Google recently updated its Circle to Search feature, altering the interface at the bottom of the tool. Previously, this area included a ‘G’ logo that opened the Google app, voice search, and Google Lens, along with options for text queries, song lookup, and translation. However, the latest update has removed the Lens shortcut, making it less convenient for users to access live visual searches.
For Pixel phone users, the Google Lens shortcut remains accessible in the bottom-right corner of the home screen. Unfortunately, other Android phones do not offer this feature. Users can still work around this limitation by adding the Google Search widget or downloading the standalone Google Lens app.
This change may have been intended to streamline the Circle to Search interface, reducing clutter by eliminating one of the four side-by-side buttons. The current layout now features just three options on the right-hand side.
While the removal of the Lens shortcut represents a regression in access for some users, the rationale behind this update remains speculative. The change is widely being rolled out across stable and beta versions of the Google app as we speak.
(Source: 9to5Google, Android Police)
