Circle to Search Imagine being able to circle anything on your screen—such as a word, an image, or even a piece of music—and receive answers immediately without needing to switch apps. That’s the magic of Google’s Circle to Search (CtS), a wonderful feature that many Android devices now have.
Circle to Search, which came out in early 2024, changes the way people interact with information on their devices.
This tool enables you to discover information without interrupting your flow, whether you’re scrolling through social media, watching a video, or playing a game.
What Is Circle to Search?
Circle to Search is a Google search tool that lets you search for text or photos from any app on your screen. Depending on how your device is set up, you can turn it on by long-pressing the navigation handle, the home button, or the tablet action key.
Once triggered, you can:
- Circle, scribble, or tap on anything visible.
- Get Google Search results in an overlay window.
- Ask follow-up questions via AI Mode (available in the U.S. and India).
Key Features and Capabilities
Here’s a breakdown of what makes Circle to Search unique:
1. Universal Search
It works across apps (Instagram, YouTube, news apps, and games).
- It facilitates real-time text and image searches.
2. Song Search and “Hum to Search”
- Identify songs playing on-screen or around you.
- Sing or hum to trigger music recognition.
- Now includes song search history, accessible through a clock icon on the search bar.
- It shows the song name, artist, cover art, and the date of the search.
- Connects to Google’s My Activity page for full history.
3. Built-in Translation
- Tap any foreign text and press the Translate button.
- This feature supports dozens of languages instantly on the screen.
4. Solve Math and Physics Problems
- Recognize equations and get step-by-step solutions.
- This app is perfect for students and academic users.
5. AI Mode & AI Overviews
- Dive deeper with Google’s AI Overviews.
- Use AI Mode to ask contextual questions about what’s on your screen.
6. Barcode and QR Code Scanning
- Instantly scan barcodes or QR codes without a separate app.
7. In-game Help
- Find gameplay tips and videos matched to your position within a game without exiting it.
8. Image Sharing
- When selecting an image, a Share button appears to let you send it directly; no need to save.
Device Compatibility and Availability
Circle to Search is currently available on a growing number of Android devices, including
| Brand | Supported Devices (2024) |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Pixel 6 and above |
| Samsung Galaxy | S23, S24 series (One UI 6.1+) |
| Xiaomi | 14T and newer (with OS update) |
| OnePlus, Lenovo, HONOR, TECNO, Motorola | Select flagship and mid-range models |
Technical Requirements
- Android 14 QPR1 (LPNH) or newer.
- Devices must declare
android.software.contextualsearch. - Samsung-specific flag:
com.samsung.feature.EXPERIENCE_CTS. - Google app version 16.27+ and updated WebView recommended.
Goal: Google plans to bring CtS to over 200 million devices by end of 2024.
Known Limitations
- Blocked in Screenshot-Protected Apps: Some apps disable screenshots, making CtS unusable.
- No split-screen mode support (temporary; fix expected in Android update).
- Disabled on Some Work Phones (Android 15 policies).
- Doesn’t integrate with Spotify yet (YouTube Music might come first).
Circle to Search vs. Other Tools
| Feature | Circle to Search | Google Lens | Shazam |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-screen interaction | Yes | No | No |
| Works inside apps | Yes | No | No |
| Song ID (Hum to Search) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Music search history | Yes | No | Yes |
| Real-world object scanning | (recently dropped Lens shortcut) | Yes | No |
| AI-generated answers | Yes | No | No |
What’s Next?
Google is pushing the limits of what mobile search can achieve with features like AI Mode, hum to search, in-game integration, and math solving.
As Android 15 is released and more OEMs add the necessary feature flags, Circle to Search will likely become the default experience on most new Android phones.