Have a real-time conversation with Live in Search
Important: We’re currently updating settings for Google Search services, which include Search, Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate and News. The settings described in this article are being updated so may not match your current experience. Learn more about the new Search services settings.
With Search Live, you can have back-and-forth voice conversations with Search and use your camera to show Search what you see. You'll hear helpful AI-generated audio responses and you can easily follow up with another question, with helpful web links on your screen to keep exploring. The Live experience works in the background, so you can seamlessly continue the conversation while in another app. And if you want to revisit a Search Live response, pick up where you left off by heading to your AI Mode history.
Important: AI responses may include mistakes. Learn about generative AI and its limitations.
What you need
- This feature is available to users in all regions and languages where AI Mode is available.
- For the best experience, enable history and personalized recommendations. Without this setting enabled, you can still access AI Mode but can't pick up where you left off with previous searches.
Get started with Search Live
Important:
- This experience is available only in the Google app 👁 Google logo
on Android and iOS. - Make sure your Microphone 👁 Image
permissions for the Google app are turned on to use Search Live on AI Mode. - Respect others’ privacy and ask permission before recording or including them in a Search Live conversation.
- Learn how data helps Google develop generative AI in Search.
Important: This feature isn't currently available on iPad.
- On your iPhone, open the Google app 👁 Google logo
. - Below the Search bar, tap Live 👁 Image
. - If you’re a first-time user, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Start your conversation with Search Live:
- To mute your mic, tap Mute 👁 Image
. This turns off the mic. - To resume your Search Live interaction, tap Unmute 👁 Image
. - To interrupt Search Live when it's speaking, tap Wave 👁 Image
. You can interrupt it anytime to add more details, ask a follow-up question, or change the topic of the conversation. - To turn your camera on, tap Video 👁 Image
. Learn more about Search Live with Camera. - To end your conversation, tap Exit 👁 Exit Preview
.
- To mute your mic, tap Mute 👁 Image
- You can switch from typing in AI Mode 👁 Image
to continuing with a live conversation anytime, tap Live 👁 Image
. - You can also start a Search Live interaction with the camera on directly from Google Lens by tapping Live 👁 Image
.
Important:
- You need to "Allow Live Activities" to get notifications for Search Live on the lock screen.
- If you're a first-time user, you’ll be notified to "Allow" or "Don't Allow" Live Activities.
- You can also turn on the Live Activity setting for your Google app 👁 Google logo
:- Go to Google app settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Live Activities 👁 and then
Turn on 👁 Turn on
for the Google app 👁 Google logo
. - Turn on More Frequent Updates to get more real-time updates.
Activate your camera during a Live conversation
When you’re talking with Search Live, you can turn on your camera to show Search what you see and ask about it.
You can also enter Search Live through Google Lens, with your camera turned on automatically.
- Open Google Lens 👁 Google Lens logo (2026)
. - Below the shutter button, tap on the Live mode 👁 Image
.
The camera automatically turns off if:
- You leave the Google app and start using Search Live in the background. The camera doesn’t automatically turn back on when you return to the app. Learn more about using Search Live in the background.
- Your screen locks. The camera doesn’t automatically turn back on when you unlock your screen. Tap Video 👁 Image
to turn on the camera.
Turn Search Live settings on or off
- Below the Search bar, tap Live 👁 Image
. - At the top of your screen, tap 👁 More
. - Tap Settings 👁 Image
. - Turn Continue in background on to allow Search Live conversations in the background.
- Tip: If this setting is turned off, your Live conversation will end immediately when you swipe up or lock your screen.
Use Search Live in the background
Important: You cannot share your camera when using Search Live in the background.
You can use your phone and other apps or lock your screen while you’re talking with Search Live.
- From the bottom of your screen, swipe up.
- Tap the mic 👁 Image
in the Live Activity (iOS 16+).
- Tap Wave 👁 Image
to interrupt.
To end a conversation that continues while the app is running in the background or device is locked:
- Tap on the exit icon 👁 Exit Preview
in the Live Activity (iOS 16+). - You can also tap the mic 👁 Image
at the top of your screen to return to Search Live and then tap Exit 👁 Exit Preview
.
- Tap the Live Activity (iOS 16+) and unlock your phone if necessary.
Turn on/off Live Captions
To read responses as text while talking to Search Live, turn on Live Captions.
Manage your Search Live transcripts on AI Mode
- You can view your Search Live transcripts in AI Mode history in the Google App:
- Tap the Transcript 👁 Image
in Live to end your conversation and view your most recent Search Live transcript as an AI Mode thread. - To view past Search Live transcripts, tap AI Mode history 👁 AI mode history
at the upper right corner of AI Mode.
- Tap the Transcript 👁 Image
- You can delete Search Live transcripts saved in your account anytime. From AI Mode history 👁 AI mode history
, select what you want to delete:- A specific thread: Tap 👁 Image
next to the AI Mode thread. - All your AI Mode history: Tap 👁 More
👁 and then
Delete all 👁 Image
.
- A specific thread: Tap 👁 Image
- You can also go to your Search History page of My Activity and tap 👁 Close
to delete the AI Mode activity saved in your account.- Tip: Access your Search History directly from a Live conversation by tapping the three-dot menu 👁 More
at the top right of your screen, then tapping Search History 👁 AI mode history
.
- Tip: Access your Search History directly from a Live conversation by tapping the three-dot menu 👁 More
- If you delete searches from AI Mode history, they may still appear in My Activity for some time. These items will be auto-deleted in less than 24 hours. You can manually delete these searches from My Activity.
- When your search begins with an AI Overview and you choose to "Dive deeper in AI Mode," you might see two entries in your Search history for that interaction. The first entry represents your original search query, and the second reflects the transition to AI Mode for follow-up questions. When you delete this search from AI Mode history, it’ll still appear in your Search history. To completely delete this specific search, you’ll also have to delete it from your Search history.
Share feedback
Your feedback helps us improve Search Live and AI Mode. Here's how to share feedback:
- During a Live conversation, tap the three-dot menu at the top right of your screen and then “Share feedback.”
- To help us understand your feedback, you can add more details in the text field, which is recommended.
- If you’re viewing your Live conversation transcript, you can also rate any AI Mode response using the thumbs up 👁 Image
and thumbs down 👁 Image
icons.- Click 👁 Image
if you found the AI Mode response helpful. To tell us more, click Share more feedback and choose the category that best describes the reason for your feedback. You can add more details in the text field, which is recommended. - Click 👁 Image
if you found the AI Mode response unhelpful, inaccurate, or otherwise problematic. To tell us more, choose the category that best describes your issue. You can add more details in the text field, which is recommended.
- Click 👁 Image
- To send your feedback, click Submit. The feedback you submit includes your conversation transcript and its search results.
Related resources
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