Convert files

Turn any file the bar shows into another format, or compress, resize, trim or merge it, and the result is saved next to the original without touching it.

Convert a file

1. Find the file in the bar: in search results, the Files view, a folder you opened in the bar, or a copied file in Clipboard History.
2. With it selected, press ⇧↵, or press ⌘K and choose Convert to… from the list.
3. Pick a format and press ↵.

Convert to… has three sections. Convert to lists the formats this file can become, the most useful first, each with a short note ("Lossless · keeps transparency", "Smallest for photos · no transparency"). Tools holds the one-step file tools. Actions holds AirDrop, Copy File and Move to…

You can also type right in the top level of ⌘K: typing png finds Convert to PNG.

A format's options

Press → on a format instead of ↵ to see its options before converting. Press ↵ on an option to step through its values; your choice is remembered for that format. The first row converts.

Anything you haven't set for a format comes from Settings → File Converter.

What converts to what

What's offered depends on the file: its own format is left out, and the list is ordered for that kind of file. Everything runs on your Mac, with macOS's own engines. Excel output keeps the first sheet's values; Word output keeps text, styles and simple tables.

Formats that need FFmpeg

Some formats need FFmpeg, which doesn't come with Saiki yet. Until it does, these show dimmed with "Needs FFmpeg" and can't be chosen:

• Writing WebP, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Opus, WebM, MKV and AVI.
• Reading MKV, WebM, AVI, WMV, FLV, OGV, WMA, APE, WV, VOB, MTS, M2TS and TS files. For these, only Compress to ZIP works.

To hide them instead, turn off Settings → File Converter → Formats → Show formats that need FFmpeg.

File tools

In Convert to…, the tools are in the Tools section. A tool that needs a value opens its own level: type the value in the field, or pick one of the ready-made choices under it.

Merge PDFs and Join Videos appear when you've picked several files (see below).

Convert several files

Pick files in search results, the Files view or a folder opened in the bar: hold ⇧ and press ↑ or ↓, or ⌘-click rows. (Dropping several files on the bar's Convert part works too; see below.) Then press ⇧↵ for Convert 8 Files to… (with your number). It lists the formats and tools every picked file has in common, with the ones that combine files first:

• Images → PDF: one PDF, a page per picture.
• Merge PDFs: one PDF.
• Join Videos: one MP4.
• Compress 8 Items to ZIP: one archive, folders included.

With files picked, ↵ asks AI about them instead; ⇧⌘U clears the selection.

While it works

A row at the top of the bar shows progress ("Converting photo.heic → PNG · 42 %", or "Converting 3 of 8" for a batch) with a Stop button. ⌘. stops every conversion. A stopped or failed conversion leaves no half-written file behind.

Two files convert at the same time by default; the rest wait their turn. You can close the bar: conversions carry on. When a batch is done, a short message says what was saved (or what failed and why), and the new file is selected in the list.

The long-job notification

When a conversion took more than 30 seconds, or finished while the bar was closed, you get a notification with a Show in Finder button. Turn it off in Settings → File Converter → Jobs → Notify when a long conversion finishes. macOS asks to allow notifications the first time.

Undo a conversion

Undo puts the files the last conversion made in the Trash. Three ways:

• Press ⌘Z on an empty search field, within a minute of the conversion finishing.
• Run the Undo Convert command.
• Choose Undo Convert in the Actions section of Convert to…

Nothing is deleted: the files go to the Trash, where Finder's Put Back works. A file you changed after it was made is kept.

Drop files to convert

Drag files onto the bar and the drop card splits in two: Ask AI and Convert. Drop on Convert, and the converter opens with your files at the top and Convert to… already open. If nothing can convert those files, the Convert half is dimmed.

The convert command

Type convert and press ↵ on Convert Files. It shows a place to drop files (anywhere on the bar takes them) and your newest files from Desktop, Downloads and Documents. ↵ on a file opens Convert to…; → on a format shows its options. You can give it a hotkey in Settings → File Converter → Convert Files.

Save Image As…

On a picture in Clipboard History, press ⇧⌘S (or ⌘K → Save Image As…) and choose PNG, JPEG, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF or PDF. The picture is saved into your Downloads folder as "Clipboard Image".

Share and move

The Actions section of Convert to… works on the file itself, for one file or several:

• AirDrop opens the AirDrop sheet.
• Copy File puts the file on the clipboard, ready to paste in Finder.
• Move to… offers Desktop, Documents and Downloads, or type a folder path such as ~/Documents/Invoices. A file with the same name already there is never replaced: a number is added.

Settings

Open Settings → File Converter.