Google Quick Search Box In Windows 7 Taskbar

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A not-so-publicized feature, Google quick search box for Windows adds a Google button next to the Windows orb in your taskbar, and allows you to perform a variety of Google searches right from your desktop. It is included as part of the Google Toolbar package for Internet Explorer 8.

So many people have asked about the small Google rectangular icon next to Windows 7 Start Orb on my taskbar that I have finally decided to publish this post. Originally, Windows Quick Search Box was introduced for Mac only, but Google has included it as part of Internet Explorer 8 toolbar too.

Google has a history of sneaking small features into their products without anyone noticing. Mind you, Google Quick Search Box is not a small feature and is one of the many reasons for the increase in my productivity. If you have no idea what I am taking about, have a look at the screenshot below.

Click the Google Quick Search icon or hit a hotkey(can be changed) to bring up Google Quick Search box, now type any keyword and it will search the web, default browser address bar, local drive, and your desktop. The recommended results at most time are quite accurate.

Google includes this features as part of IE8 toolbar and is not included in Firefox toolbar. You don’t need to use IE8 after installing this toolbar, I am a Firefox/Chrome user myself.

An important question arises, when you search for any term, will it open Internet Explorer 8 browser to display the results? No, it will open the search results in the Windows Default Browser(it could be FF/Chrome/Opera/Safari) or you can manually select it by right-clicking the Google Quick Search icon in the taskbar(see screenshot below).

In layman’s term, Google Quick Search can search in your desktop, on the web, in local drive(windows indexed) and in your default browser’s address bar, thus, making it one powerful must-have search tool for every Windows user. Also it will save you the headache of having to open the web browser before initiating a search.

You can install the Internet Explorer 8 toolbar from the following link, please open it using IE8, opening it in any other browser will not work since you will be redirected.

Google Internet Explorer 8 Toolbar

Have a great weekend