Google Lens on Pixel: How this app may have become less accessible on Google’s smartphones

Google introduced its visual search tool — Google Lens — in 2017. The tech giant has since upgraded the app with new features that can recognise images better and help users with improved contexts related to the picture. Apart from the smartphone app, Google has also integrated Lens on Chrome for users to access the tool on desktops as well. The company has also introduced a few different ways to provide access to the app on phones. However, accessing Google Lens on the company’s own Pixel smartphones has reportedly become a bit confusing with the latest update of the Google Camera app. According to a report by Android Police, this new change has been spotted by several Pixel users (including the new Pixel 7 users).
How accessing Google Lens has changed for Pixel users
Earlier, before the Google Camera app’s latest update was rolled out, Pixel users were allowed to long press on the viewfinder (of their Camera app) to activate Google Lens. This feature made it easier for users to jump right into a search while taking photos. The Google Lens access feature is still available on the Camera app, but users need to swipe along the bottom carousel of the app to find it.

Google Lens was earlier accessible directly from the viewfinder in camera mode. But now, Pixel users have to swipe the section over the shutter button and tap on the modes option to access Google Lens. The new modes section includes a dedicated Google Lens button. Currently, if users try to access Google Lens from their viewfinder, the app pops up a message on the screen that says: “Google lens has moved to Modes.”
How will this change affect users?
This new change might seem like a minor one, but Pixel users will now need to follow more steps to access the feature. However, Google hasn’t removed the Lens option from the Search widget and the separate app for the visual search tool is still available for users.

As the company continues to add more ways to access Google Lens from various parts of the Pixel UI, this change is not expected to cause too much trouble for the users. However, users who were comfortable with accessing Google Lens directly from their phone’s viewfinder will have to get used to a new method of accessing it.