> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.1archive.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Search Your Media Library

> Use AI image search, transcript search, and filename search to find any file instantly. Filter by source and date range to narrow down exactly what you need.

1Archive's search works across every indexed source in your organization, connected and disconnected drives alike. Open search by clicking **Search** in the sidebar. Three distinct search modes let you find files the way that makes sense for your content and your workflow.

## Choosing a search mode

Click the mode selector button at the top left of the search page to choose how you want to search. The button shows the currently active mode.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="AI Image Search" icon="wand-sparkles">
    Describe what you're looking for in plain language and 1Archive finds visually matching images and video frames. Powered by semantic vector search. No keywords required.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transcript" icon="microphone">
    Search the spoken content of video files. If a source was scanned with
    transcript indexing enabled, you can find footage by searching for words or
    phrases that appear in the audio.
  </Card>

  <Card title="File Name" icon="type">
    Search by the exact file name or a partial match. Fastest mode for locating a specific file when you know its name.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  AI Image Search and Transcript search require that the source was scanned with
  the corresponding option enabled. If a source was scanned without AI image
  indexing or transcription, those modes will not return results for its files.
  You can enable these options by rescanning the source.
</Note>

## Running a search

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open search">
    Click **Search** in the sidebar. The search page opens with the search bar
    centered at the top.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a mode">
    Click the mode selector button and choose **AI Image Search**,
    **Transcript**, or **File Name**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your query">
    Type your search term in the search bar and press **Enter** or wait for
    results to appear. For AI Image Search, describe what you're looking for in
    plain language (for example, "sunset over mountains" or "person holding a
    camera").
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review results">
    Results appear as a grid of thumbnails below the search bar. For AI Image
    Search and Transcript mode, each result shows a relevance score. For video
    files found via Transcript, clicking the result jumps to the specific
    timecode where the phrase was spoken.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Filtering by source

To limit results to a specific drive or source group, click the **Source** filter dropdown below the search bar and select the sources you want to include. You can select multiple sources. Leave the filter empty to search across all sources.

<Tip>
  Use the source filter when you know a file lives on a specific drive. It
  reduces result noise and speeds up the search.
</Tip>

## Filtering by date range

To restrict results to files created or modified within a specific window, use the **Date Range** filters:

1. Click the **Start Date** picker and choose the earliest date you want to include.
2. Click the **End Date** picker and choose the latest date.

1Archive enforces a valid range automatically: if you set a start date later than the end date (or vice versa), the other date adjusts to match.

To remove the date filter, clear both date fields.

## Clearing search

Click the **X** button inside the search bar to clear your query and reset the results. This also clears the date range. Source filter selections are preserved.

## Tips for better AI image search results

* **Be descriptive, not keyword-heavy.** "Close-up of hands on a keyboard in a dark room" works better than "keyboard hands dark".
* **Include mood and context.** Phrases like "warm golden-hour light" or "documentary-style interview" guide the semantic model toward the right visual qualities.
* **Try different phrasings.** If your first search returns irrelevant results, rephrase the description rather than making it more specific.
* **Use broad queries first.** Start with a general concept ("aerial city footage") and narrow down with filters rather than starting with a very specific phrase.

<Info>
  AI Image Search results are ranked by visual similarity to your description,
  not by keyword frequency. A file doesn't need to have your search terms in its
  name or metadata to appear in results.
</Info>