Circle to Search debuted with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and later made its way to the Google Pixel 8. This handy feature lets you circle, scribble, or highlight anything on your screen to get instant information without switching apps. If your Android phone supports it, here are six ways Circle to Search can make your life a whole lot easier.
Table of Contents
1. Find Any Information Visually
Imagine you’re scrolling through social media, and a pair of shoes catches your eye. Instead of taking a screenshot and firing up Google Lens like we used to, just use Circle to Search. Draw a circle around those shoes, and boom – you’ll know where to buy them, who has the best price and even find similar products. This works for gadgets, clothes, locations, and pretty much anything else you can see on your screen.
2. Copy or Translate Text
Let’s say you spot an image with a cool quote on it, and you want to share just the text or maybe translate it into another language. Manually typing or using a third-party app to translate the text can be tedious and time-consuming. But with Circle to Search, just highlight the text, and you’ll get the option to copy or translate it without leaving your current app. Super handy, right?
Tip: Learn how to extract text from images on a phone.
3. Translate the Whole Screen
While the Translate button works great for specific text, what if you want to translate an entire article or webpage? Instead of scrolling through browser settings or manually selecting text, you can just launch Circle to Search and tap the Google Translate button. It detects the language automatically and lets you choose the one you want to translate to. Once it’s done, the original text on your screen is replaced with the translated version. We’ve even tested this on images, and it works like a charm.
Ever wanted to share just a part of your screen without saving it? With the latest update, Circle to Search lets you do just that. For example, if you’re reading an article and find something interesting like a gadget. Just circle it, check out the info, and if it’s worth sharing, tap the share button. No need to clutter up your gallery with unnecessary screenshots.
5. Scan QR Codes and Barcodes
Sure, your phone’s camera can scan QR codes, but what if you receive a QR code or barcode in a message? In such a scenario, open the image, activate Circle to Search, highlight the code, and you’ll get the link right away. A practical use case for this feature could be when you’re in a group chat with friends or family, and someone shares an image of a QR code for an event ticket or barcode of some product.
6. Identify Music
Okay, this feature isn’t out for everyone just yet, but it’s too cool to omit. A Reddit user recently shared that their Galaxy S23 got a Google app (15.32.37.28 version) update that lets you identify songs playing in the background using Circle to Search. Here’s how it works: activate Circle to Search, tap the music note icon, and let your phone do the magic. If and when this rolls out, you can say goodbye to Shazam or SoundHound.
And that’s a wrap! If we discover more cool ways to use Circle to Search, we’ll be sure to update this article. If you found this helpful, share it with your friends and family – they might be missing out on some awesome features on their Android phones
