How to use Circle to Search on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System › Circle to Search

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System

   Open Settings and tap System: Languages, gestures, time.

   Done

2. 

   Find Circle to Search

   Under Interaction, below Navigation mode, Keyboard and Gestures, is Circle to Search: Touch and hold the home button or the navigation handle to search using the content on your screen. A tick on the switch means it is on.

   Done

3. 

   An X means it is off

   Tapping anywhere on the row flips the switch. We tapped the row and ours went off at once, with an X on the switch.

   Done

4. 

   Tap the switch to turn it on

   Tap the switch again. The tick comes back and Circle to Search is on. We did this straight away.

   Done

5. 

   Touch and hold the bottom bar

   On any screen, touch and hold the navigation handle at the bottom. Ours opened with a Google bar at the top and a card: Holding the bottom bar now lets you search what's on your screen. This product uses the selected part of your screen to search. We closed it with Back.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Circle to Search row? On ours it is on the System page itself, below the Gestures row, not inside it. Google says you can also search Settings for Circle to Search. Source: Search your screen with Circle to Search
• Using the three buttons? The row says to touch and hold the home button or the navigation handle. Ours used Gesture navigation, so we only tried the handle.

If this does not work

• Holding the bar does nothing? Check the switch has a tick. Google says Google must be your default digital assistant app, with Use screen and app data on, and the Google app up to date. We did not check these. Source: Search your screen with Circle to Search
• Doesn't work in one app? Google says it may not work in some apps, such as banking, medical and other confidential apps. Source: Search your screen with Circle to Search
• How do you close it? Google says to swipe down, use the back gesture or tap X at the top left. We used Back. Source: Search your screen with Circle to Search

About this guide

Circle to Search searches whatever is on your screen. Google says to touch and hold the Home button or navigation handle. On our Pixel the switch for it is on the System page in Settings.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. The switch was on. We turned it off by mistake and straight back on, opened Circle to Search once and closed it. We did not search anything.

Good to know

Switch to the three buttons, or back to gestures: switch between gestures and 3-button navigation on a Pixel. More Pixel gestures: use Quick Tap and other gestures.

On a Samsung phone you hold the Home button or the handle too: use Circle to Search on a Samsung Galaxy.

In short: Settings, System, Circle to Search on; then touch and hold the bottom bar.