Alt + Space: Google’s new Windows search tool is surprisingly powerful 💻🔍

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Some features feel so obvious in hindsight that you wonder why they didn’t exist sooner. Google’s new experimental Google App for Windows is one of them. The company is testing a universal search bar for PCs—an approach clearly inspired by Apple’s Spotlight but reimagined with Google’s ecosystem at the center. The idea is simple and surprisingly powerful: search anything, from anywhere, without breaking your flow.

Search everywhere, instantly 👀

Hit Alt + Space and a floating search box pops up in the middle of your screen, no matter what you’re doing. From there, Google blends local search (files, folders, installed apps), Google Drive results, and even quick web searches—without opening a browser tab. Everything stays contained in a compact window designed to keep you moving without interruptions.

Source : © Google

Google Lens and AI built right in 🔎

Google didn’t stop at text search. The app bakes in Google Lens, letting you highlight any part of your screen to identify objects, extract text, or translate on the fly—much like “Circle to Search” on Android. There’s also an experimental AI mode that swaps the usual list of links for conversational answers generated by Google’s latest models. It’s Google’s way of nudging search into a more assistant-like direction.

Source : © Google

Source : © Google

A power-user tool… with limited availability ⏳

Before you get too excited: the app is still a Search Labs experiment, restricted to the U.S. and available only in English. You’ll need to sign up through Search Labs and have a PC running Windows 10 or 11. It’s a bold move from Google—and a direct shot at Microsoft’s often-criticized Windows search, which many find slow or unreliable.

Google wants a seat on every desktop 🌍

This isn’t just about search. By landing directly inside Windows, Google is weaving its ecosystem—Drive, Lens, AI, and more—into the daily workflow of millions of users. Apple keeps Spotlight tightly integrated into macOS, but on Windows, the UX battle is wide open. And Google seems more than ready to compete. Could we one day see a “Google Spotlight” for macOS? Never say never.

A small tool that could reshape daily habits 🛠️

If Google’s universal search bar rolls out widely, it could seriously shift how PC users navigate their devices: faster lookups, smarter answers, and deep Google ecosystem integration. Even in its limited early stage, it’s clear the company understands what today’s users want—speed, simplicity, and intelligence.

Will you try it out? Game changer or just another shiny experiment? Drop your thoughts, favorites, and frustrations in the comments!