Circle to Search has established itself as one of the most innovative and advanced artificial intelligence features in the mobile environment, allowing users to visually search for information in real time on any content they see on screen. Developed by Google in collaboration with Samsung, this tool transforms the search experience on Android devices, allowing you to identify objects, translate text, search for locations, recognize songs, and much more, all without leaving the current app.
In this article, we'll explain what Circle to Search is , how it works, which Android phones and tablets currently support it, its new capabilities, and the feature's expansion plans. We'll also detail features you might not be aware of and how to get the most out of this true revolution in mobile search on your smartphone or tablet.
What is Circle to Search and how does it work?
Circle to Search is an AI-powered feature that lets you perform advanced searches on any element displayed on your Android device's screen. Its main advantage is that you can activate and use it directly on any app, image, text, or video, without having to switch windows or open your browser.
Using the feature is very simple: just press and hold the home button or the gesture bar (depending on your Android's navigation settings), and a Google overlay will appear with instant search options. At that point, you can draw a circle, underline, or tap on a specific part of the screen for the system to identify the content and perform the corresponding search.
For example, if you see an item of clothing in an Instagram photo, circling it with your finger allows Google to identify the product, show you purchasing options, relevant information, prices, reviews, and stores where you can find it. The same goes for monuments, text, movie scenes, QR codes, characters, or any other element visible on the screen.
This technology drastically reduces the steps needed to find information , eliminates the need to take screenshots and copy-paste text, and works across all types of applications: social networks, browsers, messaging apps, and more.
Circle to Search Core and Advanced Features
- Contextual visual search: Circle, underline, or tap an item and instantly get related results at the bottom of the screen without leaving the app.
- Instant text translation: You can select text on the screen to translate it instantly, ideal for images or screenshots from foreign apps.
- QR and barcode recognition: Scan and access code information directly on any app or image.
- Song and sound recognition: Identify music playing or even songs you're humming, with results for streaming platforms to listen to or buy.
- Share images and results: Send Circle to Search results directly to apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Photos, without taking screenshots.
- Search for locations: Select addresses or places and locate them on Google Maps directly from any app.
- Advanced searches with AI: In addition to displaying standard results, you can enter written questions to allow Google's artificial intelligence to expand and contextualize information about the selected item.
These features have made Circle to Search an essential tool for both everyday use and advanced users looking to quickly and accurately access any digital content.
Android devices compatible with Circle to Search
Since its initial launch on premium devices, Circle to Search has continued to expand and is now available on a growing range of Android phones and tablets. Below, we show the confirmed models organized by brand and product family:
Google Pixel
- Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a
- Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a
- Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a
- Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold
- Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet
Samsung Galaxy
- Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE
- Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
- Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE
- Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE
- Galaxy Z Flip3, Z Flip4, Z Flip5, Z Flip6
- Galaxy Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6
- Galaxy A34, A35, A54, A55
- Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, S8 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE, S9 FE+
- Galaxy Tab S10+ and S10 Ultra
Xiaomi
- Xiaomi 14T, 14T Pro, MIX Flip
HONOR
- MagicV3
- HONOR 200, 200 Pro
OnePlus
- OnePlus 12
Motorola
- Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
- Razr 50, Razr 50 Ultra
Other prominent manufacturers
- Lenovo Idea Tab Pro
- Tecno Phantom V Flip 2, V Fold 2
Google and Samsung have confirmed that the technology will gradually roll out to new markets and select high-end and mid-range devices. If your device doesn't yet have Circle to Search, stay tuned for system and Google app updates.
How to activate and use Circle to Search on your Android phone
To take full advantage of this tool, make sure you have the feature enabled on your device:
- Accede to Configuration > System and update > System navigation.
- Look for the option Search with a circle, Circle to Search o Circle to search and activate the corresponding box.
- Depending on your navigation type:
- With buttons: press and hold the start button.
- With gestures: press and hold the bottom navigation bar.
- Once activated, the Google search bar will appear, and you can hover over any element on the screen you want.
When the feature is active, you can also zoom in on the screen to select items more precisely. In addition, the interface displays other useful shortcuts such as song search (musical note) and translation tools that further enhance the experience.
New and future Circle to Search features
Google and its partner manufacturers are constantly working to expand and refine Circle to Search with new features that make it an even more powerful tool. Some of the latest features and tests in development include:
- Advanced Audio Search: You can identify songs and sounds playing on the screen, or even sounds you're humming yourself. The results detail the title, artist, and platforms where you can listen to or purchase them.
- Combined image-text search: Allows you to circle an element and add text or questions to get more specific answers from Google's artificial intelligence.
- Complete translation of pages or long fragments: Not only does it translate single sentences, but you can also select large blocks of text or entire pages of foreign apps (ideal for travelers or international consumers).
- Barcode and QR code scanning: The system recognizes visual codes and searches for information, from product data to web links, all without additional applications.
- Agile sharing of results: Now you can send any results directly to your messaging apps or social media without the need for intermediate screenshots.
- Voice search shortcuts and Google Lens: A single tap accesses voice search, Lens, or direct actions in Google Maps.
These innovations position Circle to Search as a constantly evolving tool, fully aligned with the trend towards touch, visual and contextual interactions in the Android universe.
Circle to Search's expansion is progressing steadily, reaching hundreds of millions of devices and promising new surprises for users of brands like Xiaomi, Vivo, HONOR, OnePlus, and Motorola in their latest releases.
Circle to Search is revolutionizing how users interact with digital information on Android devices. Thanks to its integration with artificial intelligence, its ease of use, and its continuous expansion and updates, it has become an essential feature for those looking to get the most out of their Android phone or tablet.
