How do I search the web?

Goal

Ask Nova a current question that she looks up online, such as the weather, the news, or opening hours.

Before you start

• AI access is set up.
• A key for OpenAI, OpenRouter, or Tavily. Claude, Gemini, and Grok alone do not search the web.

Steps

1. Say or type the question at the avatar. No special word is needed. For weather, news, prices, opening hours, and other current questions, Nova searches on her own.
2. Enter the key under Settings, Apps & services. OpenAI and OpenRouter are there in Simple too. Tavily (web search) is only in Expert.
3. Nova uses the first provider that has a key. For opening hours, addresses, phone numbers, links, and prices, Tavily comes first. For weather, news, and how-tos, OpenRouter or OpenAI comes first, depending on the model choice.
4. If a provider fails, Nova tries the next one with a key.
5. There is no card. The search writes nothing. Your question goes to the provider as a search term, and the provider bills the search.
6. Which servers were called is shown in How do I see which servers Nova talks to? Tavily is listed under Research, OpenAI and OpenRouter under AI models.

Example

“What’s the weather in Zurich tomorrow?” — “When is the post office at the station open today?”

Common problems

• Nova says she cannot search the web. A key for OpenAI, OpenRouter, or Tavily is missing.
• This Mac only under Models & automatic turns web search off. The switch shows in Expert. See How does an answer stay on this Mac?
• Privacy Lock blocks web search. Nothing is caught up when it is lifted. See How do I turn on Privacy Lock?
• This guide is about the avatar. Nova Chat has its own web search switch on the message and is an add-on pack.