According to MakeUseOf, Windows 11’s built-in search is painfully slow, cluttered, and struggles to find files half the time while eating up system resources and battery life. The author uses three different search apps together to solve this problem: Fluent Search for finding files and apps with its own efficient indexer, PowerToys Run for quick commands and rapid app launches, and Command Palette as an extensible catch-all launcher. These tools work around Windows Search’s limitations through keyboard shortcuts, plugin support, and specialized functionality. The combination addresses Windows Search’s biggest gaps while offering customization and speed improvements. The author plans to eventually consolidate to two apps but currently finds all three complementary without interfering with each other.
Why Windows Search fails
Here’s the thing about Windows Search – it’s basically trying to do everything and ends up doing nothing well. The indexing service runs constantly in the background, chewing through your CPU and battery life while still managing to miss files you know are right there. It’s the classic Microsoft bloat problem: too many features crammed into one tool without any of them working particularly well. And honestly, when you’re trying to quickly find a document or launch an application, who has time to wait for that spinning circle to finally deliver mediocre results?
Fluent Search for deep dives
Fluent Search is the workhorse here. It uses its own native file indexer that doesn’t hog your CPU, which immediately solves the biggest pain point of Windows Search. The interface is clean and results appear as you type with almost no lag. But what really makes it powerful is the versatility – it can search open browser tabs, browsing history, in-app content, and even control Windows entirely from your keyboard. With extension support, you can add everything from translators to process killers to YouTube search. Basically, if you only install one alternative search tool, this might be the one.
PowerToys Run for quick hits
PowerToys Run replaced my Start menu too, and I’m never going back. It’s part of Microsoft’s own PowerToys suite, which is ironic considering how much better it works than their built-in search. The default Alt + Space shortcut feels more ergonomic than Fluent Search’s Ctrl + Alt, and it’s perfect for those moments when you just need to launch an app or run a quick calculation. You can execute terminal commands with the > prefix or search the web with ? suffix. It’s lightweight, fast, and those little quality-of-life improvements really add up throughout your workday.
Command Palette for everything else
Command Palette is essentially PowerToys Run on steroids – it’s the spiritual successor with a more advanced interface and capabilities. The author uses it for everything that doesn’t work with the other two tools, like launching Steam games or executing complex system commands. The default Windows key + Alt + Space shortcut is a bit cumbersome, but customizable. What makes it special is the extension ecosystem – you can add Winget integration for installing apps, media controls, currency converters, and even create your own extensions if you don’t find what you need.
The three-app strategy
So why use three search tools instead of just one? Each solves different problems that Windows Search fails at. PowerToys Run and Command Palette rely on Windows Search Indexer, which is why Fluent Search with its own indexer is necessary for reliable file searching. They’re similar enough that you could probably get by with just PowerToys Run and Command Palette if you don’t mind occasional delays. The author plans to eventually drop PowerToys Run since Command Palette is its successor anyway. But for now, all three coexist peacefully without getting in each other’s way.
Should you switch?
If you’re frustrated with Windows Search – and let’s be honest, who isn’t? – any of these three tools will dramatically improve your workflow. They require little setup and instantly make finding files and launching apps feel seamless. Fluent Search is probably the best single replacement if you want to minimize tools, while PowerToys Run offers the easiest transition from the Start menu. Command Palette gives you the most power and customization if you’re willing to learn its ecosystem. The bottom line? You don’t have to put up with Microsoft’s broken search when these free alternatives work so much better.
