Circle to Search update lets Google look beyond your screen content

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Google has rebranded Circle to Search’s “Search using your whole screen” feature to “Ask about screen” in the latest Google app beta (v17.18.24).
• The feature now automatically sends URLs, page content, and PDF data to Google to provide more contextually relevant AI‑generated results.
• This functionality is currently rolling out to beta users and is expected to hit the stable branch in the coming weeks.

Overview

Circle to Search is one of Android’s most useful search tools, letting you trigger a search from anything displayed on your screen. Historically, it could only see the content visible in the screenshot you provided. The new update expands its capabilities by allowing the app to include additional context such as URLs and PDF documents, feeding that information into Google Search’s AI Mode.

New “Ask about screen” feature

With Google app version v17.18.24 (beta):

• The search box now reads “Ask about screen.”
• The description under the screenshot changes to “Search with more context.”
• A note explains that “Available context, including URL, page content, and PDF documents, will automatically be sent to Google.”

This signals that the app will automatically forward the extra context for processing in AI Mode, rather than relying solely on the visual content of the screenshot.

How it works

1. Capture a screenshot as you normally would with Circle to Search.
2. The app attaches the screenshot and any detected URLs or PDF files from the current app (e.g., Chrome, Files by Google).
3. All gathered data is sent to Google’s AI‑powered search backend, which can generate answers that incorporate the additional information.

The feature has been tested in Google Chrome and Files by Google, and it may become available in more apps over time.

Availability

• The “Ask about screen” update is currently rolling out to beta users of the Google app.
• If the beta testing proves successful, Google plans to merge the change into the stable branch within the next few weeks.

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