Google’s new Windows desktop app brings a Spotlight-like search bar to PC

Google is stepping into Windows desktop search with a bold new experimental app that promises to unify the way users find files, Google Drive documents, and web content. Available now in the United States through Google’s Search Labs for personal accounts, this app introduces a Spotlight-style search bar that can be quickly activated with the Alt + Space keyboard shortcut, revolutionizing search functionality on the world’s most widely used desktop operating system.

For many years, Windows users have relied on fragmented tools to locate information: File Explorer for local files, Google Drive’s web interface for cloud documents, and browsers for general web searches. Google’s new app aims to consolidate these disparate functions into a single, floating, resizable search interface that can be positioned anywhere on the screen. This unified design allows users to conveniently query across their entire digital workspace—from local storage to cloud data and the web—without opening separate apps or web pages.

Beyond simply merging search domains, Google’s app integrates advanced AI features that distinguish it from traditional desktop search tools. Powered by natural language processing, the app understands user intent rather than relying solely on exact keyword matches. This makes file discovery more intuitive and accessible, even for less technical users. The AI capabilities include context-aware results and multi-step reasoning, allowing for follow-up questions and interactive conversational search sessions that can dig deeper into user queries.

Another standout feature is the integration of Google Lens directly into the Windows search environment. Users can initiate visual searches or translate text from images shown on their screen, enabling real-time content analysis without switching apps. This capability extends the utility of the search bar beyond text files to photos, screenshots, and other visual data, empowering users with more versatile research and productivity tools.

The app dynamically displays search results as users type, offering immediate feedback and mirroring the seamless experience users expect from Google’s web search technologies. Users can search for locally stored files, Google Drive documents like Sheets or Slides, installed programs, and even web results—all from one interface. For example, a search for “invoice” might show a PDF saved locally, a Google Sheet shared by a colleague, and relevant external web pages simultaneously.

Currently, the app is limited to users in the United States with personal Google accounts and English language settings. Google Workspace accounts are excluded during this experimental phase, which is part of Google’s broader Search Labs program for testing innovative features before wider rollout.

This move is significant because it signals Google’s intent to embed its search expertise deeply into desktop environments, competing directly with Microsoft’s native Windows Search. Google’s app also brings Chromebook-like unified search capabilities to Windows PCs, presenting users with an intelligent, all-in-one search assistant right on their desktops.

While still experimental, the app reflects the growing trend of AI-infused productivity tools designed to streamline workflows and information retrieval. If broadly adopted, it could reshape how Windows users interact with their files and online content, reducing friction and boosting efficiency.

For users invested in the Google ecosystem, this new search app will likely prove especially valuable, offering quick access to powerful search and AI features without leaving Windows. As the app rolls out further, additional enhancements and support for more user types can be expected, potentially setting a new standard for desktop search experiences.