Search screenshots with the Pixel Screenshots app

Important:

• Pixel Screenshots is currently only available on the Pixel 9 and later phones in English in the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Ireland, Singapore, and Malaysia.
• You must be 18 years or older and have a valid personal Google Account active on your phone to access AI features. All AI features are disabled if you use an ineligible account.
• The feature doesn’t support work or school accounts.

You can save, collect, edit, and search for screenshots on your Pixel phone. With Pixel Screenshots, you can use natural language to search your screenshots and find the info you need. You can also add notes or reminders. 

Turn on Pixel Screenshots

To generate titles and summaries, have suggested actions, and search for your screenshots, you can turn on AI features when you set up your phone or in the app settings.

When you set up your phone

1. The setup process displays info on how to “Search your screenshots with on-device AI.” 
2. At the bottom right, tap Turn on.

When you’re in the Pixel Screenshots app

1. Open the Pixel Screenshots app.
2. To open settings, at the top right of the home page, tap Settings .
3. Turn on Search your screenshots with on-device AI.

Set a reminder

To get notifications about specific screenshots, set reminders on each one.

1. Open your Pixel Screenshots app.
2. Tap a screenshot .
3. Tap a schedule option.

Browse & search

With the Pixel Screenshots app, if you’ve turned on AI features, you can search for information across all of your saved screenshots.

1. Open your Pixel Screenshots app.
2. At the bottom, enter a search term.

Make a collection

To organize your screenshots, you can group them into collections.

There are 3 ways to create a new collection.

• Within the collection view in Pixel Screenshots app:
  1. On the Pixel Screenshots app homepage, tap Collections.
  2. On the “Collections” page, to create a new collection, tap Add .
  3. To label your collection, enter any name or title you prefer.
  4. Select the screenshots that you want in your collection.
  5. Tap Done .
• Within an existing saved screenshot or image in Pixel Screenshots app:
  1. Select any saved image.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the image details.
  3. Tap Add to collection.
  4. A pop-up will appear which allows you to either:
     • Add to an existing collection.
     • Create a new collection. To create a new one, tap New Collection.
  5. Tap Save.
  6. To label your collection, enter any name or title you prefer.
  7. Tap Done .
• Create a collection at the point of screenshot capture:
  1. Take a screenshot.
  2. At the bottom left of the screen, tap on the screenshot thumbnail.
  3. Choose from 2 options:
     • To add to an existing collection, scroll to the bottom of the screenshot pop-up view, then tap Add to collection.
     • To create a new collection, tap New Collection.
  4. To label your collection, enter any name or title you prefer.
  5. Tap Done .

Troubleshooting

Delete your AI content from Pixel Screenshots

1. Open your Pixel Screenshots app.
2. At the top right, tap Settings.
3. Turn off Search your screenshots with on-device AI.
4. Select Delete all AI summaries and metadata.

Can’t find the Pixel Screenshots icon when you take a screenshot

1. Open your Pixel Screenshots app.
2. Go to the "Settings" page.
3. Check if Search your screenshots with on-device AI is toggled on.

Unsave a screenshot from the Pixel Screenshots app

By default, you can find all screenshots in the Pixel Screenshots app. This includes all screenshots on your file system. If you delete any screenshots from your file system or photo folders, that screenshot will be deleted from the Pixel Screenshots app too and vice versa.

Can’t find the search bar

If you can’t find the search bar, either the AI features are disabled or models are being downloaded.

To turn on the AI features, you’ll find a follow message card on the home page:

1. Tap Settings .
2. Turn on Search your screenshots with on-device AI. This will enable the AI search capability on your app.

Tip: If your model is still downloading, all AI features will be disabled until the download is complete.

Download the model over Wi-Fi

The Pixel Screenshots app only supports download over Wi-Fi connection. If your phone doesn’t have Wi-Fi coverage and you need to download the model, you’ll find a “Download Paused” message card. To resume downloading, connect to Wi-Fi.

Fix screenshot processing issues

If your screenshots aren't automatically processing, and you find a "Processing Paused" message on some images, charge your phone and wait until it resumes bulk processing. If you want to process specific screenshots immediately, tap Process Now.

Update required apps

Before you use the Pixel Screenshots app, you’ll need to update some apps. 

1. Go to the Google Play Store app.
2. At the top right, tap on your avatar.
3. Tap Manage apps & device Updates available.
4. Update any of the pending apps:
   • Android AICore
   • Private Compute Services
   • Pixel Screenshots
   • Android Intelligence Services

Related resources

• Circle to Search on your Pixel phone or tablet
• Learn more about an image