This flag has been around for a while, but I never got a chance to test it. I enabled it today and gave it a try. Here is what I found. First, let me introduce you to the flag:

Name: Enable app data search in launcher

Description: Allow launcher search to access data available through Firebase App Indexing – Chrome OS

URL: chrome://flags/#enable-app-data-search

The flag clearly mentions Firebase App Indexing. According to the developer documentation on Firebase:

Firebase App Indexing gets your app into Google Search. If users have your app installed, they can launch your app and go directly to the content they’re searching for. App Indexing reengages your app users by helping them find both public and personal content right on their device, even offering query autocompletions to help them more quickly find what they need. If users don’t yet have your app, relevant queries trigger an install card for your app in Search results.

I made a video to show you how this feature works. Nothing fancy, just a simple video!

The first thing I tried after enabling this flag was to try searching for articles from the Pocket app. That did not work. I had just logged into the app after a recent Chrome OS reset. Or it is possible that Pocket has not enabled Firebase app indexing.

Next, I tried searching for books from my Google Play app. Here is what I found. Books show up in the launcher if I have it downloaded and available offline. Here is a before and after comparison:

I tested this on the Canary channel, but I am sure this is available in the Dev channel, if not Beta. If you are using any of these channels, let me know in the comments, to confirm.