Discover the new iPhone shortcut that takes you into the world of Android features in the blink of an eye!
One of Android’s most popular features comes to iPhone with a new shortcut
For years, Android users have benefited from a handy feature called “Circle to Search.” This feature allows you to quickly capture and search any content on the screen by simply circling it with your finger. Unfortunately, this feature was limited to Pixel smartphones and Galaxy S24s.
However, thanks to a nifty shortcut developed by Google itself, iPhone users can now enjoy this feature on their device. Google Lens Design Lead Minsang Choi shared this new iOS shortcut that essentially replicates “Circle to Search” on iPhones.
Let’s activate this new feature on your iPhone
If you want to take advantage of this convenient feature, follow these simple steps:
1. Make sure you have installed the latest Google app update on your iPhone.
2. Go to your iPhone’s Settings, then select “Accessibility” followed by “Touch”.
3. Enable the “Back tap” option and choose either double tap or triple tap.
4. In the “Tap Back” menu, select the “Find your screenshot” shortcut.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you can use the new feature by simply tapping the back of your iPhone two or three times when you want to get more information about something you’re looking at on the screen. A screenshot will be automatically taken and sent to Google Lens for analysis and research.
A practical feature but not as smooth as on Android
While this iOS shortcut isn’t as sleek as the built-in Android app, it leverages iPhone features to make visual search almost as easy. Using Google Lens, the screenshot taken will recognize text, objects, landmarks, and more, making it easy for you to get more details, translate into different languages, copy texts, and much more.
Importantly, this shortcut works even better on iPhone 15 Pro models thanks to the new Action button. Users can use the physical button to trigger the “Find your screenshot” function with a single press, which is especially convenient for one-handed use.
An Android feature now accessible to iOS users
Android’s “Circle to Search” feature has long been considered one of the best mobile search features. Thanks to this new shortcut available on iPhone, iOS users can now take advantage of this practical and efficient functionality.
Whether you’re an Android or iOS user, it’s reassuring to see that the two platforms are getting closer and closer in terms of features and user experience. This shortcut is a great example of how the two operating systems can take inspiration from each other and adapt to user needs and wants.
In conclusion, if you are an iPhone user and want to take advantage of Android’s “Circle to Search” feature, this new shortcut developed by Google will allow you to do so easily. Don’t forget to update your Google app and follow the steps to enable this feature on your iPhone.