The built-in Windows search has always left a lot to be desired, and users don't hesitate to replace it with an alternative engine. We've previously talked about tools like UltraSearch and ScanFS, but today we want to mention the Fluent Search project, which in addition to searching for files and programs on your computer, also behaves as an app launcher and lets you search the Web directly from its interface.
Replacing Windows' built-in search is a priority for many users. Its extreme dependence on indexing, its lack of efficiency, the general poverty of its results, and the performance problems it causes on humble machines make it one of the weakest tools in the operating system. Fortunately, there are developments that try to fix this, and one of the most interesting is Fluent Search.
How to Search for Files and Programs with Fluent Search
Fluent Search goes beyond traditional searches, offering support for opening any file or running local programs directly from its interface. In fact, we could say that Fluent Search has the potential to replace the Start menu on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The keyboard combination to "call" Fluent Search is Ctrl+Alt, although we can modify it to taste (personally I recommend Ctrl+S). The program looks a bit intimidating at first, but it only takes a few minutes to master.
When you perform a search, the Fluent Search interface splits in two. On the left side it shows everything it found based on the keyword, and on the right it shows the available commands. If it's an application, Fluent Search enables its execution (with or without elevated privileges), opening its folder, and in certain cases, its uninstallation.
Files with specific extensions will open using the associated software (e.g., Notepad for .txt files). All actions have a keyboard shortcut, following the pattern Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3, and so on. If we want to search something on the Web, it's enough to add "Google" or "Bing", followed by a tap on the Tab key (otherwise, "google" and "bing" will be part of the search), and the keyword.
Finally, I want to highlight the on-screen search, which helps us reduce mouse usage. By pressing the Ctrl+M combination, Fluent Search will generate a large number of shortcuts based on two letters. Some of these shortcuts don't lead anywhere, but that doesn't take away from the utility of the rest, which offers an effective way to "click" without the mouse. Fluent Search is free, open source, and has a portable version.
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