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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
1

Salesforce Account

Active Salesforce account with login credentials (username, password, and security token)
2

System Requirements

  • macOS: 10.15 (Catalina) or later
  • Windows: Windows 10 or later
3

File Access

Salesforce user permissions to view and download files

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Step 1: Download & Install

  1. Download FileFetch for macOS from filefetch.app/download
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  3. Drag FileFetch to your Applications folder
  4. Launch FileFetch from Applications
On first launch, you may need to right-click → Open to bypass macOS Gatekeeper if you see a security warning.

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Step 2: Connect to Salesforce

When you first launch FileFetch, you’ll see the login screen.
1

Select Environment

Choose your Salesforce environment:
  • Production - For live Salesforce orgs (login.salesforce.com)
  • Sandbox - For test/dev environments (test.salesforce.com)
  • Custom Domain - For My Domain or custom URLs
2

Enter Credentials

Fill in your Salesforce credentials:
Username: [email protected]
Password: YourPassword
Security Token: YourSecurityToken
Don’t have a security token? Reset it in Salesforce under Settings → My Personal Information → Reset Security Token.
3

Sign In

Click Sign In to authenticateYour credentials are stored securely in your system keychain and never leave your computer.

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Step 3: Run Your First Query

Once logged in, you’ll see the Query & Export page.
1

Choose Export Type

Select what to export in the Export Configuration panel:
  • Files (ContentVersion) - Modern Salesforce Files
  • Attachments - Legacy attachments
2

Set Filters (Optional)

Use Quick Filters to narrow your search:
  • Date Range: Last 7 days, Last 30 days, This Year, etc.
  • File Type: PDFs, Word documents, Excel, Images
  • File Size: Small (<1MB), Medium (1-10MB), Large (>10MB)
  • Related Object: Filter by Account, Contact, Opportunity, etc.
In Simple Mode, these filters automatically generate a SOQL query for you. The query preview shows exactly what will run.
3

Run Query

Click Run Query (or press ⌘/Ctrl + Enter)FileFetch will fetch matching files from Salesforce and display them in the results table.

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Step 4: Export Files

1

Select Files

In the results table:
  • Select individual files by clicking checkboxes
  • Select all with the header checkbox
  • Review file details: Title, Extension, Size, Created Date
2

Configure Export

In the Export Configuration panel, set your preferences:
  • Group by Related Record: Organize files into folders by parent object
  • File Naming: Use real file names or Record IDs
  • Duplicate Handling: Append ID or skip duplicates
3

Start Export

Click Export Selected FilesFileFetch will:
  1. Create a timestamped folder in your default export directory
  2. Download files concurrently (up to 10 at a time)
  3. Generate an export summary report
  4. Show progress with real-time updates
4

View Results

When complete, click Open Folder to view your exported filesYou’ll find:
  • All downloaded files organized by your settings
  • _Export_Summary.txt with detailed export information

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What’s Next?

Advanced Querying

Learn to write custom SOQL queries in Power Mode

CSV Import

Bulk select files by uploading a CSV with file IDs

Export History

Track and retry past exports

Settings

Customize download behavior and preferences

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Common First-Time Issues

Solution: Verify your credentials are correct. If using a security token, make sure it’s appended to your password without spaces. If your account is locked, contact your Salesforce administrator.
Solution:
  • Check that files exist in your Salesforce org matching your filters
  • Verify you have permission to view files
  • Try removing filters to see all files
  • Make sure you’re exporting the correct type (Files vs Attachments)
Solution:
  • Increase timeout in Settings → Download Timeout (default: 120 seconds)
  • Check your internet connection
  • Try reducing concurrent downloads in Settings
Need more help? Check out our Troubleshooting Guide or contact support.