Glimpse

Glimpse is a desktop utility that finds local screenshots instantly by reading their text and analyzing their visual appearance.

Glimpse indexes your screenshots, photos, and diagrams locally so you can find them instantly by typing text fragments or describing what they look like. It reads text using the built-in Windows OCR engine and matches images visually using a CLIP model running on your CPU or GPU. The application runs in the system tray, monitors your folders, and integrates with the PowerToys Command Palette. It is designed for Windows users who need a private, offline tool to retrieve forgotten error messages, receipts, and diagrams. Nothing is uploaded to the cloud, and all data stays on your local machine.

Glimpse at a glance

Best for: Software engineer, Designer
Runs on: Windows, PowerToys Command Palette
Pricing: Free
Released: October 2026
Category: AI productivity tool
Website: github.com/cgranier/glimpse

Key features

Reads text in images using Windows OCR
Searches images visually using a local CLIP model
Copies images and extracted text via keyboard shortcuts
Monitors folders automatically as new screenshots land
Integrates with the PowerToys Command Palette
Runs privately entirely on your local machine without telemetry

Use it for

Find forgotten screenshots of error messages or code snippets
Search local folders for visual diagrams and dark dashboards
Copy text directly from previously captured screenshots
Locate receipts and notes using text fragments or source names

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