Flow Launcher
Press a hotkey, type a few letters, and open an app, a file, a bookmark or a web search on Windows.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
3 more ways to get Flow Launcher
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by Flow Launcher. Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- winget
winget install --id Flow-Launcher.Flow-Launcher - Chocolatey
choco install flow-launcher
About Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher puts a search box over whatever you are doing. It finds applications, files and file contents, using the Everything index or the Windows index for speed, and handles web searches, browser bookmarks, system commands and calculations from the same box.
Plugins are where it goes beyond the built-in Windows search: community plugins cover clipboard history, window switching, process control, translation, and a long list of service-specific searches. It is written in C# and MIT licensed.
Strengths
- Uses the Everything index, so file search is instant on a big drive
- One box for apps, files, bookmarks, web searches and calculations
- Large community plugin library with an in-app plugin store
- Installer and portable build, plus winget, Scoop and Chocolatey
Limitations
- Windows only
- Binaries are unsigned, so Windows raises a security prompt on first run
- Plugin quality varies and a bad one can slow the whole launcher
- The project warns about lookalike domains, so download from the official site
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the MIT licence.
- License
- MIT
- Developer
- Flow Launcher
- Platforms
- Windows
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Never touching the Start menu again on Windows
- Categories
- App launchers
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Utilities); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 2 sources on file.
Alternatives to Flow Launcher
Compare allSoftware that can replace Flow Launcher for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Listary
Instant file search and app launching on Windows, with a search box that appears inside file dialogs as well as on its own.
Listary is closed source and freemium with a Pro tier, and adds a search box inside Save As and Open dialogs in other applications.
Keypirinha
A very fast keystroke launcher for Windows, entirely portable, with packages written in Python.
Keypirinha is free, portable and fast on old hardware with Python packages, but it is closed source and has had no release since November 2020.
Wox
A fully native keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux, with GPU rendering and a plugin system, as an open Raycast alternative.
Wox is GPL-3.0 and runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux with a plugin store, though its plugin ecosystem is smaller and the version 2 rewrite young.
Ueli
A keystroke launcher that works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux, which most launchers do not.
Ueli is MIT-licensed and cross-platform with a signed Microsoft Store install, but it uses Electron, needs more memory and has fewer plugins.
Cerebro
Launch applications and run searches from a keyboard-driven panel.
Cerebro is MIT-licensed and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with plugins whose availability depends on third-party maintenance.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Everything
A free Windows search tool from voidtools that finds files and folders by name instantly.
PowerToys
Microsoft’s own bundle of more than thirty Windows utilities, from window layouts to a key remapper.
Kando
Circular pie menu that launches apps, runs scripts and fires keyboard shortcuts.
RocketDock
Classic lightweight application launcher dock for Windows with skins.
Nexus Dock
Launch applications and files from a customizable Windows desktop dock.
