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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about FilesAutomator.
What does FilesAutomator actually do?
FilesAutomator watches folders you choose on your Mac. When a file matching one of your rules lands there, it automatically renames, sorts, converts, or moves it, exactly the way you set the rule up. You keep working; the folder tidies itself.
Is FilesAutomator free?
FilesAutomator is free to download. The free tier keeps 1 automation rule running for as long as you like, no time limit. Upgrading to Premium is a single purchase through the App Store, not a subscription.
What do I get with Premium?
Premium removes the automation rule limit entirely and includes Family Sharing, so up to five family members can use it from one purchase. You pay once and it is yours; there is no recurring charge.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no account, nothing to sign up for, and no cloud sync. Your rules and activity history live only on your Mac.
Does FilesAutomator need an internet connection?
No. Every rule runs entirely on your device. An internet connection is only involved when downloading the app itself or verifying a Premium purchase with the App Store.
Does FilesAutomator need to stay open to work?
It needs to be running, though it lives quietly in the menu bar rather than taking up a Dock icon or a window. Turning on "Launch at login" in Settings means it is already running whenever you sit down at your Mac.
What happens to the original file after a rule runs?
You choose. Every action step in a rule asks explicitly whether to keep the original alongside the result, replace it, or move it to the Trash. FilesAutomator never assumes.
Can I undo something a rule did?
Yes. Every run is logged in Activity with a single click to undo it, and you can undo everything a rule did today in one go from its menu. Nothing FilesAutomator does is a dead end.
Will converting a photo or video lose its metadata?
No, not by default. Photo capture dates, camera details, and Finder tags are preserved through conversions unless you turn that off for a specific step.
Can one rule rename, convert, and sort a file all at once?
Yes. A rule is a chain of steps, so you can rename a file, convert it, and file it into a dated subfolder in the same rule, in the order you choose.
Can a rule watch subfolders too, or just the top level?
That is your choice per folder: the top level only, every subfolder, or subfolders down to a depth limit you set. New folders start scoped to the top level only, so a rule never reaches further than you intended without you turning that on.
How do I report an issue or ask something not covered here?
Get in touch via our contact page, or use Settings → Contact Support inside the app so your report arrives with your app version already attached.