Arms on: Google’s new desktop app is simply one other Gemini portal

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Google actually constructed its enterprise round search. Gmail grew to become widespread since you may rapidly discover and resurface outdated emails. However I’ve tried Google’s new Google app for Home windows… and I’m not satisfied.

Google’s new freely downloadable Google app for desktop (out there immediately on PCs utilizing English) could remind you of the newest iteration of the 20-year-old macOS “Highlight” app, which is each a file supervisor, an app launcher, and a classy search instrument. The brand new Google app floats over your desktop like Highlight does, however to make use of it, you’ll first want to put in it and—for finest outcomes—sign up.

Usually, the app hides within the background. You may summon it with the Alt + Area shortcut. It pops into view, hovering over your display screen.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image_51e918.png?w=1200" alt="" class="wp-image-3114229" width="1200" height="901" loading="lazy" /> I assume this does the job I requested it to, however Home windows’ personal Search perform, which I’ve by no means been that keen on, does a greater job.

Google’s app naturally leads into Gemini, the place you may kind in a question. In reality, the “Search” inside the Google app leads proper right into a small floating window with Google’s controversial “AI Mode.” For those who head on this route, the AI outcomes look identical to Google’s Gemini, and the Google app primarily turns into a Gemini portal, with a chat historical past and extra. Even when you choose the “All” mode versus the AI Mode, an AI abstract pops up first, identical to an extraordinary search web page. On this context, the Google desktop app isn’t a lot completely different than simply opening a browser window.

Likewise, the Google Search app affords a possibility to share a window or a whole show—once more, that is all about Gemini and asking questions of a web page that’s open in your browser or one other software.

That is extra helpful than you may suppose. After I tried Microsoft’s Copilot Imaginative and prescient with middling success, that app may “see” what you had in your display screen and would stroll you thru it. Oddly, Copilot Imaginative and prescient didn’t appear to be energetic once I launched the Copilot app on my check PC. (My mistake: I wasn’t utilizing the precise Copilot app, however the much less highly effective Copilot triggered by CTRL+C.) Nevertheless, once I shared my display screen (with the Microsoft Solitaire app open) with the Google desktop app, it did a much better job figuring out the out there playing cards and strolling by way of the strikes. It wasn’t excellent—it hallucinated and misinterpret playing cards—however it was much better than Microsoft’s mannequin.

However Microsoft has a bonus: it’s a Microsoft PC. Google’s app guarantees to make looking by way of your desktop and cloud recordsdata a breeze, and I downloaded the Google app considering the app may very well be a alternative for File Explorer or Microsoft’s personal search. It isn’t.

Google’s desktop search app can see recordsdata saved domestically in your PC, in addition to something backed as much as Google Drive. However it might probably’t see OneDrive recordsdata or native paperwork, and it didn’t appear in a position to search Google Images both. Simply performing a fundamental seek for “Google” on my PC pulled up much more content material alone PC through Home windows’ personal search perform than anything. That is clearly a state of affairs the place one person’s experiences will differ from one other, however I simply wasn’t impressed.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image_87f865.png?w=1044" alt="" class="wp-image-3114227" width="1044" height="1200" loading="lazy" /> You'll suppose that Gemini may be capable of reply this query.

Google’s desktop app primarily serves as a entrance door to Gemini. Don’t we now have sufficient of these already?

Correction: I mistakenly examined the “flawed” model of Copilot, not the extra highly effective cloud model the place Copilot Imaginative and prescient resides.