The recently launched Google app for Windows is generating attention with its powerful features designed to enhance user convenience. Debuted in September 2025 through Google Labs, this app presents a floating interface accessible via Alt + Space, creating a streamlined experience for users wishing to integrate their web search, AI functionality, and Google Drive interactions directly from their desktops.
Installation and Customization
Upon installation, users will find that the app requests permissions necessary to perform searches in Google Drive and local files. Customization is clearly a priority: users can adjust themes, modify keyboard shortcuts, and toggle AI modes based on personal preference. Importantly, exiting the Google account disables the app, ensuring security and user control.
The interface itself is quite dynamic. As a 'floating pill', it can be dragged across the screen and resized horizontally, adding a level of physical user control uncommon in traditional applications.
Performance and Usability
One of the app’s strongest suits is its impressive performance metrics. Appreciation must go to its ability to open almost instantly and operate under minimal RAM load—approximately 8-9MB during heavy usage scenarios. When performing web searches, users benefit from featured snippets that appear directly in the app, with AI mode enabled delivering inline answers without launching an external browser.
The file search capability within Google Drive is notably proficient, offering quick and accurate results despite variances in file types. Local file indexing, however, has mixed results as it tends to lag behind Windows Search when dealing with newly added files.
Google Lens Integration
Users keen on image-based queries will find the Google Lens integration within the app particularly enticing. Google Lens permits identification of on-screen elements, whether that be through similar image searches, text translation, or copying text within images. The app extends capabilities to visual queries and basic mathematical solutions, all executed directly from the accessible floating app interface.
A Tale of Two Tools: Google App vs. PowerToys Command Palette
While the Google app aims at everyday users, Microsoft’s PowerToys Command Palette remains the choice for more technically inclined users. PowerToys offers robust features such as system command execution, plugin capabilities, and a comprehensive suite of shell and registry actions all past of a richer, more configurable environment than Google's offering.
However, the Google app differentiates itself with its unique strengths: integrated AI answers, seamless Google Drive access, and the novel convenience provided by Google Lens. While the former suits developers with its customizability, Google’s utility engages those seeking straightforward, fast solutions.
Current Limitations and Future Potential
Although the Google app is still in its experimental phase via Search Labs and currently exclusive to US users, there is potential for expansion. The quirks observed, such as resizing issues and overlapping labels, are minor when weighed against its potential for everyday efficiency. The app may not yet be available in the Microsoft Store, and its availability on ARM systems is still not clearly defined, but for users desiring fast Google Drive access, Lens capabilities, and quick AI-driven answers, the app is already proving to be a valuable tool. The niche PowerToys Command Palette will retain its dedicated power-user base, though.
