How to Use Circle to Search and Google Lens on Your Phone in the US

Sometimes typing a search is the slow way to find something. You see a pair of shoes on the street, a plant you cannot name, or a sign in another language, and a few words in a search box will not capture it. That is what Circle to Search and Google Lens are for. Both let you search with your camera or with a gesture, and both are free and built into phones sold in the US.

Circle to Search works on Android phones, while Google Lens works on iPhone and Android. They overlap, so you only need one of them for most tasks. This guide explains how to use each one and how to keep your searches private.

Step 1: Understand what each tool does

Circle to Search is a gesture. On supported Android phones, you long-press the home button or the navigation handle, then circle, highlight, or tap anything on your screen. Google reads what you selected and shows matching results, prices, or translations without you leaving the app you are in.

Google Lens is a camera search. Point your camera at an object, or upload a photo, and Lens tries to identify it. It can name a plant or an animal, translate a sign, find where to buy a product, or copy text from a page. Lens lives inside the Google app on iPhone and Android, and inside the camera app on many Android phones.

Think of it this way. Circle to Search is for something already on your screen. Lens is for something in front of your camera.

Step 2: Use Circle to Search on Android

Circle to Search is available on recent Google Pixel phones and Samsung Galaxy phones, and it is rolling out to more Android models. First check that it is turned on. On a Pixel, go to Settings, then System, then Gestures, then Circle to Search, and make sure the switch is on. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings, then Display, then Navigation bar, and turn on Circle to Search.

To use it, long-press the home button or the navigation handle until a shimmer appears. Then circle the thing you want to search for, or tap it, or draw a line under a word. A results panel slides up from the bottom, where you can ask a follow-up question, such as how much it costs or where to buy it nearby.

Circle to Search also translates text on your screen. Circle a paragraph in another language, tap the translate icon, and you get the English version in place. It can also identify music playing near you.

If long-pressing does nothing, your phone may not support the feature yet, or it may be turned off in settings. Check for a system update, because Google and Samsung keep adding it to more models.

Step 3: Use Google Lens on iPhone and Android

On iPhone, open the Google app and tap the camera icon in the search bar. On Android, open the Google app and tap the same camera icon, or open your camera app and look for a Lens button. The first time you use it, allow the app to access your camera.

Point your camera at the thing you want to identify and tap the shutter button, or pick a picture from your gallery. Lens will highlight what it recognizes and show results underneath. Drag the corners of the selection box to focus on a smaller part of the image if the first result is wrong.

Lens has several modes at the bottom of the screen. Search is the default. Translate turns foreign text into English in real time through your camera. Text lets you copy words from a page or a business card into your notes. Homework walks through a math problem step by step. Shopping finds the same product, or a close match, at stores near you.

On Android, you can also use Lens from Google Photos. Open any photo, tap the Lens icon, and you get the same search on an image you already took.

Step 4: Get better results with everyday uses

A few habits make both tools far more useful. Take a clear, well-lit photo with the subject filling most of the frame. If Lens guesses wrong, crop the image and try again. For shopping, add a brand name or a color to narrow the results.

Try Lens on things you would never type into a search box. Identify a sick houseplant and get care advice. Point it at a landmark on vacation to read its history. Scan a QR code or a business card without installing a separate app. Photograph a recipe and copy the text into your notes in seconds.

Circle to Search shines when you are already looking at something. See a jacket in a video, circle it, and check the price. Spot an unfamiliar word in an article, highlight it, and get a definition without switching apps. See a dish on social media, circle it, and find a recipe for it.

Step 5: Keep your visual searches private

Both tools send images to Google to analyze. Google says Lens searches are not tied to your account by default, but signing in can personalize results. If you would rather not sign in, use Lens in the Google app while signed out.

Avoid pointing Lens at documents with personal details, such as a driver's license, a bank statement, or a medical form. Do not use it on photos of other people without their permission, and remember that a photo you search with can reveal your location through its metadata.

You can also review and delete your Lens search history. In the Google app, tap your profile icon, then Search history, and delete the entries you do not want kept.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Circle to Search available on iPhone?

No. Circle to Search is an Android feature, available on recent Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones and rolling out to more Android models. iPhone users can get a similar result with Google Lens, which is built into the Google app.

Is Google Lens free to use?

Yes. Google Lens is free on iPhone and Android, and Circle to Search is free on supported Android phones. Neither one needs a subscription.

Why does Lens get the wrong answer sometimes?

Lens matches your image against pictures it has seen before, so unusual angles, poor light, or a crowded background can confuse it. Try a closer, brighter photo, crop to the object you care about, and add a keyword to the search.