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For years, users of MacOS and ChromeOS have enjoyed powerful, built-in universal search tools that can find files, apps, and web results all in one place. While Windows has its own search, it’s never quite felt as seamless. Now, in a fascinating move, Google is stepping in to fill that gap with a new, experimental “Google app for Windows,” and it’s available to try right now in Google Labs.
This new app is a powerful tool that brings a unified Google search experience directly to your Windows desktop, complete with some killer features that make it incredibly useful.
Search everything with a simple shortcut
At its core, the new Google app is a universal search bar that you can summon at any time with a simple keyboard shortcut: Alt + Space. Hitting this combo brings up a search interface that lets you instantly find what you need without interrupting your flow or switching windows. It’s a fast, convenient way to find anything you need, no matter where it’s located, and it can search across:
- The web (of course)
- Your Google Drive files
- Installed applications on your PC
- Local files saved on your computer
Google Lens for your entire screen
What makes this app truly special, however, is the built-in Google Lens functionality. Just like on your phone, you can use Lens to select and search anything on your screen. This means you can instantly translate text within an image, get help with a homework problem, identify an object in a photo, and much more, all without ever leaving the app you’re in. This is integrated with AI Mode as well, so you can get deeper, conversational responses and ask follow-up questions.
How to try it (and the limitations)
This is an early experiment, so there are a few things to keep in mind. It’s available via Google Labs, and space in the experiment is limited. To be eligible, you need to be:
- On a Windows 10 or newer device.
- Located in the U.S. and using English.
- Using a personal Google Account (it’s not available for Workspace accounts yet).
If that’s you, you can head over to the Google Labs page to opt-in and download the app. This is a very exciting and unexpected move from Google, and we can’t wait to see how this powerful new tool evolves.
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