Google announced Tuesday that it is testing a new experimental search application for Windows PCs, designed to bring Google’s search capabilities directly to users’ desktops. The app, currently dubbed “Google app for Windows,” allows users to search not only the web but also their local files, installed applications, and Google Drive content without leaving their current workflow. The announcement was brief, posted on Google’s official blog, and classified the software as part of its Labs program.
According to Google, the app is intended to streamline information retrieval across multiple platforms and tasks. Users can activate the search tool by pressing Alt + Space, enabling them to instantly query information while working in a document, gaming, or performing other activities. The results include data from local files, installed programs, and connected Google Drive accounts, as well as standard web search results. However, it remains unclear whether the app will extend its search functionality to third-party services like Slack or video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet.
The experimental app also integrates AI functionality, allowing users to enable an AI Mode. This feature can interpret what is currently displayed on the screen, helping to answer questions or provide explanations in real time. While Google has not officially branded this effort as part of its Gemini AI program, the AI capabilities suggest that the company is exploring ways to merge traditional search with generative AI functionality, similar to Microsoft’s Copilot integration in Microsoft 365 apps.
Access to the app is currently limited. Users must join Google Labs and download the app on a personal Windows 10 or 11 PC; Workspace accounts are not supported. At this stage, the trial is only available in the U.S., and Google emphasized that space is limited. The app represents Google’s ongoing effort to integrate search and AI more seamlessly into users’ daily computing workflows, potentially reducing the need to switch between multiple windows and applications for information.
