Google Search on Windows: New Google App now also available in Germany
In Germany too, you can now browse your Windows PCs with the new Google app. The app also brings AI functions via Gemini to the desktop.
The Google app can not only search your PC, but also serves as quick access to Gemini.
(Image: heise medien)
Google has now also released its Windows app in Germany. With the app, you can search your Windows PC, the web, and files in Google Drive. It also brings several AI features to the desktop thanks to Gemini – such as the ability to search the screen.
Google announced the app for Windows search last fall, but until now it was only available in the US. Now you can download the “Google App for Desktop” also in Europe. It runs unnoticed in the background by default and can be summoned with a keyboard shortcut. By default, you press Alt+Space, but the combination can also be changed.
The Google app is only conditionally suitable as an alternative to Windows search: While it is fast, it only displays a maximum of three local file search results – there seems to be no option to display more results. Additionally, the ability to open the file path by right-clicking on a search result is missing. If you want to scan your Windows PC, you are better advised to use a program like Everything.
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Circle to Search for Windows
On the other hand, AI functions that the Google app brings could be useful: via the Lens integration, you can select a screen area to perform an image search or extract text – the latter can already be done by Windows itself with the Snipping Tool. The function is reminiscent of Circle to Search for Android devices. If desired, you can also share your entire screen area with the Google app to ask Gemini questions.
In the settings of the Google app, you can specify whether the app can access local files and Drive at all. Google promises not to evaluate information about local files. Logging in with a Google account is optional, but without an account, you can only search the web.
In addition, you can also use the app as a kind of quick access to the Gemini chatbot. In the options, you can set whether the Google app appears in light or dark mode. The window size can be freely adjusted. So far, the Google app itself is only available in English, but you can also ask it questions in German and get German answers. The application runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
(dahe)
