Circle to search is a quick way to look up something you can see without first finding the right words for it. Circo brings that gesture to Windows and also lets you copy or translate visible text.
The idea
See it. Circle it. Choose what happens.
You may spot a product in a video, a place in a photo, or text inside an app. With Circo, you do not have to save the image or explain it in a search box. Draw around the part you want and continue from the small Circo pill.
Google’s Circle to Search is best known as an Android feature. Circo is an independent Windows app with a similar circle-first idea; it is not an official Google Circle to Search app.
Four steps
How to circle something on your PC.
- Open the screen you want. It can be a website, photo, video, document, or app.
- Press Alt + C. This is the default shortcut, and you can change it in Circo.
- Draw around the item. Use a circle for an object or a box for neat blocks of text.
- Choose an action. Search the picture, copy its text, or translate the text.
After the circle
Search, copy, or translate.
Visual search
Circo sends only the image area you selected to Google Lens. This is useful for products, landmarks, plants, art, and objects you cannot name.
Copy text
Windows reads the selected image on your PC. You can copy the result into email, notes, search, or another app.
Translate text
Windows first reads the words on your PC. Circo then sends the extracted text—not your screenshot—to the translation service.
Clear boundaries
Know what leaves your PC.
Copying text uses Windows text recognition on your computer. Visual search sends the crop you chose to Google Lens. Translation sends extracted text in short pieces to MyMemory / Translated. Circo does not continuously record your screen.
Do not select passwords, verification codes, private financial information, or anything you would not want the service for that action to receive. Read the full privacy policy for exact details.
Built-in choices
What Windows already offers.
Windows Snipping Tool can copy text from a screenshot on supported versions of Windows 11. Microsoft PowerToys also includes Text Extractor for copying text from anywhere on screen. These are good choices when you only need text.
Circo is useful when you want one customizable shortcut for a circle gesture, visual search, text copying, and translation across Windows 10 and 11.
Quick answers
Common questions.
Does Circo work on Windows 10?
Yes. The current app supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 on x64 and ARM64 PCs.
Can I change Alt + C?
Yes. Alt + C is the default, not a fixed rule. Choose another shortcut in Circo settings.
Is it free?
You can start with 150 searches on a Free account. Active Pro plans have unlimited searches, subject to reasonable-use and service limits.