Google’s new app launcher challenges PowerToys Command Palette on Windows 11 (and 10)

• Google is currently testing a new experimental app for Windows 11 (and 10) that works like macOS Spotlight and PowerToys Command Palette.
• You just need to press “Alt + Space” to open a floating search bar that lets you query local files, apps, Google Drive, and the web.
• It also includes Google Lens and an optional AI Mode.
• You can download from the Google Search Labs page, but it’s limited in English for users in the United States.

Google is testing a new app launcher for Windows that resembles macOS Spotlight, and directly challenges the Command Palette feature in PowerToys for Windows 11 and 10.

If you’ve used PowerToys, you’re familiar with how the Command Palette works. A floating search bar at the center of the screen that lets you quickly launch apps, find files, and run tasks. Google’s launcher does the same. Once installed, you can summon it by pressing the “Alt + Space” keyboard shortcut, typing your query, and instantly seeing the results.

The interface mirrors the familiar Google Search box you’d find in Chrome or on Android. On Windows, however, it serves as both a file and app search tool, as well as a gateway to the web and Google services. You can launch local files or apps, or ask a broader question and get search results without ever opening your browser.

The app also integrates Google Lens, accessible from the right side of the bar. When using Lens, you can capture a section of your screen and search it instantly. Beyond that, a context menu offers extra actions (such as translate, copy text, or copy the image) similar to the new “Click to Do” feature on Windows 11, but without requiring Copilot+ PC.

The app offers minimal settings. You can toggle light or dark themes and enable or disable local file search. While this concept is new for Google, the idea isn’t. The company had a similar product called “Google Desktop” (discontinued in 2011) that indexed your local files for fast searching.

Currently, the app is available for download through the Google Search Labs page and is only available in English, with limited support for users in the United States. Access requires signing in with your Google account, so installing the app from an alternative source won’t guarantee functionality.

Ultimately, the question is whether you’ll prefer this over PowerToys’ Command Palette or feel comfortable letting Google index local files on your computer.