- With the Android 15 Beta 3 update, Google’s Circle to Search feature now works when the persistent taskbar is showing on tablets.
- To activate Circle to Search on the persistent taskbar, you need to hold down the action key.
- Circle to Search also now works when using split-screen mode.
Circle to Search is one of Google’s best new feature ideas because it makes searching what’s on your screen a breeze. All you need to do is hold down the navigation handle or home button and then tap, draw, or scribble over the text or image you want to Google search. Since the feature’s debut on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Google has worked to expand its availability to more Galaxy and Pixel devices. For example, in early May, Google rolled the feature out to its Pixel Tablet, but there was one issue with the rollout: it didn’t work with the action key in Android 15.
The action key is the button on the Android taskbar that launches the floating app drawer. You can see it whenever you swipe up on the navigation handle on the Pixel Tablet. Since Circle to Search can be invoked by long-pressing on the navigation handle, you might think there isn’t an issue with the feature on the Pixel Tablet. However, the navigation handle disappears when you switch to the persistent taskbar, meaning there’s no way to invoke Circle to Search unless you change back to the original, transient taskbar.