Google is testing a new search app for Windows. A blog post on Tuesday said the app, currently available on personal accounts via Google’s Search Labs, will allow you to use an Alt + Space shortcut to search for information from the files on your computer, in your Drive, and on the web.
The app, which has a Chrome-like install process and requires you to sign in, also comes with Google’s visual search feature, Lens, built in. That means you can select and search for images on your screen, as well as translate text. In one example shared by Google, you can highlight a math problem on your homework and then ask Google’s AI Mode to help you find the answer.
Just like Google’s search engine on the web, you can switch between all results, AI Mode, Images, Shopping, and Videos, and more, as well as choose between dark and light mode. It’s similar to the Spotlight on Mac, which can help you search through your files, apps, and the web. Windows has long had a built-in feature that lets you search through your files and the web, but it recently upgraded this capability with the launch of Copilot Plus PCs.
Upon downloading the app, Google will plant a search bar directly on your desktop that you can drag anywhere on your screen and resize. You can minimize the search bar by hitting Alt + Space. The app also gives you the option to enable or disable AI Mode, as well as change the shortcut used to open the app by selecting your profile picture and hitting Configurations.
You can try out Google’s new app for Windows now by enabling the experiment in Labs. It’s currently only available in English and for users in the US. You’ll need a PC with Windows 10 or up to download it.
Update, September 16th: Added more information about the app.
It’s exciting to see Google expanding its tools for Windows users! A Spotlight-like search feature could really enhance productivity on PCs. Looking forward to seeing how it develops!
Absolutely, it’s great to see Google enhancing the user experience on Windows! It will be interesting to see how this integration compares to existing tools, especially in terms of speed and accuracy. This could really streamline workflows for many users.
to see how this app integrates with existing Windows features. A seamless search function could really streamline productivity for many users. I’m curious if it will support advanced search options like Google’s web search!
Absolutely, integration will be key for user experience! It will be interesting to see if the app can pull results from both local files and web searches simultaneously, making it even more versatile for users.