Some Pixels are now showing the “Search Screen” (with Lens) button when Google Assistant is awakened

With the update, Google has replaced the “Lens” button with a new “Search Screen” button. Now, whatever appears on your Pixel’s display (excluding the home screen) when you press the button will be processed through Google Lens. The “Search Screen” button is expected to appear more consistently compared to the previous “Lens” button, which often failed to show up when Google Assistant was activated. This improvement eliminates the need for users to take screenshots and use Google Lens separately to search for content on their screens.

Before the update, Google Assistant would sometimes show a “Lens” button that ran the content on your screen through Google Lens

To determine which version of the Google app you are using on your Pixel device, follow these steps: Open the app, tap on the profile picture in the upper right corner, select Settings, then choose About. The next page will display the version number. Ensure that your phone is running version 14.31 or a newer release. If you have an older version, access the Play Store, tap on your profile picture in the upper right corner, and select “Manage apps & device.”

Under the “Updates available” section, locate the blue link that says “See details.” Tap on it and scroll down to find Google among the apps requiring an update. If you see Google on the list, tap “Update.” After the Google app has been updated, refer back to the previous instructions to view the newly installed version. Remember, even with the latest Google app version, the presence of the “Search Screen” feature is not guaranteed.