Circle to Search: Simplify Your Search Experience with Pixel

Now, imagine using that same

to instantly do an image search to help you shop, find travel inspiration, or answer questions that pop into your head while you’re watching a video – without ever having to switch apps. With Circle to Search, you can. It’s an that works on Pixel, designed to give search more instant gratification. 

Just hold the home button or navigation bar on your

. When the Google search bar appears, use a finger to circle, tap, scribble, or highlight whatever’s piqued your interest. Ta da! The search pops up in the lower half of the screen. 

Here are four things you can do with Circle to Search, all powered by the magic of

.

Say you’re scrolling through social media and see an outfit you love. Instead of searching for the shirt, then the pants, then the shoes separately, you can simply circle the full outfit. Circle to Search breaks down the image to find the individual pieces for you in just one search.

Once you find a piece of clothing you like, you don’t have to guess how it looks on. Tap the “Try It On” button on the shoppable product image. You can upload a photo of yourself, or select a model, to quickly see if the style matches your vibe.^{2, 3}

Want to find out if the skincare products your favorite expert recommended are right for you? Just circle all the products on screen and ask, “Which of these work well for sensitive skin?” Google will identify all the items you selected, give you more information about each one, and highlight which ones may be better suited for your needs.

Or maybe you’re watching a video about Buenos Aires and want to learn more about a landmark that appears in it. Launch Circle to Search and circle the building to quickly find out it’s the Casa Rosada.

If you’re still curious, you can have a deeper conversation about the image you circled right in your search results.

Sometimes what you’re searching for is a word on the page, not an image in your feed. Say you want to know what the word “gambol” means. Just highlight what you’re reading and

will give you a quick definition. And, without having to leave the page, you’ll immediately learn that gambol means to skip about, as in dancing. 

Another useful feature: translating foreign languages. If you want to chat with your cousin in Spain or translate an online restaurant menu, Circle to Search can help, no matter where the text appears – in a PDF, video, website, or chat. Just choose “scroll and translate” when you Circle to Search, and the text will continue to translate without interruption, even across apps. It works with more than 100 languages.

Whether you’re traveling or planning a night out, Circle to Search lets you easily research different options for restaurants or movies. Say you’re texting with friends to decide where to eat. They send you two different restaurant options, but you’re not familiar with either. Instead of switching between your text thread and an app to look them up, long press the home button or navigation bar and highlight one of the restaurant’s names. Without leaving your messaging app, you’ll see the restaurant’s menu, photos of popular dishes, customer reviews, and its location.

This visual way to search can also help with tricky tasks. Having trouble with your math or physics homework? Just circle, tap, scribble, or highlight the math problem or image on your screen. Google can then give you hints or step-by-step instructions that provide you with a deeper understanding, not just the answer.