How to use Circle to Search on a Samsung Galaxy

By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 4 steps · Published 6 October 2026

Device

Android

Shown on

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Touch and hold Home

   Open the app with the thing you want to search, then touch and hold the Home button. The screen dims and shows Circle or tap anywhere to search.

   Done

2. 

   Circle what you want

   Draw a circle around it, or tap a word. We circled a heading on our own site.

   Done

3. 

   Read the results

   Results open in a sheet at the bottom. Swipe it up for more, or switch to Images, Videos or AI Mode.

   Done

4. 

   Ask, listen or translate

   The bar at the bottom also lets you type a question about the screen, search by voice, identify a song or translate the whole screen.

   Done

About this guide

Circle to Search searches whatever is on the screen: a word, a product in a photo, a place. It is Google's feature and needs an internet connection. We only looked at these screens on our phone and changed nothing.

The screenshots are from a Samsung Galaxy A57 5G with One UI 8.5 and Android 16, in Dark mode. Other Galaxy phones on One UI 8 use the same menus; on older One UI versions a few names and positions differ.

Good to know

If holding Home does nothing, check Settings, Display, Navigation bar, where Circle to Search can be switched on or off. It needs an internet connection and does not work in apps that block screenshots, such as some banking apps.

In short: Touch and hold Home, circle or tap, read the results sheet.