---
title: "Search Datasets Shared by Your Mac"
description: "Share an indexed dataset from a Mac running Noema and retrieve passages from it on another device through Constellation."
version: "Noema 4.1+"
platforms: ["iPhone", "iPad", "Mac", "Vision Pro"]
reviewed: "October 3, 2026"
canonical: "https://noemaai.com/docs/mac-shared-datasets"
---

# Search Datasets Shared by Your Mac

Retrieve passages from datasets your Mac shares; the original files and indexes stay on the Mac.

Noema can retrieve passages from datasets explicitly shared by a Mac running Noema. The Mac searches its index and returns relevant passages; the original files stay on the Mac.

For local-network use, keep the Mac and the connecting device on the same network.

## Prepare the Mac

1. Import or download the dataset into Noema.
2. Finish indexing it.
3. Open the dataset’s detail page.
4. Turn on **Share with connected devices**.
5. Keep Noema running and the Mac awake.

Sharing is selected separately for each dataset. Unindexed datasets and datasets requiring a rebuild are not ready to share. Company-managed datasets cannot be reshared through this personal sharing control.

## Select a shared dataset

1. Connect to the Mac through Constellation and select a model hosted by that Mac.
2. In chat, open **Choose dataset**.
3. Find the dataset under **Shared by your Mac**.
4. Select it and enable dataset retrieval for the chat when required.
5. Ask a question about its contents.

The selected dataset displays its host name so you can see which Mac supplies it.

## Access and privacy

Dataset retrieval requires authenticated access. Connecting to a Mac does not make its entire dataset library available.

Your query is sent to the Mac, and matching passage content can be returned for use in the conversation. Original files and indexes remain on the host.

Turn off **Share with connected devices** to revoke further access. This does not erase text already included in existing conversations.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | What to check |
| --- | --- |
| No shared datasets appear | Finish indexing, enable sharing, then refresh the picker. |
| Access is denied | Reconnect and check sharing on the Mac. |
| The index changed | Check or rebuild the index on the Mac, then select the dataset again. |
| The embedding model is unavailable | Install or load it on the Mac. |
| The Mac is unavailable | Check its connection, sleep state, and whether Noema is running. |

If retrieval fails, Noema preserves your selection and reports the problem. It does not silently substitute a local dataset.

## Related documentation
- [Understand Dataset Indexing and Time Estimates](https://noemaai.com/docs/dataset-indexing)
- [Datasets & RAG](https://noemaai.com/docs/dataset-integration)
- [Constellation Models, Tools & Photos](https://noemaai.com/docs/constellation-models-and-tools)
- [Constellation Connections & Privacy](https://noemaai.com/docs/constellation-connections)