How to Use Circle to Search on Android

We’ve all been there when we were browsing the internet and found something that we wanted more information about. A specific product, a celebrity, a location, or even a word. And what do we do then? We open the web browser, type about what we wish to search, and let Google do its magic. But what if there was a simple way to search for what we wanted? That’s where Circle to Search comes in.

Using Circle to Search, you can search anything on your Android phone without switching apps. As announced by Google, the feature is a part of the Google search app, which can be triggered with a simple gesture.

Once triggered, you can highlight the content of your choice, which Google will automatically search for. Sounds pretty cool, right? But before we understand the Circle to Search feature, let’s address the burning question.

What Is Circle to Search

Circle to Search is a visual search feature embedded within Google Assistant on select Android devices. It allows you to search for information about anything you see on your screen, be it text, images, or objects in videos, by circling or scribbling around them. Think of it as a digital lasso capturing your curiosity and throwing it straight to the vast ocean of Google’s knowledge.

It has a couple of advantages over traditional search. First and foremost, it’s right there when you need it, and it works as an overlay, so you don’t have to switch apps. Secondly, since it can also analyze images, you don’t have to reverse-search images to know more about them.

Add to that, since Circle to Search uses AI multisearch, you can highlight a product and ask for relevant information about it, such as “Why are these so popular” or “Who designed these”, and Google will reply to it straightaway.

Which Devices Support Circle to Search

Of course, Google wouldn’t make such a great feature for everyone to use immediately. At the time of writing, only a handful of devices support Circle to Search. This includes the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and the newly launched Samsung Galaxy S24 series.

That being said, considering that Circle to Search is a part of the Google app, it won’t be long before Google makes it available for other smartphones. We saw how it eventually made Magic Eraser available on iPhones, so Circle to Search should easily work on other Android smartphones in the future.

How to Use Circle to Search

Now, let’s talk about using Circle to Search. While the feature should already be enabled by default, it’s still good practice to enable it from the setting, if you turned it off by mistake. Here’s how to go about it.

Step 1: On your Google Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, head to Settings > Display > Navigation mode.

Alternatively, on your Samsung Galaxy S24 series device, head over to Settings > Display > Navigation bar.

Step 2: Now, on your Pixel 8 device, tap on the gear-cog next to the navigation mode of your preference. If you prefer gesture navigation, inside its settings, enable the toggle next to ‘Hold handle to search’.

Alternatively, enable the toggle next to ‘Hold Home to search’ for 3-button navigation.

Alternatively, on your Galaxy S24 device, enable the toggle next to ‘Circle to Search’.

Step 3: Now, with the feature enabled, it’s time to test it. Open the content you wish to search for and long-press the gesture bar or the home navigation button, depending upon your configuration. This should bring about an overlay for Circle to Search.

Step 4: Using your finger (or the S-Pen), circle, scribble, or highlight the element you want to search for. You can tap on specific parts of an image or video.

Google will then analyze your selection and present you with relevant search results, including text, images, and links to websites or apps.

Step 5: And that’s not all. If the initial results aren’t what you had in mind, refine your search by typing keywords or using the ‘Add to your search’ box.

Solve All Your Queries With Circle to Search

And that’s about it. Surely you agree that using Cirlce to Search is easy. And it’s more practical too. It eliminates the hassle and extended steps of traditional search methods, transforming every curiosity into a seamless discovery. So, the next time you’re captivated by something on your Android screen, remember the magic of the circle. So, go ahead and use Circle to Search.