By integrating Circle with Google Lens on the desktop Chrome browser, Google is extending Circle’s Search capabilities beyond Android handsets.
The Windows and macOS beta versions of ChromeOS 127 and Chrome 128 now support the Circle to Search feature. As noted by 9to5Google, you can initiate a search by just circling any thing on the screen.
Circle to Search was first introduced on the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 phones, but it has rapidly expanded to many gadgets. It makes it simple for individuals who are not familiar with it to search for information based on visual material. Since then, the Google Pixel Tablet and a few Samsung devices have gained access to the capability.
The feature is known as “Drag to Search” on desktop computers. Clicking the new Google Lens icon in the address bar will take ChromeOS users to it. The first step for Chrome users on Windows and macOS is to choose “Search with Google Lens” from the overflow menu. For convenient access, you can also pin this item to the side panel.
With Chrome Beta version 128.0.6613.7 installed on our device, we can verify that the feature is currently operational. With this update, you may drag a box around any information on your computer that piques your interest to search for anything.
The selected area is processed immediately, displaying search results in a side panel so you can view the results and continue to browse the original website simultaneously.
Upon installing Chrome 128 Beta on your PC, the “What’s New” page of the browser will display the following welcome message:
You can easily search everything you see on your screen with Google Lens in Chrome. You can search within an image on a webpage, a slide during a livestream, or a video you’re seeing. You can continue browsing with the newly discovered information after Google Lens provides you with the answers you need right there in your browser.
When a feature is available through formal beta channels, it usually indicates that a broader release is imminent. The precise date that it will be made available to everyone is yet unknown, though.