Circle to Search on iPhone: How to Enable and Use It

Hi friends, Jessica here! 👋 As someone who’s constantly juggling life between work projects, kids’ school schedules, and trying to squeeze in a little me-time, I’m always looking for ways to make my iPhone more efficient. Recently, I came across a buzz around “Circle to Search”—a feature that makes searching on your phone incredibly easy. If you’ve heard about it too and are wondering how to enable Circle to Search on iPhone, let me walk you through everything you need to know.

This post is going to be detailed, step-by-step, and full of tips, so by the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your iPhone’s searching smarter and faster.

What is Circle to Search?

Before diving into the iPhone part, let’s quickly understand what Circle to Search means.

Circle to Search is a feature first introduced on certain Android devices (like Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones). It lets you circle, highlight, or tap on something on your screen—a picture, a word, a product, even a random object—and instantly search for it on Google without leaving the app you’re in.

For example:

• If you’re scrolling Instagram and see a dress you love, you can circle it, and boom—Google shows you shopping links.
• If your kid is watching a YouTube video and you see a historic landmark, you can circle it and get details instantly.
• Instead of copy-pasting text into a search bar, you just highlight and search right away.

It’s super fast, intuitive, and feels futuristic.

Does iPhone Have Circle to Search?

Here’s the tricky part: Apple doesn’t natively support Circle to Search (at least not as of 2025). It’s currently an Android-exclusive feature developed by Google. That means you won’t find a “Circle to Search” toggle in your iPhone settings.

But don’t worry—there are workarounds and alternatives that let iPhone users achieve something very similar. I’ll explain those step by step.

How to Enable Circle to Search on iPhone (Alternatives)

Since iPhones don’t have Circle to Search built in, here are the best options you can use:

1. Use Google App’s Lens Feature

Google Lens is basically the iPhone version of Circle to Search.

Steps:

1. Download the Google app from the App Store.
2. Open the app and tap on the Lens icon (a small camera symbol in the search bar).
3. Point your camera at an object OR upload a screenshot.
4. Google will analyze it and bring up instant search results.

I use this when my daughter asks, “Mom, what flower is this?” Instead of typing, I snap it with Lens, and the answer pops up.

2. Use Google Chrome on iPhone

If you’re a Chrome user on iOS, you can also use Google Lens inside Chrome.

1. Open Chrome and go to any webpage.
2. Long-press on an image or piece of text.
3. Choose Search image with Google Lens or Highlight text and Search.

It’s not exactly “circle to search,” but it’s super close in functionality.

3. Shortcut with Screenshots

Here’s a little hack I use:

1. Take a screenshot of what’s on your iPhone screen.
2. Open the Google app.
3. Tap Lens and upload the screenshot.

This way, you can circle or highlight within Lens and get your search results. It takes an extra step compared to Android, but it’s quick once you get used to it.

4. Use Safari Extensions

Some Safari extensions like “Search by Image” or “Re:Lens” mimic this feature.

• Install the extension from the App Store.
• Highlight or long-press text/image in Safari.
• Choose the search option from the extension menu.

For those who prefer Apple’s ecosystem and don’t want to install Google apps, this is a nice compromise.

5. Rely on Visual Look Up (Apple’s Built-in Tool)

Apple does have something similar called Visual Look Up, available in iOS Photos.

How it works:

1. Open a photo in your Photos app.
2. Swipe up or tap the info (i) button.
3. If Apple detects an object (like a dog breed, landmark, or plant), it will show a Visual Look Up option.

It’s not as broad as Google’s Circle to Search, but still useful.

When Circle to Search (or its Alternatives) Really Help

Here’s how I use these tools in my day-to-day life:

• Shopping inspiration: If I see a cute bag on Instagram, I Lens it to find affordable dupes.
• School projects: My kids often need quick facts. I screenshot and Lens objects from their online classes.
• Recipes: Found a yummy dish photo online? Circle it with Lens to pull up recipes.
• Traveling: When I see a landmark in someone’s photo, I use Lens to get its history.

Benefits of Using Circle to Search Alternatives on iPhone

• Saves time: No need to switch apps constantly.
• Visual-first: Great for people who prefer images over text.
• Kid-friendly: My son can just tap and identify animals instead of spelling their names.
• Seamless: Works across apps like Chrome, Google, and Photos.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

Of course, there are some drawbacks compared to Android’s native feature:

• You need to open the Google app or Chrome—it’s not built into iOS.
• A few extra steps like screenshots might be required.
• Apple’s Visual Look Up is limited to certain categories (plants, pets, landmarks).

Still, these workarounds make the experience very close to Circle to Search.

Privacy and Safety Concerns

A question I get a lot is: “Is this safe for kids to use?”

Yes, but keep in mind:

• Google Lens data is processed by Google, so results are based on its algorithms.
• You can clear search history from your Google account anytime.
• If kids are using it, set up Family Link or enable Screen Time filters on iPhone.

My Final Thoughts

So, can you enable Circle to Search on iPhone? Not directly. It’s still an Android-only feature. But thanks to tools like Google Lens, Chrome’s search options, Safari extensions, and Apple’s Visual Look Up, iPhone users aren’t left out.

Personally, I love using Google Lens inside the Google app. It feels the closest to Circle to Search, and once you get used to it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

If Apple ever introduces a native Circle to Search feature in iOS, I’ll be first in line to try it. Until then, these alternatives keep my life flowing—whether it’s answering my kids’ endless “What is this, Mom?” questions or helping me shop smarter online.