Google has taken a bold step into Microsoft’s territory with the launch of an experimental desktop app for Windows, designed to supercharge search capabilities and directly rival the built-in Windows Search and Copilot features. Announced on September 16, 2025, via Google’s official blog and Search Labs, the “Google app for Windows” aims to provide a seamless, Spotlight-like experience on the desktop, integrating AI-powered queries, local file access, and Google Lens for enhanced productivity.
The app, currently available only in the US for Windows 10 and above, can be summoned instantly with the Alt + Space shortcut, overlaying a floating search bar without interrupting workflows. Users can query across local files, installed applications, Google Drive documents, and the web from a single interface, pulling in Knowledge Graph results for quick answers or launching apps and websites directly. A standout feature is the built-in Google Lens integration, allowing users to select and search anything on their screen—translating text or images, solving math problems, identifying objects, or getting homework help—all without switching tabs.
What sets this apart is the AI Mode, powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 model, enabling complex, multi-part questions with deeper, conversational responses. This positions the app as a direct competitor to Microsoft’s AI enhancements in Windows, such as Copilot, which have faced criticism for being clunky or slow. Industry observers note that while Microsoft dominates the desktop ecosystem, Google’s app leverages its superior search algorithms and AI expertise to offer a more fluid experience, potentially drawing users away from native tools. The app supports dark mode and requires a personal Google Account (Workspace not supported), emphasizing its experimental nature with known limitations.
This rare foray into native Windows apps—beyond staples like Drive and Quick Share—signals Google’s strategy to embed its services deeper into rival platforms, challenging the status quo of desktop search. Early reactions on X (formerly Twitter) are enthusiastic, with users hailing it as a “personal assistant that actually listens” and a “war on Windows Search.” One post described it as bringing “the macOS Spotlight experience to Windows, supercharged by Gemini 2.5.” However, privacy concerns arise, as the app accesses local files and screen content, prompting calls for robust data protections.
To access it, users must opt into Search Labs via their Google Account settings, with limited spots available for testing and feedback. As AI integrates further into daily computing, this launch could reshape desktop interactions, especially if it expands beyond experiments. For now, it’s a intriguing challenge to Microsoft’s stronghold, highlighting the intensifying AI arms race in productivity tools.
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