Basic Usage
Learn how to use Volt's core features
Basic Usage
Master Volt in minutes
Learn the fundamentals and become a productivity powerhouse.
Activation
Launch Volt with your activation hotkey:
Press Ctrl + Space to activate Volt
The Volt window appears instantly, ready for your command.
Press Cmd + Space to activate Volt
Make sure accessibility permissions are granted for global shortcuts.
Search & Launch
Launch Applications
Simply type the name of an app:
chromePress Enter to launch. Volt learns your preferences and ranks frequently used apps higher.
Volt uses fuzzy matching - type "chr" to find "Chrome".
Search Files
Type a filename to find it instantly:
invoice.pdfUse arrow keys to navigate results, Enter to open.
Searches across all indexed locations including Desktop, Documents, and Downloads.
Quick Calculations
Volt has a built-in calculator:
25 * 4 + 10
= 110Press Enter to copy the result to clipboard.
Supported operations:
- Basic:
+,-,*,/ - Advanced:
^(power),%(modulo) - Functions:
sqrt(),sin(),cos(),log(), etc. - Unit conversion:
10km to miles,50F to C - Date math:
days until christmas,date + 30 days - Timezone:
time in Tokyo,3pm EST to PST
Commands
Built-in Commands
Volt includes powerful built-in commands:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
settings | Open Volt settings |
quit | Close Volt |
reload | Reload Volt configuration |
version | Show Volt version |
help | Show help menu |
Type the command name and press Enter to execute.
Action Prefixes
Use prefixes for specific actions:
| Prefix | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
> | Run a command | >shutdown |
? | Web search | ?best coffee maker |
/ | File path | /home/user/documents |
@ | Contact | @john.doe |
Prefixes help Volt understand your intent and provide better results.
Navigation
Search Modes
Universal Search (Default)
Type anything - Volt searches everywhere:
- ✅ Applications
- ✅ Files & folders
- ✅ Calculator (math, units, dates, timezones)
- ✅ System commands
- ✅ Clipboard history
- ✅ Games (Steam, Epic, GOG, EA, Ubisoft, Riot)
- ✅ Snippets
Universal search automatically detects your intent and shows the most relevant results.
Plugin Prefixes
Use prefixes to activate specific plugins:
| Prefix | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
? | Web search | ?best coffee maker |
: | Emoji picker | :wave |
timer | Timer | timer 5m |
clipboard | Clipboard history | clipboard |
system | System monitor | system |
pass | Password generator | pass 20 |
snippets | Text snippets | snippets |
Plugin prefixes let you jump directly into a specific plugin's functionality.
Quick Tips
Fuzzy Matching
You don't need exact names. Volt uses intelligent fuzzy matching:
chm→ Chromevsc→ Visual Studio Codedoc/inv→ Documents/Invoices folder
Learning Your Patterns
Volt learns from your usage:
- Frequently used apps appear first
- Recently opened files rank higher
- Your habits shape search results
Copy to Clipboard
For calculations and text results:
- Get your result
- Press
Enterto copy - Paste anywhere with
Ctrl+V/Cmd+V
Next Steps
- Built-in Features — Calculator, emoji, clipboard, games, and more
- File Search — Advanced search operators
- Configuration — Themes, indexing, hotkeys
- Keyboard Shortcuts — All shortcuts reference
- Extensions — Install or build extensions