Google’s experiment brings its search engine and visual AI directly to the Windows desktop with a compact, Spotlight‑style overlay that promises to search your PC, Google Drive, installed applications and the web from a single keystroke.
Background / Overview
Google has quietly expanded the...
admin controls
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alt space shortcut
desktop search
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lens integration
localfiles
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spotlight style overlay
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windows desktop search
Google is quietly rolling a new Windows-native search experience into its Labs program that brings the company’s web search, Google Lens, and its AI-powered AI Mode onto the desktop — reachable instantly with an Alt + Space hotkey and designed to search your local files, installed apps, Google...
Google’s experimental Windows app aims to remove the friction of switching windows to look something up — a floating, Spotlight‑like search bar you summon with Alt + Space that can search local files, installed apps, Google Drive, and the web, and that folds in Google Lens and the company’s AI...
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start menu
telemetry
translation
unified results
unified search
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visual search
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Google has quietly begun testing a new desktop search experience for Windows that looks and feels like macOS Spotlight but with Google’s distinctive multimodal and generative-AI capabilities layered on top, bringing web search, Google Drive, local files, installed apps, and Google Lens into a...
ai
ai mode
alt space
cross-platform
desktop search
enterprise
google
google drive
google lens
installed apps
localfiles
multimodal ai
privacy
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search labs
security
spotlight style
ux design
web search
windows
Windows users searching for the ultimate digital assistant experience have long been tantalized by the promise of seamless AI integration. The emergence of Copilot AI on Windows 11 and Windows 10 represents a pivotal moment in this journey. Now, after months of closed testing through the Windows...
ai integration
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cloud vs local search
copilot ai
digital assistant
file discovery
file management
file metadata
file search
localfiles
microsoft copilot
privacy control
productivity tools
search index
tech news
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windows 10
windows 11
windows features
windows search
On May 7, 2025 I updated my work PC to 24H2. I use sync.com and OneDrive. Since the update, spreadsheets on my favorites list (on windows explorer) will open locally when they reside in sync.com but OneDrive files open in a browser. My laptop does the same. Is this a Microsoft bug or is there a...
Hello,
I've had a nice setup for myself and my family using Win 10 and Onedrive for cloud based files that served either as a backup or ability to share between people.
With recently installing Win11 on a couple of computers (first my wife's Surface, and now my personal laptop) everything moved...
backup
cloud storage
data organization
desktop
documents
family sharing
file explorer
file structure
folder management
integration
localfiles
onedrive
settings
synchronization
tech support
upgrade issues
user experience
user settings
windows 10
windows 11
I'll explain the situation.
OneDrive had files and folders which were present from a previous Windows 11 installation ('Documents' libraries). Old 'Documents' and old 'Photos' were kept so that I could go through them over a period of time, removing any old files I did not need.
Once I...
backup solutions
cloud storage
data loss
data retrieval
documents
file management
file recovery
file systems
folder management
installation issues
library settings
localfiles
onedrive
pc issues
photos
reinstallation
shortcuts
user libraries
windows 11
windows repair
Note taking with text editors is the best way I've ever used. The real note taking software keep files locally which is risky for data loss when the operating fails or when the notebook is stolen. Word processors are too clunky and risky of data loss when crashed. Mozilla Composer is the fast...
data loss
editplus
file management
file performance
html editor
localfiles
markdown
mozilla composer
note taking
pimnote
productivity
programming
remote files
seamonkey
software alternatives
text editor
text files
user experience
utf8 encoding
word processor
I would like to save all my word, excel, etc files locally and not to the onedrive/cloud.
I have set the default saving location on the local versions of word and Excel, but when I am using 365 it only shows the onedrive as a default location, there doesn't seem to be any other choices?
Part...
Hi
I've had this problem several times before, and never figured out how to correct it.
When I installed the Anniversary Update it started working again, the way it's supposed to.
Now when I ask Cortana to play my music, she says, "Sorry I can't seem to find any music locally or in your...
anniversary update
audio playback
automation
cortana
default folder
digital assistant
file location
localfiles
media management
music
search issues
software bugs
tech support
troubleshooting
user experience
user query
voice commands
windows
windows 10
I require some urgent help- not a computer guru but if explained in layman terms I can fix things..
I have done a re-install of windows 10 Pro 64 bit, I have no start up menu I can not access any microsoft office programs , the pc is really slow.
no 1 - this is what is coming up at start...
Hi,
In one of my application(web application) , i try to load a local video file through a java Applet. This functionality is working fine in windows xp, vista, mac but in some of the Windows 7 machine this is not working. I think due to some security reasons the applet is not able to...
Good day mighty experts,
I do have a question regarding the way Windows 7 handles network shares. I have a few NAS servers on my network (mapped to local drives on my pc), some of which using power saving techniques. As a result, they stop their hard drives after a few minutes idle time. This...
desktop
explorer.exe
file explorer
freezing
hard drives
idle time
lags
localfiles
nas
network
network neighborhood
networking
performance
power saving
shares
storage devices
system tasks
troubleshooting
user experience
windows 7
Hello all.
I cannot upload files to my PC from my website.
I have tried the firefox addon fireftp and also tried filezilla.
Both receive errors.
filezilla has the following error
Failed to open "F:\Wepages\[]Active\AdminTemplate\test2.php" for writing
fireftp has the following error
Failed to...
Hello,
I have Build 7068 and when I try to install some software I get an error. The error states "Invalid Drive Letter P:\", then the install closes. I am in a Domain environment. This error does happen both when I install the software from the Network share or move it locally and try to...
I have Vista Home Premium and have an issue with IE in that it will not display html forms that I have on my PC. If I copy the html page to a web server they display but not locally.
What happens is if I click on a local html page it displays the html text.
Similarly any computer magazine web...