Flow Launcher review: local Windows app search

Flow Launcher is a free open-source app launcher for Windows. You press a shortcut, type a few letters, and open a program, a file, or a Windows setting without clicking through menus. It is for people who want that lookup on the PC. For files, Flow can use Everything. If you choose that search engine and Everything is not installed, Flow can download and install it.⁴

Last checked October 28, 2026.

At a glance

What it is: A keyboard launcher that finds apps, files, bookmarks, and Windows settings.

Works on: Windows 10 and later, as an installer or a portable copy.²

Price: Free to download and use.³

Licence: MIT.³

Best for: People on Windows who want a local search box for everyday apps and files.

Official site: flowlauncher.com

What Flow Launcher does (and how it protects your privacy)

Flow Launcher is a quick file search and app launcher for Windows, with plugins made by the community.² The current release on the official site is version 2.1.4, dated 20 September 2026.¹ A hotkey opens the search window. The default is Alt+Space, and you can change it.¹

From that window you can open apps.¹ You can find files and the text inside them.¹ You can also open browser bookmarks.¹ You can run a calculation.¹ You can search Windows and Control Panel settings.¹ You can run commands such as restart, sleep, or shutdown.¹ For files, the built-in Explorer plugin uses Windows Index or Everything.⁴ Everything locates files and folders by name.⁸ You can leave folders out of the results.⁴

Web search is separate. The site describes it as browsing the internet with your chosen search engine.¹ Those words are sent to that search engine.

Key features of Flow Launcher

Hotkey window. Alt+Space opens search by default, and you can change the shortcut.²
Apps and files. Find programs.¹ Find file names or the text inside files.¹ The search can use Everything or Windows Index.²
Bookmarks and settings. Search browser bookmarks.¹ Search Windows and Control Panel settings.¹
Calculator and system commands. Do a sum.¹ Sleep, restart, or shut down the PC.¹ You can also lock it.²
Shell commands. Run batch and PowerShell commands, including as administrator.¹
Portable mode. A fully portable copy is available.²
Plugins. The store lets you browse and install plugins that add searches.¹ You can write plugins in C#, F#, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.¹
Game mode. This pauses the hotkey while a game is running.²

Pros and cons

Pros

It is free of charge.³ The licence is the MIT licence.³
Filename search can use Windows Index or Everything.⁴
You can exclude folders from search results.⁴
Settings and installed plugins are stored in a user data folder on the PC, including in portable mode.⁶
Everyday jobs sit in one box: apps, files, bookmarks, settings, maths, and system commands.

Cons

It is a Windows app, with a Windows 10 or later installer and a portable zip.²
The installer is not code-signed, so Windows may show a security warning the first time you install it.²
The web-search feature browses the internet with a search engine you choose.¹
If you choose Everything and it is not installed, Flow Launcher can download and install it when you search and click the warning that Everything is not running.⁴ The docs support Everything 1.4.x, not the 1.5 alpha branch.⁴ The Everything site also offers a 1.4 download and a 1.5 beta.⁸
Community plugins are scanned with VirusTotal.⁵ Each plugin is maintained by its own author.⁵
The default shortcut is Alt+Space.² PowerToys Run uses the same default.⁷ The two can clash.

Is Flow Launcher safe and private?

The MIT licence grants permission free of charge.³ Its copyright lines name Flow-Launcher (2019) and Wox (2015).³ The download page lists an installer and a portable zip.¹

Settings and installed plugins are saved in a user data folder.⁶ The app says that place depends on portable mode.⁶ The readme puts the usual folder at %APPDATA%\FlowLauncher.² For a portable copy, it puts settings under %localappdata%\FlowLauncher, in an app- folder named for the installed version.² Type flow user data to open it.²

Some jobs do use the network. If an update check fails, the app tells you to check the connection to api.github.com.⁶ If the download fails, it points to github-cloud.s3.amazonaws.com, or to the GitHub releases page.⁶ The plugin list is a manifest file that Flow downloads from CDN providers.⁵ A CDN, short for content-delivery network, is a service that hosts files for download.

The Explorer plugin comes with Flow Launcher.⁴ You can choose Windows Index or Everything.⁴ Index search is for file names, and content search looks inside text files.⁴ Another option lists the subfolders in a directory.⁴ Flow can open the Windows indexing setting so you can see which folders are included.⁴ Everything locates files and folders by name.⁸ Searching the contents of documents is slow, so the usual keyword is doc:.⁴

Treat plugins with care. The store policy does not allow malicious code.⁵ Plugins are scanned, then scanned again, with VirusTotal, which checks files using many antivirus engines.⁵ The plugin repository says each author maintains their own plugin.⁵ Read a plugin’s page before you install it. If you want a switch for which Windows programs may use the internet, simplewall sets application connection rules. The readme lists the project website and GitHub organisation as official channels.² It says to trust those channels for downloads.²

How to get started with Flow Launcher

Open flowlauncher.com and download the installer or the portable zip.¹ The site lists version 2.1.4.¹ You need Windows 10 or later.² The readme also documents winget install "Flow Launcher".²
If Windows warns you because the code is not signed, the project says you can continue when the download came from its repository.²
Start Flow Launcher and press Alt+Space.¹ Type the start of an app name and press Enter.
To find a file, type part of its name. You choose Windows Index or Everything in the Explorer plugin.⁴ Press Ctrl+I to open settings.²
To search inside documents, type doc: first. The docs use that keyword because content search is slow.⁴
In Explorer settings, save folders you use often as Quick Access.⁴ Exclude folders you do not want in results.⁴
Install a plugin from the plugin store in settings.² Or type pm install plus the plugin name.²

Who should use Flow Launcher (and who might prefer something else)

Flow Launcher suits someone on Windows who wants a hotkey search that uses an index on the PC.

If you already use Microsoft PowerToys, PowerToys Run is a free open-source launcher in that set of tools.⁷ It also opens with Alt+Space.⁷ Use one launcher on that shortcut. The same page says PowerToys Run is getting an upgrade to version 2, and it describes Command Palette as that evolution.⁷ If you only want filename search, Everything does that job.⁸ Flow Launcher is documented as a Windows app.² When a search turns up a PDF, SumatraPDF opens it on Windows. For phrases you type often, Espanso expands them on the computer. For duplicate copies, Czkawka can help you spot them.

Frequently asked questions

Is Flow Launcher free?

Yes. The official site offers the installer and the portable zip.¹ The MIT licence grants use free of charge.³

Does Flow Launcher work on iPhone or Mac?

The project documents a Windows 10 or later installer and a portable version.² The official site describes Flow Launcher as a launcher for Windows.¹

Is Flow Launcher safe?

The project lists its website and GitHub organisation as official channels.² It says to trust official channels for downloads.² Windows may still warn you, because the installer is not signed.² File search can use Windows Index or Everything.⁴ Plugins are scanned with VirusTotal.⁵ Their authors maintain them.⁵

Can Flow Launcher search inside files?

Yes. The site includes search of files and file contents, using Everything or Windows Search.¹ In the Explorer plugin the usual keyword is doc:, because searching the contents of documents is slow.⁴