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How does Pactify local chat search work?
Updated Sep 22, 2026
What local search is
Local search is Pactify’s on-device full-text library of AI conversations on this Chrome profile. Titles and message bodies live in the extension’s IndexedDB—not in Notion, Capacities, or your pactify.io account.
Export gives you files. Cloud Sync gives you Notion/Capacities pages. Local search is how you find past AI work across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Copilot on this device.
Who can use it
Everyone—including unregistered anonymous Free and registered Free. You do not need to sign in, upgrade to Starter, or connect Notion to index chats or open Sidepanel → Chats. Starter adds Distill / Context and Bulk History Sync; it is not the gate for local search.
No cloud Sync? Still indexes locally
If you have not connected Notion/Capacities (Sync may show Connect), Pactify still writes the active conversation straight to the local index—no cloud destination required.
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pactify brand badge | A small green status dot on the badge while Saving / after Saved (breathes while writing, then pops green) |
| Tooltip | Saving to this device… → Saved to this device |
| Sidepanel → Chats | Open the panel: the newest conversation appears in the list (row may briefly highlight) |
Click the badge anytime to open Chats and search what was just saved. Cloud dual-write only starts after Notion (or Capacities) is connected and Sync succeeds—local search already works before that.
Three layers of Search in the docs
| Doc | Covers |
|---|---|
| This page | Concept: who can use it, local-only vs cloud, badge feedback |
| Sidepanel Chats | List UI: query box, filters, snippets, ranking, Heal |
| Chat detail | Inside a thread: Search in conversation, highlights, TOC, copy |
List UI: Sidepanel Chats. Inside a thread: Chat detail.
What writes the index
| Writes local index | Does not |
|---|---|
| Local-only path (no Notion/Capacities yet)—badge Saved to this device | Export only (MD / Doc / PDF / Docs) |
| Manual Sync / Auto-Sync when cloud is connected (dual-write) | Chats never opened / never indexed on this device |
| Bulk History Sync successes; Heal when cloud is ahead of local | Star / Tags (not shipped) |
Local vs cloud
| Layer | Role |
|---|---|
| Sidepanel Chats (local search) | On-device index for this browser profile |
| Notion / Capacities | Cloud pages — optional; separate search surfaces |
| Badge Saved to this device | Local write feedback (not “Notion updated”) |
Signing into pactify.io does not roam the Chats library across computers. Deleting a Notion page does not clear local Chats—see Auto-Sync and Conversations database.
Open the library
- Chrome toolbar Pactify icon → Sidepanel → Chats
- On-page Pactify brand badge (green status dot while Saving / Saved to this device)
Storage edge cases
| Situation | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| IndexedDB / extension quota full | New local writes can fail; Chats may stop growing (often no loud toast) | Free disk space; do not clear extension data unless you accept wiping Chats |
| Very long threads | Detail readable; inverted index may truncate—tail content might not match Search | Open chat detail and use Search in conversation |
| Wrong Chrome profile / device | Empty or different Chats library | Sync / Bulk again on that profile—login does not roam the index |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sign in or connect Notion to search my chats?
No. Anonymous Free users can index and search on this device. Notion is only needed for cloud Sync pages.
Is Pactify Search the same as Notion search?
No. Sidepanel Chats searches this browser’s IndexedDB. Notion has its own search over cloud pages.
Why doesn’t an exported chat show up in Search?
Export never writes the local index. Open a supported AI chat so Pactify can index it locally (badge Saved to this device), or Sync when cloud is connected.
Can I search ChatGPT history by message text, not just titles?
Yes. Sidepanel Chats searches titles and message bodies on this device (≥2 characters per term; multi-word AND).