Folder Stewardby My First Home Inc.

How Folder Steward Works

From an unsorted document to the right Finder folder.

Learn the filing workflow, backups, and the free allowance. Replay the interactive introduction at any time from Help inside the app.

Try the hands-on tutorial
Private Document analysis stays localVisible Finder remains authoritativeReversible Move history and undo
01

Choose your repository

Select the highest-level Finder folder you want organized. Folder Steward displays the folders below it and watches for changes you make directly in Finder.

  • Your files remain ordinary Finder files
  • The three workspace columns can be resized
  • You can change or rename the repository later
02

Drop files or folders into the workspace

Select a folder under Finder Folders and use the large colored drop area at the top, or choose Add Files. Review & File opens in a separate window and shows files as they are read. Adding a file does not automatically file it into the folder you were viewing.

  • Review ready files while other files are still being read
  • Progress shows the current reading stage
  • Close Review keeps pending files for this session; reopen with Review
03

Choose where it belongs

Review the suggested filename, destination, and confidence. Choose an existing folder or approve a new subfolder. For multiple ready files, Accept Recommendations lets you review names and locations together, names only, or locations only. Duplicates and manual-review files need individual attention.

  • After 20 seconds of analysis per file, review continues with manual filing—not an automatic move
  • Continue Manually is available sooner; choose the destination explicitly or retry analysis
  • Check whether Store File will move or copy: folder imports and manual fallback preserve originals by copying
04

Find, move, and export

Select a folder to search filenames or locally extracted text within that branch. Drag a saved file onto another folder, or drag a folder in Finder Folders onto its new parent. Review the From and To paths before confirming. Export creates copies without changing originals.

  • Drag one saved file at a time; export checkboxes are not a move selection
  • Folder moves include their contents; move a folder back to reverse the change
  • Hide the preview for more workspace, and use breadcrumbs to move between folder levels
05

Reassess organization and duplicates

Use Reassess for the repository or a selected folder to preview changes to structure, names, and duplicates. Select All Exact Duplicates for Removal selects extra identical copies while retaining at least one. Review the kept and removed copies and the removal count before applying.

  • Similar documents are warnings only
  • Removed duplicate copies go to a hidden recovery folder and still use disk space
  • Recent file actions and Action & Undo History retain the last 20 individual changes; folder moves are reversed by moving the folder back
06

Protect your repository

On the main repository page, choose Backup and save outside your repository. Not Encrypted creates a readable ZIP; Encrypted creates a password-protected .aea file. New backups are verified automatically and include checksums for hidden files and document-package contents.

  • For a safe recovery test, use Restore → Open as a separate restored folder and open recovered documents
  • Merge into current repository skips exact duplicate contents and lets you choose which different versions to keep
  • The optional delete-then-load mode moves reviewed current files to Trash after confirmation; keep a separate verified backup first

A filing example

A utility bill finds its home.

Folder Steward can use the current document’s property address, issue date, invoice number, and type. These are suggestions, not proof of ownership or correctness. Review unclear dates and identity details before filing.

Originalhydro scan.pdf

Example destinationProperties / Personal / {street-number-and-name} / Utilities

Suggested filename{document-date} - Invoice {invoice-number} - {utility-provider}.pdf

100 files free. One optional unlimited unlock.

The free allowance is 100 current files per selected repository, including subfolders, with no timed trial. The sidebar and drop area show the remaining allowance before upgrading. Removing a file frees space. Directory imports must fit the remaining allowance in full; deselect files or unlock unlimited filing to continue.

Example: I have 99 files and import one more. What happens?

The file fits: you now have 100. Adding another requires a free space or the one-time unlimited unlock.

Example: I remove one of those 100 files. Can I add another?

Yes. The allowance counts currently stored files, not lifetime imports. Pending inbox files do not count until stored.

What stays available when I reach the limit?

Viewing, search, organization of existing files, exports, backups, restoration, and undo remain available. Existing larger repositories, restored backups, and Finder-added files are never locked away.

How do I unlock or restore a purchase?

Choose Upgrade in the sidebar, or Unlimited in Settings. Review Apple’s displayed price, then choose Unlock Unlimited. It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Use Restore Purchases with the same Apple Account to recover access. If the price is unavailable, use Refresh Price and check your connection. Purchases remain subject to App Store availability.

For restore modes, version conflicts, password guidance, and older backups, read the backup and restore guide.

Need help?

Questions about getting started?

Visit Folder Steward Support or email support@1sthomeapp.com.