Google is introducing new search gestures for iPhone users, allowing them to highlight anything on their screen for instant searches.
The Lens-powered feature, now available in the Google app and Chrome browser on iOS, offers a similar experience to Android’s Circle to Search, though it remains limited to these apps rather than system-wide functionality.
With these new gestures, iPhone users can search for text, images, and videos by simply drawing, highlighting, or tapping—no need for screenshots or extra tabs. This makes it easier to look up shopping items, define words, identify locations, or even recognize plants and animals directly from their screens.
To access the feature, users must open the three-dot menu in the Google or Chrome app and select “Search Screen with Google Lens.” Google is also planning to add a dedicated Lens icon to the address bar for even quicker access in the coming months.
Additionally, AI Overviews are expanding within Lens search results, meaning users may see AI-generated summaries alongside their search results. However, Google does not currently offer an option to disable AI Overviews, leaving some users frustrated.
