Friction Tamer Friction Tamer
Independent focused software

Small tools.
Specific problems solved.

Friction Tamer builds focused Windows tools for the irritating digital problems that waste time, hide in menus, or demand far more software than they should.

Explore the tools → How we build

Focused scope · clear pricing · local-first processing where it matters

Friction Tamer

Tame the friction.
Keep the tool simple.

No sprawling suite. No twenty features you never asked for. Each Friction Tamer tool exists to make one irritating task dramatically easier.

FocusedPracticalPurpose-built
Our tools

Focused software that earns its place.

Each product tackles one annoying job directly, keeps important processing local, and makes potentially destructive actions explicit.

Available · v1.0.0

Excel Link Detective

Find external references hidden across XLSX/XLSM workbooks, verify what is broken, reveal the exact location, then repair only what you choose.

Workbook processing stays local Windows 10/11 Excel not required
Explore Excel Link Detective Download Free Buy Pro — €14.99
Excel Link Detective
Quarterly_Forecast.xlsxC:\Finance\Reports\Quarterly_Forecast.xlsx
External sources · 3
SALES_2025.xlsx ×2 references
COSTS.xlsm ✓1 reference
TypeLocationStatus
Cell formulaInputs!D5Source missing
Defined nameForecastOK
RevealRetarget selectedBreak selected (1)
Available · v1.0.0

Folder Space Detective

See what is consuming a folder or drive, drill into large areas, search saved indexes quickly, and clean selected items with guarded Recycle Bin and rules-based workflows.

Local-first Windows 10/11 x64 Optional indexing No subscription
Explore Folder Space Detective Buy Pro — €19.99
Folder Space Detective
C:\Users\You\Documents
NameSize% parent
Video48.2 GB42%
Backups31.4 GB27%
Projects18.6 GB16%
Downloads8.1 GB7%
Storage OverviewCleanup RulesRecycle selected
Practical guides

Start with the problem, not the product.

Step-by-step help for the irritating Windows and Excel problems Friction Tamer tools are built to solve.

Excel

How to Find Hidden External Links in Excel →

Where external workbook references hide, how to inspect them manually, and how to tell what is actually broken.
Windows storage

How to Find What Is Taking Up Disk Space on Windows →

Move from broad storage categories to the exact folders and files filling your drive.
Simple pricing

Two focused tools. No subscriptions.

Both tools can be downloaded and used for free. Excel Link Detective Pro unlocks workbook modifications for €14.99 once; Folder Space Detective includes a 14-day Pro trial and a €19.99 one-time Pro upgrade.

Excel Link Detective

Free / €14.99 Pro

Scan, Reveal and export reports for free. Pro is a one-time upgrade that unlocks workbook modifications such as Replace Source, Retarget and Break Reference.

See Free vs Pro

Folder Space Detective

€19.99 Pro

The same v1.0.0 app starts with a 14-day Pro trial, then keeps working in Free mode. Pro is a one-time upgrade for advanced indexing, search and cleanup workflows.

See Free vs Pro
The Friction Tamer approach

Software that earns its place.

Every tool follows the same design rules: narrow problem, clear result, transparent actions.

01

Focused by design

One tool that solves one painful job well beats a huge suite packed with unrelated features.

02

Local-first

When files and indexes can stay on your PC, they should. Product data is not uploaded for analysis.

03

Explain before changing

Show what will happen, use conservative defaults, and make destructive actions deliberate rather than surprising.