Search Anything Without Leaving Your Current App
One of the most genuinely useful Android features introduced in recent years is Circle to Search. Available on Android devices running Android 14 and above with a compatible Qualcomm or Google Tensor chip, Circle to Search lets you long-press your phone’s home button (or the navigation bar on gesture navigation devices) to draw a circle, highlight, scribble, or tap on anything visible on your screen — a product you want to buy, a landmark in a photo, an unfamiliar word in an article — and instantly search for it using Google, all without leaving the app you are currently in. Here is a complete guide on how to set it up and get the most from it.
Which Devices Support Circle to Search?
Circle to Search originally launched exclusively on the Google Pixel 8 series and Samsung Galaxy S24 series. Since then, Google has progressively expanded support to a wide range of devices. As of 2026, the feature is available on all Google Pixel 6 and later phones, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and newer, the Samsung Galaxy A55 and A35, select OnePlus phones running OxygenOS 15+, and any Android 14+ device powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or newer chipset. If you are unsure whether your device is compatible, check the Google app settings — the Circle to Search option will only appear if your hardware is supported.
How to Enable Circle to Search
Enabling Circle to Search is straightforward. Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Go to Display (on Pixel) or Advanced Features (on Samsung). Look for the Circle to Search toggle and turn it on. On some devices, you may find it under Settings > Google > Circle to Search. Once enabled, a brief on-screen animation confirms the feature is active. You can also access the toggle quickly from the Google app itself by tapping your profile icon and navigating to settings.
Step-by-Step: How to Use It
Using Circle to Search is extremely intuitive. While you are in any app — social media, messaging, YouTube, a website, or even the camera viewfinder — perform the activation gesture. On phones with a navigation bar at the bottom, long-press the home button. On phones using gesture navigation (swiping to go home), long-press anywhere on the bottom navigation bar. The screen will dim slightly and a glowing bar will appear at the bottom. You can now interact with the screen in four ways:
- Circle: Draw a rough circle around any object or text you want to search.
- Highlight: Drag your finger across text to select and search it, like highlighting in a document.
- Scribble: Draw a freeform shape around something to identify it.
- Tap: Simply tap an object or logo for an instant search.
After your selection, Google’s results panel slides up from the bottom without fully leaving your app. You can scroll through search results, product listings, or information panels and then dismiss the panel to return exactly where you were.
Hidden Circle to Search Tricks Worth Knowing
Beyond basic object and text searches, Circle to Search has some powerful hidden capabilities. If you circle a phone number visible on your screen, it will offer to dial it directly. Circling an address in a text message will open it in Google Maps. Highlighting a foreign language text snippet will trigger an instant translation card. On Pixel phones, circling a song playing in a video will use Google’s music identification engine to name the track — no need to open a separate app like Shazam. These contextual actions make Circle to Search far more than just a visual search tool.
Troubleshooting: Circle to Search Not Working
If Circle to Search is not activating on your device, check the following. First, confirm the feature is toggled on in settings. Second, ensure the Google app is updated to the latest version from the Play Store — older versions do not support the feature. Third, if you are using gesture navigation, check that you are long-pressing the navigation bar area and not swiping up. Finally, some third-party launcher apps interfere with the navigation bar, in which case switching to the default system launcher temporarily can confirm whether the launcher is causing the conflict. For more Android tips and feature guides, visit Android People.