Tip: Galaxy S24’s Circle to Search feature also works with text

Artificial intelligence is a major part of the user experience on the Galaxy S24. Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone lineup is loaded with several AI features, some of which have been designed by the Korean giant and some by Google.

In the latter camp falls the Circle to Search feature. Circle to Search lets you quickly find information about whatever it is you’re seeing on the screen by long-pressing the home button and highlighting the item of interest.

As the name of the feature suggests, you can draw a circle around the item of interest, and Google then shows results matching the circled item. It is especially useful if you see an image of something (it works with objects, people, products, landmarks, and more) and want to know what it is, such as a piece of clothing, a food item, or a car you may see on social media.

Drawing a circle isn’t the only way you can highlight something when using Circle to Search – you can also tap an object and the phone will automatically identify it. But more importantly, Circle to Search works with text as well, which some Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra owners don’t seem to have realized.

After you bring up Circle to Search using the home button (or the handle at the bottom of the screen if you’re using gesture navigation), you can select a single word by simply tapping it with your finger (or S Pen) or a string of words by long-pressing one of them and dragging your finger left or right, similar to how you would do it in any other app that has selectable text.

In fact, Circle to Search can select any text that is on-screen, even if the app you’re using doesn’t allow it. And, in addition to doing a Google search on it, Circle to Search also lets you copy and translate the selected text.

For more about Circle to Search and other Galaxy AI features, watch the video below. If you own a Galaxy S23 or any other flagship phone (or tablet) Samsung launched in 2023, you will be able to use Circle to Search once your device is updated to One UI 6.1.

Artificial intelligence is a major part of the user experience on the Galaxy S24. Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone lineup is loaded with several AI features, some of which have been designed by the Korean giant and some by Google.

In the latter camp falls the Circle to Search feature. Circle to Search lets you quickly find information about whatever it is you’re seeing on the screen by long-pressing the home button and highlighting the item of interest.

As the name of the feature suggests, you can draw a circle around the item of interest, and Google then shows results matching the circled item. It is especially useful if you see an image of something (it works with objects, people, products, landmarks, and more) and want to know what it is, such as a piece of clothing, a food item, or a car you may see on social media.

Drawing a circle isn’t the only way you can highlight something when using Circle to Search – you can also tap an object and the phone will automatically identify it. But more importantly, Circle to Search works with text as well, which some Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra owners don’t seem to have realized.

After you bring up Circle to Search using the home button (or the handle at the bottom of the screen if you’re using gesture navigation), you can select a single word by simply tapping it with your finger (or S Pen) or a string of words by long-pressing one of them and dragging your finger left or right, similar to how you would do it in any other app that has selectable text.

In fact, Circle to Search can select any text that is on-screen, even if the app you’re using doesn’t allow it. And, in addition to doing a Google search on it, Circle to Search also lets you copy and translate the selected text.

For more about Circle to Search and other Galaxy AI features, watch the video below. If you own a Galaxy S23 or any other flagship phone (or tablet) Samsung launched in 2023, you will be able to use Circle to Search once your device is updated to One UI 6.1.