Abstract: Methods for leveraging a user's social network connections to search files stored on client devices are provided. Upon receipt of a search query, it is determined that the searching user is a social network connection of at least one user of a social networking application having files on their client device designated for sharing. Those designated files are searched to determine if any of them match the received search query. Client device files associated with users of the social networking application that have been designated for public sharing also are searched. Any files shared publicly or with social network connections of the sharing user that are stored on a client device and determined to match the received query may be presented to the searching user independent of the algorithmic search results or may be integrated into the algorithmic search results, as desired.

Abstract: Methods for leveraging a user's social network connections to search files stored on client devices are provided. Upon receipt of a search query, it is determined that the searching user is a social network connection of at least one user of a social networking application having files on their client device designated for sharing. Those designated files are searched to determine if any of them match the received search query. Client device files associated with users of the social networking application that have been designated for public sharing also are searched. Any files shared publicly or with social network connections of the sharing user that are stored on a client device and determined to match the received query may be presented to the searching user independent of the algorithmic search results or may be integrated into the algorithmic search results, as desired.