Google Upgrades Circle To Search Feature, Will Automatically Scan Barcodes & QR Codes Now

Once the device scans the barcode or QR code automatically, it will display a chip that will let you visit the website by simply tapping on it once.

What this new addition does is that it eliminates the need to circle QR codes and barcodes manually.

Source : Unsplash/Arthur Osipyan

Google's circle to search feature has gained quite a significant amount of popularity and now the tech giant is bringing a major upgrade to this AI-powered feature. With this update, Google's circle to search feature will automatically scan barcodes or QR codes. This feature of Google was initially introduced along with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and was also available on some Pixel devices. Now, with this new upgrade to the feature, users just need to ensure that the barcode or QR code is visible on the screen.

Once the device scans the barcode or QR code automatically, it will display a chip that will let you visit the website by simply tapping on it once. What this new addition does is that it eliminates the need to circle QR codes and barcodes manually, which would save time and achieve similar outcomes with less effort.

According to a tipster, Mishaal Rahman, this new feature was spotted earlier in June, but Google has now finally rolled it out. 

Google's circle to search feature primarily works as a visual search tool that analyses the content that appears on your screen and then provides information based on what you highlight or circle.

Google's Other New Features

Other than the aforementioned upgrade, Google has also introduced a feature to help discover new music. The tech giant said, “Whether it's a song playing on social media from your phone or music playing from speakers near you, simply long-press the Home button or navigation bar to enable Circle to Search, then tap the music button to identify the track name, artist and even launch a YouTube video to explore more.”

Additionally, Google has introduced a new feature for Chrome that enables users to listen to web pages. This feature allows customisation of listening speed, voice type, and language preferences. The new Talkback feature, tailored specifically for individuals who are blind or have low vision, will utilise Gemini models to enhance the accessibility of audio descriptions for digital images.

Google said, “Whether you're looking at online product images, photos on your camera roll, pictures in text messages, or images of what's happening on social media, the Android screen reader employs the best features of Google AI to bring pictures to life.”

The tech giant is also rolling out the Android Earthquake Alert feature in the US region.