The Windows search tool is not very powerful. It’s slow, and extremelly limited.
That’s where tools like Alfred for Mac come in, and more recently Fluent Search for Windows.
You no longer need to drag the mouse for basic tasks like switching between tabs or apps.
Using the keyboard over the mouse can really boost your digital fluency and productivity.
The app runs in the background and opens when [control + alt] is pressed, then you can search the resources you are looking for.
Fluent Search is a highly customizable, lightning-fast, and beautiful designed.
You can search literally everything.
Stuff like…
- Apps
- Websites, Bookmarks
- Browser tabs and history
- Files
- Switch between tabs and apps
- In-app content
- ChatGPT
- Google search
- Amazon
- Translation
- Calculator

I have been experimenting with it for the year, and I have to say that I am really enjoying it, I really can’t think why I would use the built in search feature of Windows ever again. I do stuff faster and much more efficiently. I love it.
That being said while using tools and apps like these to improve our productivity, most of the time what we really need is not the perfect app, but instead, aim to build a disciplined and distracting-less routine, using more effective productivity techniques like time-blocking, Pomodoro, environment design, etc.
Download Fluent Search and replace Windows built in search feature, with this powerful, free and open source app that will increase your productivity.