How to Use Circle to Search, Google Lens and Visual Intelligence
Point, circle or screenshot to search instead of typing. Here's how to use Google's visual search on Android and iPhone, plus Apple's Visual Intelligence, and what each is good at.
On a supported Android phone, long-press the home button or the navigation bar handle to start Circle to Search, then circle, tap or scribble over anything on screen. On iPhone, use Google Lens in the Google app or Chrome, or Apple’s Visual Intelligence on Apple Intelligence-capable iPhones by pressing and holding the Camera Control or taking a screenshot. All three let you translate text, identify objects, find products and get help understanding what you’re looking at.
Which tool you have
| Tool | Works on | How to start it | Searches with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle to Search | Many recent Android phones, including Pixel and Galaxy models | Long-press home button or navigation handle | |
| Google Lens | Android and iPhone (Google app, Chrome, Google Photos) | Lens icon in the Google search bar or camera | |
| Visual Intelligence | iPhone 15 Pro and later models that support Apple Intelligence | Camera Control, Action button, Control Center or a screenshot | Google image search, or ChatGPT if you enable it |
How to use Circle to Search on Android
Circle to Search started on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones and has since spread to more Android brands. Google keeps an up-to-date overview on its Circle to Search page.
- Turn it on if needed. On Samsung phones, go to Settings > Display > Navigation bar and enable Circle to Search. On Pixel it’s usually on by default; on other brands look in the navigation or gesture settings.
- Start it. With gesture navigation, touch and hold the handle at the bottom of the screen. With three-button navigation, touch and hold the home button. The screen freezes with a search bar at the bottom.
- Select something. Circle it, scribble over it, highlight text or simply tap it.
- Refine. Type or say a follow-up in the search bar, such as “where can I buy this jacket” or “is this plant safe for cats.”
- Close it by swiping down or tapping the X.
Useful extras inside Circle to Search:
- Translate: tap the translate icon to see the whole screen translated in place, handy for menus, signs in screenshots or a foreign-language app.
- Copy text from images and videos, including phone numbers and addresses.
- Identify music: on many phones there’s a music button that listens to a song playing on the device or nearby.
- AI answers: for some searches, Google shows an AI Overview or lets you ask follow-up questions. Treat these like any search result and check the sources linked under them. If you prefer classic results, see how to turn off AI Overviews in Google Search.
On Samsung phones, Circle to Search is bundled with other Galaxy AI tools; our Galaxy AI guide explains the rest.
How to use Google Lens on iPhone
Circle to Search isn’t available on iPhone because Apple doesn’t let third-party apps work across the whole system. Google Lens gets close inside Google’s own apps.
Point your camera
- Install and open the Google app.
- Tap the Lens (camera) icon in the search bar.
- Point at an object, text or barcode, then tap the shutter button. Use the Translate, Search or Homework options at the bottom where available.
Search what’s on your screen
- In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu and choose Search Screen with Google Lens. In the Google app, open a page and use the three-dot menu option to search the screen.
- Draw on, highlight or tap the part you want to search.
Menu labels in Google’s apps change from time to time; if you don’t see the option, update the app from the App Store. You can also add a Google Lens control to the Lock Screen or Control Center.
How to use Visual Intelligence on iPhone
Visual Intelligence is Apple’s built-in alternative. It requires an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence: the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 and 17 families and iPhone Air, with Apple Intelligence turned on.
With the camera
- On models with a Camera Control button, press and hold it (from outside the Camera app). On models without it, such as iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16e, assign Visual Intelligence to the Action button in Settings > Action Button, or add it from Control Center.
- Point at something and choose Ask to send it to ChatGPT (if you’ve enabled the ChatGPT extension) or Search to look it up with Google.
- For text, Visual Intelligence can summarize, read aloud, translate or let you call a number or add an event to your calendar.
With screenshots (iOS 26)
- Take a screenshot (side button and volume up).
- In the full-screen preview, use the options at the bottom to Ask, run an image search or act on what’s detected, such as adding an event.
- If you don’t see the preview, check Settings > General > Screen Capture and turn on Full-Screen Previews.
If you’d rather not use Apple’s AI tools at all, see how to turn off Apple Intelligence.
Everyday things to try
- Translate a menu, a medicine box abroad or a product manual.
- Identify plants, dog breeds, landmarks or a part you need to replace (search the model number shown).
- Shop for shoes or furniture you spot in a video. Compare sellers carefully; visual shopping results can include unfamiliar stores.
- Homework help: snap a math or science problem to see explanations and related resources. Use it to understand the steps rather than copy answers, and follow your school’s rules on AI tools.
Privacy and accuracy
When you circle, snap or screenshot something, that image is sent to Google (or to Apple’s servers and, if you choose Ask, to ChatGPT) to process the search. Avoid searching screens that show passwords, bank details, medical records or other people’s private messages. Plant and mushroom identification can be wrong, so never eat anything wild based on an app. The same goes for medical questions: use visual search to learn, then confirm with a professional.
Bottom line
Visual search is one of the most practical everyday AI features. On Android, long-press the home button or handle for Circle to Search. On iPhone, use Google Lens in the Google app or Chrome, or Visual Intelligence on Apple Intelligence-capable models. Use it to translate, identify and shop, but double-check anything that matters.
FAQ
Why doesn’t long-pressing the home button start Circle to Search?
Your phone may not support it, it may be turned off in navigation settings, or the long-press may be set to open a different assistant. Update the Google app and check your navigation settings.
Is Circle to Search free?
Yes, there’s no charge. It requires a supported phone, an internet connection and the Google app.
Can I use Google Lens on a computer?
Yes. In Chrome, right-click an image and choose Search with Google Lens, or upload a picture at Google Images.
Does Visual Intelligence work on older iPhones?
No. It needs an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro. Older iPhones can use Google Lens instead.
