Google’s Circle to Search, first introduced on select Android devices in January 2024, has steadily expanded to more smartphones and continues to evolve with new capabilities. Initially designed to help users quickly translate on-screen text, look up information, or even identify songs playing nearby, the feature is now reportedly being upgraded with a new tool called Live Translate.
According to findings highlighted by Android Authority, the feature was discovered during an APK teardown and is currently in early testing. While Circle to Search already supports translating static text on the screen, the Live Translate option appears to extend this ability to dynamic content, such as scrolling web pages, videos, GIFs, and other media. The experimental tool is not yet ready for public release, as it still requires significant refinement before rollout.
How Live Translate Works
Reports suggest that when users enable Live Translate, they will be able to choose whether the feature applies across the entire device screen or within specific applications, mirroring the flexible approach seen with Android 15’s screen recording options. Once activated, the feature reportedly launches with a colorful animation, displaying a rainbow gradient around the screen edges to indicate that it is running.
Early look: Circle to Search’s translation feature is in for a massive upgrade (APK teardown) https://t.co/vIW5QpjzPo— Android Authority (@AndroidAuth) August 18, 2025
The tool provides a floating overlay, giving users the ability to select the target output language, reposition the overlay, or minimize it to view the original text underneath. In addition, an integrated crop option will allow translations of only a portion of the screen, though this feature is still under development and not fully functional.
Current Limitations
At its current stage, the translated output appears only for a short duration, which restricts extensive testing with video content or real-time translation speed. There is also a toggle within the overlay to disable Live Translate and revert back to the standard Circle to Search interface.
This incomplete status suggests Google is still fine-tuning the feature before wider deployment. If successfully implemented, it could significantly improve accessibility and usability for Android users who frequently engage with international content across platforms like social media, news sites, or video-sharing apps.
What It Means for Users
The introduction of Live Translate underscores Google’s continued push toward seamless, on-device translation experiences. By integrating translation into the Circle to Search ecosystem, the company is aiming to reduce friction between consuming foreign-language content and understanding it instantly. While there is no timeline for release, the development reflects Google’s broader ambition to make AI-driven translation more fluid, interactive, and universally accessible on mobile devices.
If rolled out widely, Live Translate could become one of the most practical and transformative additions to Circle to Search since its launch, bringing real-time, screen-wide translations closer to everyday Android users.
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