Imagine this: you’re trying to find that hilarious tweet you saw a few hours ago, but it’s lost somewhere in the depths of your phone’s memory. No need to stress—Pixel Screenshots is here to help you sift through the chaos. This new feature, currently exclusive to the Pixel 9 series, was unveiled on August 13 during the launch event for Google’s latest phones. Android Authority took a deep dive to explore how this tool works under the hood.
How Pixel Screenshots Works
Pixel Screenshots operates on a straightforward principle. Each time you take a screenshot, your phone analyzes the image, making it “searchable” by indexing the text and any visual content it contains.
For example, let’s say you snapped a screenshot of a message containing the code to your vacation rental. Later, when you need to find that code, you can simply open the Google app and search for a relevant keyword, like “message” or “code.” The app will pull up the information stored on your phone, saving you from endless scrolling.
Limited to 15 Screenshots Per Day
The functionality of Pixel Screenshots might remind you of Recall, a feature Microsoft announced but later shelved. However, Pixel Screenshots takes a different approach, and that’s a good thing. First off, the app is limited to processing 15 screenshots per day. This cap serves two purposes: protecting your privacy from excessive data processing, and addressing technical limitations.
The analysis happens locally on your device using Google’s Gemini Nano multimodal model. Each image takes about 15 to 20 seconds to process, which is why the app restricts itself to 15 images daily. This limit helps prevent your phone from overheating, draining the battery, or hogging the processor. If you capture more than 15 screenshots in a day, the phone will process the extra images only when it’s idle and charging.
Exclusive to Pixel 9 (For Now)
If you’re in a rush and need a specific screenshot analyzed immediately, you can manually trigger the process by opening the app. However, Google has set the default limit at 15, which should be enough for most users.
Currently, the AI model powering Pixel Screenshots is available only on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. There’s a possibility that it might roll out to older Pixel models if Google determines they have the processing power to handle the screenshot analysis without compromising performance.
In the ever-evolving world of smartphone technology, Pixel Screenshots is another step toward making our digital lives more manageable. Whether you’re tracking down a forgotten piece of information or simply trying to keep your phone organized, this feature is designed to make life a little easier, one screenshot at a time.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.