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How to use Circle to Search on your Android phone

By and

When Samsung announced its Galaxy S24 series, it also revealed a slew of new features in its Galaxy AI suite. One of these new features is Circle to Search, which lets you easily search for anything on the screen with a simple gesture.

Think of it like a mashup of Google Lens and a screenshot search. You can activate Circle to Search no matter what you're doing. Whether you're on your home screen, in a web browser, or using an app, you can always call upon Circle to Search.

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Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • A Samsung Galaxy phone

  • A Google Pixel phone

Since Google is behind this feature, it’s not exclusive to just Galaxy S24 devices. It's also available on other, older Samsung phones, in addition to select Google Pixel handsets.

Ready to use Circle to Search for yourself? Here's everything you need to know!

Samsung Galaxy S24 showing Circle to Search.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

What phones is Circle to Search available on?

As mentioned above, Circle to Search is currently available on numerous Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel gadgets. Here's the full list:

Samsung

  • Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra

Google

  • Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
  • Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
  • Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
  • Google Pixel 7a
  • Google Pixel 6a
  • Google Pixel Fold
  • Google Pixel Tablet

Google's done a good job of expanding Circle to Search to more devices since its debut on the S24 series, with the most recent expansion being in late March when it started rolling out to older Pixel phones.

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra using the Circle to Search feature.
Circle to Search Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How to enable Circle to Search

Before you can start using Circle to Search, you need to make sure that the feature is enabled first. When setting up your Galaxy S24, for example, there is a prompt when you do a long press on the home button or navigation bar (depending on if you use buttons or gesture navigation) with two options: Google Assistant or Circle to Search. Make sure that Circle to Search was selected during that prompt to make it the default option.

If you made Google Assistant the shortcut for long pressing on the button or bar, don’t worry — you can manually change the setting.

Step 1: Open Settings on your phone.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Display.

Step 3: Scroll down and select Navigation Bar.

Select Navigation Bar, make sure Circle to Search toggle is ON.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Step 4: Select the toggle for Circle to Search and make sure it’s in the ON position.

If you have a Google Pixel 8, Circle to Search should be enabled by default. If not, check to make sure you're running the latest software.

How to use Circle to Search

Since Circle to Search works pretty much anywhere, you don’t even need to be in your preferred web browser to use it. You could be browsing Facebook, Instagram, Threads, a news app, or whatever else — Circle to Search is accessible anywhere.

Step 1: Make sure the subject you want to look up is on the screen of your phone.

Step 2: Long press on your home button or navigation bar to activate Circle to Search.

Step 3: A transparent, blue tinted overlay will appear on the screen, along with a Google search bar at the bottom.

Step 4: Tap, draw, or circle on the thing you want to search for.

Step 5: Relevant text and image based search results will appear at the bottom.

Step 6: Not satisfied? Make the selection again or search for something else.

How to add to searches

You can further add context and even ask for more specific details about what you selected in Circle to Search. This is very useful if you want to dig deeper into whatever it is you’re looking for, such as price of tickets for a venue or the like.

Step 1: When you have made a selection for Circle to Search and have results, select the Add to your search input field.

Step 2: Type or dictate what context you want to add.

How to exit Circle to Search

Once you’re done searching, you’ll want to get out of the Circle to Search overlay. It’s easy to do.

Step 1: If you use Button navigation, just select the Back button to go back to your app.

Step 2: If you use Swipe gesture navigation, just swipe inward from either side of the screen to get back to your app.

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Christine Romero-Chan
Christine Romero-Chan
Staff Writer, Mobile
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California…
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