How You Can (Almost) Bring Circle to Search to IPhone
One of the most interesting and useful AI features recently introduced in Google and Samsung phones is the Search Circle . You simply trace something on the screen (or tap on it, or draw on it) and get relevant Google results back. It’s ideal for getting detailed information about attractions or finding links to stores for something that interests you.
The underlying technology is actually based on Google Lens —Circle to Search simply makes it easier to access from whatever app or website you’re browsing—and thanks to that, you can replicate the feature on the iPhone (more or less). .
All this is made possible thanks to the iOS shortcut designed by Minsan Choi , Design Manager at Google Lens. It replicates much of the functionality of Circle to Search, only there’s no actual circling (tapping or scribbling)—instead, you take a screenshot to activate visual search in Google Lens.
Set up Circle for search on iOS
First, you’ll need to install the Google iOS app if you haven’t already. This will bring various Google tools to your iPhone, including the standard search engine, the Discover links page, the Gemini AI bot , and the Google Lens search feature, which is in line with what we’re trying to do here.
Then open the web browser on your iPhone and select the Find in Screenshot shortcut (just click Get Shortcut ). If you’re not familiar with shortcuts, they’re automated procedures you can perform on Apple devices, and we ‘ve written before about how much time they can save you (and how you can get more done with them ).
When the Shortcuts app opens, tap Add Shortcut to confirm. This adds a new screenshot search experience to the Shortcuts tab in the Shortcuts app, and you can tap the three dots on the thumbnail of the shortcut itself if you want to see the actions it does (or even add some of your own).
All that remains is to choose how to launch the shortcut. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can use the new Action button (which mutes and unmutes your phone by default): In iOS Settings, select Action Button , then swipe left to go to ” Shortcut” , then select Select Shortcut .
You can also double-tap or triple-tap the back of your iPhone, gestures that can be customized in Accessibility settings in iOS. Open Settings, then select Accessibility , Touch , and Back Touch . You can choose Double Tap or Triple Tap , then select Search in Screenshot .
After that, you’re ready to launch Circle to search for an iPhone (sort of). Press and hold the Action button or double- or triple-tap the back of your iPhone to take a screenshot of whatever’s on the screen and send it directly to Google Lens (the first time you do this, tap Always Allow to confirm your action ). everything is fine with the exchange between applications).
Google Lens performs a visual search on Google based on what’s shown in the screenshot. He may have already selected the part of the image that he thinks is most relevant, but you can adjust this with the four white corner handles. Below you’ll see the results along with a text field to add to your query (for example, you can ask where a specific location is or what other foods go well with the food in the image).