Some of you might not be aware of this, but Google actually offers a dedicated app for Windows users. It is essentially a way to surface Google services so that you can get quick access to them and boost your productivity. Google announced it as a Search Labs experiment back in September 2025, and now, it has updated it with new capabilities.
Although Google hasn"t detailed exactly what"s new, it has noted that the app has been "upgraded" for Windows users leveraging English across the globe. In its brief blog post, the company has highlighted AI capabilities, such as AI Mode, in which you can ask your queries in natural language and receive AI-powered responses in a chat-based interface with links to the web.
Other capabilities are mentioned below:
- Access everything from the Search box: With a simple keyboard shortcut (Alt + Space) you can instantly find what you need on your desktop—including information from the web, your computer files, installed apps, and Google Drive files.
- Stay in your flow with screen sharing: Whether you"re working on a document or browsing the web, you can select a specific window or your entire screen to keep asking questions without breaking your flow.
- Search what you see: With Lens, you can also select and search anything on your screen, making it easy to translate images or text, get help with homework problems and more.
The Google app for Windows desktop is certainly interesting. You could argue that it"s a bit faster than launching Google Chrome and just using Google Search there, but is it actually worth it to have a dedicated app just to shave off those 1-2 seconds? Google certainly thinks so. If you believe the same, you can head over to the portal here. Do keep in mind though that you need to be over 13 and must be utilizing Windows 10 or later.