Search > Index” to see which drives Listary has already indexed.

For drives that Listary doesn't automatically index (such as non-NTFS drives), you'll need to manually add them to Listary’s index.

Please follow the steps below:  

1. Right-click the Listary tray icon in the bottom-right corner of your desktop, then go to Options > File Search > Index.
2. Click “Add a network drive or local folder”, then select the file path you want to index (e.g., R:). This allows Listary to search all files under that path.
3. Set a rescan schedule
   
   • Choose a suitable indexing rescan interval, such as automatic or a fixed time to keep the index up to date.
   • “Automatically” (Recommended): Monitors file changes in real time, but support depends on your drive format. You can test it using the method below:
     
     1. Select “Automatically” and click “Apply” to save the settings.
     2. Add a new file and check whether the “Last updated” time and the number of indexed files update.
     3. If the index updates instantly, it means the “Automatically” mode is supported and you can safely leave it enabled. Otherwise, switch to a scheduled scan to make sure the index stays up to date.
   • “Never”: Index is created during initial setup and never updated automatically.
4. Click “Apply” to save the settings.

Cloud drive / Cloud storage

Listary can’t search files directly in the cloud — your cloud drive needs to be synced or mapped to a local folder first. But that doesn’t mean you have to download everything. Most cloud services support on-demand sync, so files are only downloaded when opened. Since Listary indexes file names only, it can still find and open files even if they haven’t been downloaded yet — the system will fetch them automatically when needed.

As long as your files can be displayed and opened in Windows File Explorer, they can be indexed by Listary.

Below are the setup steps for several common cloud drives.

OneDrive

OneDrive is Windows' built-in cloud storage service, deeply integrated with the local file system. You can follow the official guide, Use OneDrive to sync files on Windows.

OneDrive files are fully synced to your local drive (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive), After synchronization is complete, allowing Listary to index them directly. Even if your OneDrive files are “online-only” (on-demand access), Listary can still search them normally—no extra setup needed.

Google Drive

You need to install the Google Drive desktop client and sync your files locally before using Listary to search them.

Google Drive offers two sync options, and Listary supports file search with both. You can choose the “stream files” mode to access files online without downloading them, which helps save local disk space.

Stream files

In this mode, Google Drive doesn't download files directly—instead, it accesses files from a virtual drive or folder on your computer. Regardless of whether you choose a virtual drive (e.g., G:) or a local folder, you must manually add that path to Listary's index. Even if the folder is on an NTFS drive, it still needs to be added manually.

Please follow the steps below:  

1. Download and install the Google Drive desktop client.
2. In the "Google Drive" sync options, select the "Stream files" , and set your streaming location (e.g., G:\ or a specific folder path).
3. Right-click the Listary tray icon in the bottom-right corner of your desktop, then go to Options > File Search > Index.
4. Click “Add a network drive or local folder”, then select the file path you want to index (e.g., R:). This allows Listary to search all files under that path.
5. Set a rescan schedule
   
   • Automatically (Recommended): Monitors file changes in real time. (Google Drive’s "Stream files" mode supports “Automatically” mode)
   • Weekly / Daily / Custom: Monitors file changes at scheduled intervals.
   • Never: Index is created during initial setup and never updated automatically.
     
6. Click “Apply” to save the settings.

Mirror files

In this mode, Google Drive files are fully downloaded to a specified local folder. Since the files are completely stored on your computer, they behave just like local files.

Listary will automatically index these files—no extra setup needed. Just double-tap the Ctrl key, type the file name, and it shows up instantly. Listary also monitors file changes in real time, so your search results are always up to date.

Dropbox

You need to install the Dropbox desktop client and sync your files locally before using Listary to search them.

The good news is that Dropbox uses smart sync technology—it downloads files on demand, so it doesn’t take up much disk space. Whether or not a file is fully downloaded, Listary can still find it.

Once the files are synced locally, Listary will automatically index them. No extra setup needed. Just double-tap the Ctrl key, type the file name, and you’ll find and open it instantly.

Plus, Listary monitors file changes in real time, so your search results are always up to date.

Network Drives

Listary supports searching network locations, including personal or team NAS devices (such as Synology or QNAP) and shared folders (e.g., \\server\share).

Whether you map a NAS or shared folder to a local drive letter or access it directly via a network path (like \\server\share or https://example.com/webdav), Listary can index and search it—as long as the path is accessible in Windows File Explorer.

Listary supports various network protocols, including SMB, WebDAV, FTP, and FTPS. Among these, SMB typically supports real-time indexing, offering a faster and more responsive search experience.

‍

Please follow the steps below:  

1. Right-click the Listary tray icon in the bottom-right corner of your desktop, then go to Options > File Search > Index.
2. Click “Add a network drive or local folder”, then select the network location you want to index. You can choose either a mapped drive letter or an unmapped network path..
3. Set a rescan schedule
   
   • Choose a suitable indexing rescan interval, such as automatic or a fixed time to keep the index up to date.
   • “Automatically” (Recommended): Monitors file changes in real time, but support depends on your network drive. (The SMB protocol typically supports real-time indexing in most cases.) You can test it using the method below:
     
     1. Select “Automatically” and click “Apply” to save the settings.
     2. Add a new file and check whether the “Last updated” time and the number of indexed files update.
     3. If the index updates instantly, it means the “Automatically” mode is supported and you can safely leave it enabled. Otherwise, switch to a scheduled scan to make sure the index stays up to date.
   • “Never”: Index is created during initial setup and never updated automatically.
4. Click “Apply” to save the settings.

Portable Storage

Listary supports searching portable storage devices such as USB drives and external hard drives.

Just like with local files, if your device is formatted as NTFS, Listary will automatically index its contents once it's plugged in—no additional setup required. Simply double-tap the Ctrl key, type the file name, and you'll find and open it instantly. Listary also monitors file changes in real time, ensuring your search results are always up to date.

If your portable storage is not formatted as NTFS, you’ll need to manually add the drive to Listary’s index. For detailed steps, refer to the Local Files section.