Missing Circle to Search on your work phone? Here’s why
IT admins can block Circle to Search on work phones running Android 15.
JoriPress
- Google has given IT admins the ability to block Circle to Search on work phones.
- This is thanks to an update to the Android Management API that’s used by many enterprise mobility management solutions.
- The new API is available in Android 15, and it blocks Circle to Search from receiving screenshots.
Circle to Search is one of the best Android features that Google has made in years because it makes searching so much easier. All you have to do is press and hold the home button or navigation handle, then tap, scribble, or circle the part of the screen you want to Google search. It’s a simple yet incredibly nifty tool that’s only getting more and more useful with each update, but it’s sadly not available yet on all devices. Although it’s expanding to more and more, Circle to Search will soon be blocked on some Android phones, as Google has given IT admins the option to disable the feature.
Google debuted Circle to Search at the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch event earlier this year. Although it’s currently exclusive to select devices from Google and Samsung, it uses standard APIs that are available to all digital assistant apps on Android. The way it works is simple: When you invoke Circle to Search, the Google App uses Android’s Assist API to take a screenshot. It then scans the screenshot for text and images and makes those items selectable so you can copy, share, or search them up on Google.
