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FREEHISTORICAL ARCHIVE

Google Desktop (discontinued)

Google Desktop was discontinued in 2011. Free tools that search your computer today.

by Google
AVAILABLE2004 – 2011
RAN ONWindows, macOS, Linux
A program from the software archiveIt was available 2004 – 2011; the developer no longer offers it. This record keeps its details, with the programs you can use today.

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About Google Desktop (discontinued) (archived)

Google Desktop let you search the files, e-mails and web history stored on your own computer. Google discontinued it on 14 September 2011: downloads stopped and existing installations received no further updates or fixes.

Google explained that computer storage had moved to the cloud and that operating systems now had good search built in.

What to use instead

  • Windows Search – built into Windows; press the Windows key and type to search files and their content.
  • Spotlight – built into macOS (Command + Space).
  • Everything – a free tool for Windows that finds files by name almost instantly.

Do not install old copies of Google Desktop: they have not been updated for many years.

Key features

Desktop searchSearched files, e-mails, chats and web history on your PC
Full-text indexIndexed the contents of documents for fast results
Sidebar and gadgetsSmall tools for news, weather, notes and more
Quick search boxSearch by pressing the Ctrl key twice
FreeOffered by Google at no cost
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License and price

License type
Free

System requirements

Operating system
Windows, macOS, Linux

Good and keep in mind

Good

  • Was free and fast at finding files and e-mails
  • Searched inside documents, not only file names

Keep in mind

  • Discontinued since 14 September 2011
  • No updates or security fixes for many years

Frequently asked questions

Can I still download Google Desktop?
No. Google stopped offering it on 14 September 2011 and has not updated it since.
Why did Google discontinue Google Desktop?
Google said that more and more data was stored online and that operating systems had added good built-in search, so a separate desktop search tool was no longer needed.
What did Google Desktop do?
It searched the files, e-mails, chats and web history on your own computer, and its Sidebar showed small gadgets such as news, weather and notes.
What can I use to search files on my computer?
Windows Search on Windows and Spotlight on macOS are built in. For very fast searches by file name on Windows, the free program Everything is a popular choice.
Is it safe to install an old copy?
No. Old copies receive no security fixes and may not work correctly on current versions of Windows.