Find information instantly with Circle to Search

Want help identifying a landmark, translating a word, or procuring the perfect pair of cowboy boots – all without needing to switch between apps? With Circle to Search, you can get the info you need in seconds by simply circling, tapping, scribbling, or highlighting whatever’s piqued your interest.

Note: Available on select devices, for compatible apps and surfaces. Internet connection required. Results may vary depending on visual and audio matches.

You can use Circle to Search to learn more about things you see on the web, in an app, or even in your photo gallery.
To activate it, long press the Home button or navigation bar at the bottom of your screen, then drag your finger across the area you want to search – circling, highlighting, or scribbling.

You can also tap your screen once to open a selection box, which you can drag and resize over the text, image, or video you’re curious about.

You’ll see Circle to Search results on the bottom half of your screen. Swipe up to scroll through them, or add more context by tapping the search box and selecting one of the prompts or typing additional info (such as “what dog breed is this?” or “recipe”). To close the search, just tap the “X.”

Whether it’s discovering where an influencer’s outfit is from, naming a tune, identifying an unfamiliar ingredient, or translating an online menu, here are some of our favorite ways to explore and learn using Circle to Search.

Want to recreate an outfit you’ve seen on your socials? Use Circle to Search to become the ultimate wardrobe sleuth and identify clothing in pics or videos. And if an item you’ve had your eye on sells out, you can easily hunt down dupes by circling it to search for similar looks.

Getting FOMO over your group chat’s vacation snaps? Start planning your own trip: Just circle, tap, or scribble on the pic or video that has you daydreaming. You can discover even more about a landmark or location by adding “things to do in this area” to your search.

Hear a catchy tune play around you, or through speakers on your device? Find out more about the track, artist, album, and more by opening Circle to Search, then tapping the music note.

If you’re using a website or app while abroad and struggling to decipher foreign text, open Circle to Search. Then, tap the translate symbol on the right-hand side of the search box to instantly adapt the entire page into your preferred language. You can change the source and target language at any time by tapping the options at the bottom of the screen.

Want to translate only specific words or phrases? Just tap, highlight, circle, or scribble over them, then tap “Translate.” Or, tap and drag the selection box around the area you want to translate, tap “Select text,” then “Translate.”