diff --git a/SYS/config.py b/SYS/config.py
index e84c9e6..d6204bc 100644
--- a/SYS/config.py
+++ b/SYS/config.py
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ def get_local_storage_path(config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Path]:
     """Get local storage path from config.
 
     Supports multiple formats:
-    - New: config["store"]["folder"]["default"]["path"]
+    - New: config["store"]["folder"]["*"]["path"] (picks first folder store if 'default' is missing)
     - Old: config["storage"]["local"]["path"]
     - Old: config["Local"]["path"]
 
@@ -482,11 +482,19 @@ def get_local_storage_path(config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Path]:
     if isinstance(store, dict):
         folder_config = store.get("folder", {})
         if isinstance(folder_config, dict):
+            # 1. Try "default" specifically
             default_config = folder_config.get("default", {})
             if isinstance(default_config, dict):
                 path_str = default_config.get("path")
                 if path_str:
                     return expand_path(path_str)
+            
+            # 2. If no "default", pick the first one that has a path
+            for name, inst_cfg in folder_config.items():
+                if isinstance(inst_cfg, dict):
+                    p = inst_cfg.get("path") or inst_cfg.get("PATH")
+                    if p:
+                        return expand_path(p)
 
     # Fall back to storage.local.path format
     storage = config.get("storage", {})
diff --git a/cmdlet/search_file.py b/cmdlet/search_file.py
index c92cbc2..31413e9 100644
--- a/cmdlet/search_file.py
+++ b/cmdlet/search_file.py
@@ -192,6 +192,20 @@ class search_file(Cmdlet):
 
         worker_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
         library_root = get_local_storage_path(config or {}) if get_local_storage_path else None
+        
+        if not library_root:
+            try:
+                from Store import Store
+                storage_registry = Store(config=config or {})
+                # Try the first folder backend
+                for name in storage_registry.list_backends():
+                    backend = storage_registry[name]
+                    if type(backend).__name__ == "Folder":
+                        library_root = expand_path(getattr(backend, "_location", None))
+                        if library_root:
+                            break
+            except Exception:
+                pass
 
         db = None
         if library_root:
@@ -553,7 +567,22 @@ class search_file(Cmdlet):
         from API.folder import API_folder_store
 
         worker_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        
+        from Store import Store
+        storage_registry = Store(config=config or {})
+        
         library_root = get_local_storage_path(config or {})
+        if not library_root:
+            # Fallback for search-file: if no global "default" path is found, 
+            # try to use the specific backend mentioned in -store or the first available folder backend.
+            backend_name = storage_backend or "default"
+            try:
+                backend = storage_registry[backend_name]
+                if backend and type(backend).__name__ == "Folder":
+                    library_root = expand_path(getattr(backend, "_location", None))
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
         if not library_root:
             log("No library root configured. Use the .config command to set up storage.", file=sys.stderr)
             return 1