Google has officially released its desktop search app for Windows to English-speaking users worldwide. The app first appeared as an experiment last year and has now expanded to a stage where it can be used without registering for Search Labs. Google announced via its official blog on April 14 that the app is being made available globally to Windows users. Supported environments are PCs running Windows 10 or higher.
The key feature of this app is the ability to launch the search bar instantly with a single shortcut, just like Spotlight on a Mac. Users can open the search bar by pressing Alt and Space, enabling them to search not only the web but also files stored on their PC, installed apps, and Google Drive files all at once. Search results can be viewed continuously within the floating window, and users can also jump directly to tabs such as Images or AI Mode.
Google is expanding this app beyond a simple search tool to serve as an AI hub. Google Lens is pre-installed, allowing users to instantly select images or text on the screen for translation or search, and it also supports tasks such as solving math problems. Additionally, an AI mode enables users to ask more complex questions and follow up with further inquiries. The app also includes a feature that allows users to share the entire screen or a specific window to ask questions based on what they are currently viewing.
If a user brings up the Google search bar before opening Chrome, the starting point of the search and AI response naturally shifts to the desktop itself. This can be seen as Google responding to the trend Microsoft is developing with Copilot in the Windows environment using a search-centric approach. In fact, while foreign media outlets compare this app to Mac's Spotlight, they also interpret it as a new desktop strategy spearheaded by Google-style search and AI.
