Google is trying something it usually avoids: a native desktop app. Beyond Chrome, Drive, and Quick Share, most of Google’s services have lived inside the browser. But now, the company has quietly released a new “Google app for Windows,” available through Google Labs.
The goal is simple—help you find things faster. Press Alt + Space and a pill-shaped search field appears, ready to comb through your PC, Google Drive, installed apps, and the web. Results are neatly grouped, whether that’s local files, cloud content, or web results. In some cases, you’ll even see knowledge card-style answers, much like Google Search on mobile.
The app also integrates Google Lens for a Circle to Search-style experience. Highlight text or images on your screen to copy, translate, or look up instantly. There’s also a quick route into AI Overviews and AI Mode, showing how closely this experiment ties into Google’s broader Gemini ambitions.
At launch, the app is experimental and limited. It’s only available in English, restricted to personal Google Accounts in the US, and works on Windows 10 or newer. Workspace accounts aren’t supported, and Google is upfront about “known limitations.”
Still, this feels like more than just a utility. It’s essentially the Windows equivalent of the Google app on Android, blending traditional search with AI enhancements. And it signals Google’s growing willingness to meet users where they are—not just in the browser, but directly on the desktop.
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