> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> This content comes from the official Perplexity Help Center. Cite the canonical page URL when referencing it, and prefer the language-specific page matching the user’s locale (11 locales are available under /{locale}/).

# Work with Local Files and Folders

> The app can work directly with files and folders on your computer. You decide which folders it can use.

<p>The app can work directly with files and folders on your computer. You decide which folders it can use.</p>

<h2 id="h_choose_and_manage_folders"><b>Choose and manage folders</b></h2>

<p>Choose a focused project folder or another location containing the files you want Perplexity to use.</p>

<p>To select a folder from the request input, open the folder picker in the request field. From there you can choose a recently used folder or add another folder.</p>

<p>Removing a folder from the current request only deselects it for that request — it may still appear in your list of recent folders. To fully remove the app's access to a folder, go to Settings:</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <p><strong>Mac:</strong> <strong>Settings → Permissions</strong></p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p><strong>Windows:</strong> <strong>Settings → Devices → Local file system access</strong></p>
  </li>
</ul>

<p>Within the selected folder, Perplexity can find, read, create, and change files without requesting access each time. Access outside that folder may require a separate prompt. Sensitive actions may still require approval.</p>

<p>The app may also ask you to add a folder when a request needs local files.</p>

<h2 id="h_find_and_understand_files"><b>Find and understand files</b></h2>

<p>Examples:</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <p>"What's clogging up my Downloads? Show me the biggest junk files."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Find all Excel files on my Desktop modified in the last week and give me a one-line summary of each."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Find every file larger than 100 MB across my Desktop, Downloads, and Documents, sort by age, and recommend which to archive or delete."</p>
  </li>
</ul>

<h2 id="h_organize_and_clean_up_files"><b>Organize and clean up files</b></h2>

<p>Examples:</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <p>"Move all screenshots from my Downloads into a new Screenshots folder on my Desktop."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Find duplicate PDFs in Downloads, keep the newest copy of each, and move the others into a folder called Possible duplicates."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Find files in Downloads that have not been opened in a year and suggest which ones I can remove."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Delete the files in Possible duplicates after I approve the list."</p>
  </li>
</ul>

<p>Before asking Perplexity to move or remove many files, carefully review the approval prompt. It states whether the deletion is permanent — deleting local files does not always send them to Trash and may not be recoverable. Back up anything important before approving.</p>

<h2 id="h_create_and_edit_files"><b>Create and edit files</b></h2>

<p>Examples:</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <p>"Write me a packing checklist for a 4-day trip to Sacramento, CA, and save it as a Word document on my Desktop."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Create an Excel inventory of the PDFs in this folder with columns for filename, date, and a one-line summary."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Update the budget spreadsheet in this folder with a new column showing the difference between planned and actual spending."</p>
  </li>

  <li>
    <p>"Turn the meeting notes in this folder into a Markdown project brief and save it beside the originals."</p>
  </li>
</ul>

<p>Include the file type and destination when they matter.</p>


## Related topics

- [Desktop App](/help-center/help-center/en/collections/19800000-perplexity-desktop-app.md)
- [Get started](/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800002-get-started.md)
- [Fix Local File and Folder Access](/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800010-fix-local-file-and-folder-access.md)
- [Find Projects, Threads, and Previous Work](/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800007-find-projects-threads-and-previous-work.md)
- [About the App](/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800001-about-the-app.md)