How to Activate and Use Circle to Search on Android: My Favorite Android Feature Yet

Have you ever paused a video just to Google something you saw on screen? Maybe it was a cool outfit, a quote, or a random place that caught your eye. If so, Android’s Circle to Search feature is about to become your new best friend.

This clever, AI-powered tool lets you search for anything directly from your screen without switching apps or typing a single word. And yes, it’s as magical as it sounds.

What is Circle to Search?

Circle to Search is a smart search feature that first debuted with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. Since then, it has made its way to Pixel devices and many other Android phones.

With it, you can circle, scribble, or tap on anything on your screen to trigger a Google search. Whether it’s text, an image, or even a location in a video, the idea is simple: get information instantly without interrupting what you’re doing.

How Circle to Search Helped Me Identify a Stunning Building in a Video

Not long ago, I was watching a travel vlog on YouTube. There was a quick drone shot of a breathtaking building. It looked modern and a bit futuristic, but I had no idea what it was or where it was located. The vlogger didn’t mention it, and the clip lasted only a few seconds.

Normally, I would’ve paused the video, taken a screenshot, and tried to reverse image search it later. But then I remembered that my phone has Circle to Search.

I paused the video on the exact frame, tapped and held the navigation handle, and circled the building on my screen. Within seconds, Google pulled up the exact location. It turned out to be the Galaxy SOHO in Beijing, designed by Zaha Hadid. That small interaction led me down a fascinating rabbit hole about architecture that I wouldn’t have explored otherwise.

Since then, I’ve used Circle to Search to identify landmarks, translate signs in real time, compare products in videos, and get quick context on things I see every day. It has genuinely become one of the most useful tools on my phone.

How to Activate Circle to Search (Using a Pixel Device Running Android 15)

Let’s walk through the setup process. Keep in mind that it may look slightly different on your device depending on the model and Android version. Here’s how to do it on a Pixel running Android 15:

Open your phone’s Settings
Scroll down and tap Display and Touch
Select Navigation Mode
Toggle Circle to Search to turn it on

Once it’s enabled, you’re ready to go.

How to Use Circle to Search

Using Circle to Search is incredibly simple.

Tap and hold the Home button (for devices using button navigation),
or
Tap and hold the navigation handle (for gesture-based navigation)

Your screen will dim slightly, and you can:

Circle anything you’re curious about
Scribble or highlight areas on the screen
Tap on items, text, images, or objects

Google will immediately pull up relevant search results based on what you highlighted. The best part is you don’t have to leave the app you’re using. It works smoothly with YouTube, Instagram, Maps, Chrome, and more.

Note: Circle to search may not work on all apps, such as banking apps.

Final Thoughts

Circle to Search is one of those features that quietly changes the way you use your phone. It makes exploring and learning about the world around you faster and more natural. Instead of pausing what you’re doing to search for something, you can now get answers in real time, right from your screen.

It’s simple, powerful, and once you start using it, it quickly becomes second nature.

For more information, visit the official Google support page: Circle to Search on Android.

Have you tried Circle to Search yet? Let me know your favorite use case or moment in the comments. I’d love to hear how it’s working for you!

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