Google has just changed one of Android's most popular features. Circle to Search is getting a new behavior that might shake up your habits. Text search doesn't work quite like it used to.
Since its arrival in early 2024, the Circle to Search function has quickly established itself as one of the most practical new features on Android. Based on artificial intelligence, it allows you to launch a visual search by circling an image, a word or an element displayed on the screen, without having to leave the current application. Used by millions of people, it is now compatible with more than a hundred smartphones, from the Galaxy S25 to the Xiaomi 14T Pro, including the Pixel, Honor and the latest Motorola.
But Google is now changing how it works with a discreet but important update. Until now, you just had to open the function and type in the search bar to write a classic query, like on any search engine. Now, it is the entire screen that is automatically captured in the background to generate suggestions related to what is displayed. This new feature was spotted by our colleagues at 9to5Google in the 16.18 beta version of the Google app. The message “Search using the entire screen” is displayed upon launch to introduce this change.
Surround to search now captures the entire screen upon launch
This new behavior replaces the old method, in which the user decided what to search for. With full screen capture, the feature now uses visual context to automatically offer results, just as if you were performing an image search. To return to a traditional text search, you must remove the displayed image by double-tapping it. This additional step might displease those who prefer a more direct interaction.
Google is seeking to strengthen the contextual capabilities of its tool. By avoiding asking the user to select a specific area, the feature becomes more fluid and faster. This also makes it easier to integrate data into AI, which will be able to better understand the search environment. This new feature is currently being tested in the beta version and should be rolled out more widely in the coming weeks.
0 Comments