Missing Circle to Search on your work phone? Here’s why

Circle to Search is without doubt one of the greatest Android options that Google has made in years as a result of it makes looking a lot simpler. All you must do is press and maintain the house button or navigation deal with, then faucet, scribble, or circle the a part of the display screen you need to Google search. It’s a easy but extremely nifty software that’s solely getting an increasing number of helpful with every replace, nevertheless it’s sadly not out there but on all gadgets. Though it’s increasing to an increasing number of, Circle to Search will quickly be blocked on some Android telephones, as Google has given IT admins the choice to disable the characteristic.

Google debuted Circle to Search on the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch occasion earlier this 12 months. Though it’s at the moment unique to pick gadgets from Google and Samsung, it makes use of normal APIs which are out there to all digital assistant apps on Android. The best way it really works is easy: Once you invoke Circle to Search, the Google App makes use of Android’s Help API to take a screenshot. It then scans the screenshot for textual content and pictures and makes these objects selectable so you possibly can copy, share, or search them up on Google.

A demo of Circle to Search. Credit: Google.

As a result of Circle to Search makes use of Android’s normal Help API to take screenshots, it’s already unable to deal with safe home windows, like login screens in lots of apps. Nonetheless, the mere proven fact that it takes a screenshot within the first place is sufficient to spook some IT admins, who could need to block staff from taking screenshots fully to mitigate the danger of them by chance (or purposely) leaking delicate information. That’s why Google has determined to supply a means for IT admins to dam Circle to Search from having the ability to take a screenshot, successfully disabling the characteristic fully.

Google not too long ago up to date the Android Administration API — which is utilized by many enterprise mobility administration (EMM) software program options to manage utilization insurance policies on work telephones — so as to add a brand new AssistContentPolicy. AssistContentPolicy “controls whether or not AssistContent is allowed to be despatched to a privileged app similar to an assistant app.” AssistContent notably “contains screenshots and details about an app, similar to a bundle identify.” By default, help content material is allowed to be despatched to a privileged app, however IT admins can replace the coverage to disallow this.

As a result of AssistContentPolicy is barely out there on gadgets working Android 15 or above, most work telephones that at the moment help Circle to Search can’t be blocked from utilizing it. Nonetheless, as soon as Google and Samsung begin pushing updates to Android 15, IT admins will be capable of block work telephones from utilizing the characteristic. If Circle to Search all of a sudden stops functioning in your work cellphone after updating to Android 15, now you recognize why.