Navigating with Google’s ‘Circle’: A Guide to Search Features on Modern Android Devices

June Wan/ZDNET

With the latest Galaxy S24 series , Samsung, in partnership with Google, announced the most “You’re watching Disney channel” feature ever: Circle to Search. The new Android feature allows users to long-press the home button and perform a Google search on whatever subject they tap, circle, or, yes, draw Mickey Mouse ears over, on screen.

Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2024

This all happens as an overlay, meaning whether you’re watching TikToks and are curious about what exactly that influencer is wearing for their #OOTD, reading an article and are unfamiliar with a term like “OOTD,” or want to know where and what that familiar landmark is, Circle to Search may be the best way to satisfy your curiosity without interrupting the task at hand.

Here’s a guide for how to use the feature and what phones support it now.

How to use Circle to Search

What you’ll need: Circle to Search debuted on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series , which includes the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, in mid-January 2024. It arrived on Google’s flagship phones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro by the end of that month. Since then, it has rolled out to older Samsung and Google devices, and it now available on more than 30 phones. The complete list includes:

• Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra and S23 FE
• Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra
• Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
• Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
• Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
• Google Pixel 6A and 7A
• Google Pixel Fold
• Google Pixel Tablet

No matter what device, the search feature requires an internet connection to work, whether that’s through mobile data or Wi-Fi.

Click here

1. Turn on Circle to Search

When you first set up your device, a long press of the home button (whether you’re using buttons or swipe gestures) will prompt you with two options: Circle to Search or the standard Google Assistant. Select the former to set it as the default application.

If you have Google Assistant already set up, you can turn on Circle to Search by opening Settings > Display > Navigation bar > and toggling on Circle to Search.

2. Using Circle to Search

With the subject that you’d like to search on screen, long press the home button to activate Circle to Search. An opaque, blue-tinted overlay should appear with a Google Search bar on the bottom. At this point, tap, draw, or circle a subject and Google will present relevant text and image-based search results. If you’re not satisfied what your selection (or Google’s search results), you can always re-circle what’s on screen.

June Wan/ZDNET

3. Adding to searches

Here’s a pro tip: As Google pulls up your Circle to Search results, you can add context and ask specific questions about what you selected by typing (or dictating with voice) into the “Add to your search” field. For example, I used Circle to Search on The Sphere and asked “How much are tickets for this place?”.

Newsletters

ZDNET Tech Today

ZDNET’s Tech Today newsletter is a daily briefing of the newest, most talked about stories, five days a week.

Subscribe

See all

4. Exiting out of Circle to Search

When you’re done, tapping on the back button of the navigation bar or swiping inward from either side of the screen should exit you out of the Circle to Search overlay and return you to the underlying app. I’ll note that images that you use the feature on aren’t stored as screenshots.

Featured

The fastest VPNs: Expert tested and reviewed

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: I tested both and here are the key differences

How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

Your Android phone is getting an anti-theft upgrade, thanks to AI. How it works

• The fastest VPNs: Expert tested and reviewed
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: I tested both and here are the key differences
• How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11
• Your Android phone is getting an anti-theft upgrade, thanks to AI. How it works

Also read: