One of Android’s most useful new features is coming to iPhones, thanks to a nifty shortcut created by Google itself. We explain how to activate it on your smartphone.
You may already know about Circle to Search, this Android feature allows you to quickly capture and search any content on the screen by simply circling it with your finger. This is an incredibly practical tool, but until now it was reserved for certain Android devices, such as Pixel smartphones or the Galaxy S24.
Google Lens design lead Minsang Choi shared an iOS shortcut that essentially replicates Circle to Search on iPhones. While not as sleek as the built-in Android app, the shortcut leverages iPhone features like “Back Tap” to make visual search almost as easy.
How to activate the feature on your iPhone?
Here’s how it works: First, you need to install the latest Google app update and the “Find your screenshot” shortcut. Then go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and activate the option Touch back for a double or triple tap gesture. Select the shortcut “Find your screenshot” in the menu “Back Tap“.
Now, when you’re watching something on your iPhone and want more information, just double or triple tap the back of your phone. A screenshot will be immediately taken and transferred to Google Lens for analysis and research.
Although it’s not as smooth as circling elements on Android, the functionality is almost identical. Google Lens will recognize text, objects, landmarks and more in the screenshot, making it easy for you to get more details, translate to multiple languages, copy texts and much more .
The shortcut is still more effective on iPhone 15 Pro models thanks to the new Action button. Users can use the physical button to trigger the “ Find your screenshot » with a simple press, for one-handed use.
Android’s Circle to Search feature has proven to be one of the most useful improvements to mobile search in years. Thanks to this new iPhone shortcut, iOS users can now take advantage of it.
