iPhone users now have the power of Circle to Search

Ever been scrolling through your phone, spotted something interesting, and thought, What is that? Maybe it was a sleek pair of sneakers, a must-have gadget, or a mysterious landmark in the background of a photo. Normally, you’d have to take a screenshot, open Google Lens and try to find more information on it.

If that sounds familiar, you’re probably an iPhone user. Because most Android users with newer devices have had a much smoother way to do this for months thanks to Google’s Circle to Search feature.

First introduced with the Galaxy S24 series, Circle to Search allows users to select an image or text on their screen by circling and instantly retrieving information from Google.

Now, Google’s latest update is finally bringing this experience to iOS. You will now be able to just tap, highlight, or draw over something on your screen in the Google Search or Chrome app and let Google Lens do the rest.

Before this update, using Google Lens on iOS meant jumping through hoops—taking screenshots, saving images, and then manually uploading them to Google Lens. At best, you use shortcuts, but it was still a whole production. Now? Just swipe, tap, or highlight whatever catches your eye, and Lens will do the rest. It’s the ultimate lazy-but-genius way to search no extra steps are required.

While this is essentially Google’s version of Circle to Search for iOS, there’s a catch: iPhone users are limited to Google Search and Chrome apps. It won’t work system-wide on iOS like its Android counterpart. But considering how much people rely on Google Search and Chrome, it’s still a huge upgrade from the old, clunky process.

To try it out though, just open Chrome or the Google app, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Search Screen with Google Lens.” Google, however, promises that it will add a dedicated Lens icon in the Chrome address bar to make it even quicker.

The update is rolling out globally this week, so if you don’t see it yet, hang tight. iPhone users might not have the full Circle to Search experience just yet, but this is a solid step in the right direction.