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Google is powering the AI feature via Lens for iPhone users
Google introduced the new feature for Search on Android with Samsung and Pixel flagship phones earlier this year, now iPhone users are getting it.
Google’s latest visual search tool, which made its debut on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Pixel 8 series is coming to more users. That’s right, iPhone users can finally use the AI-powered feature, albeit with some limitations, through the Google app.
This new feature is similar to Circle to Search on Android, but relies on Google Lens for its functionality. The arrival of this new feature on iOS was announced by Google Lens Design Manager Minsang Choi in a post on X.
Named ‘Search your screenshot,’ this feature allows users to perform a custom action named ‘Search Image With Lens’ through the Shortcuts app. When activated, the Shortcut captures a screenshot and uses Google Lens to analyze the image.
Circle to Search on iPhone: How it Works
To use this feature on an iPhone, ensure that your device is running iOS 13 or later and download the latest version of the Google app for iOS.
You can access the Shortcut directly by tapping the link shared by Choi on your iPhone. Alternatively, you can manually set up the Shortcut by selecting ‘Take screenshot’ followed by ‘Search Image With Lens.’
Android you can access the Circle to Search feature by holding the navigation bar. But iPhone users have to map the Shortcut to the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max model. You can set up the Shortcut to launch with a double tap or triple tap gesture by navigating to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap in the Settings app.
Although launching Google’s new Shortcut is relatively straightforward once configured, it is not as feature-rich as the Circle to Search feature on Android smartphones.
While the Shortcut can pass your screenshot to Google Lens for visual analysis, it cannot draw a circle or highlight a specific part of the screen for lookup. Nevertheless, it provides a convenient way to quickly search for information on your iPhone with just a few taps.
