Use Overview Selection in Android Pie

4 Parts:

Use Overview Selection to Copy, Search, and Share Text on Android Pie

Use Overview Selection to Save or Share an Image

Disable Overview Selection in Android Pie

Comments

Android Pie offers an excellent variety of new features such as Digital Wellbeing, Feature Flags, New Gestures, and Screenshot Editing to name a few.

One highly useful new feature is the ability to select both text and images while viewing your recent apps in overview mode. This is great for copying a line or block of text from apps that don't allow it. Also, when you need to grab an address or phone number displayed in an open app, you can do so without having to maximize it. Sharing images via overview mode will help cut down on navigating between open applications, keeping your mobile experience smooth and snappy.

In the following guide, we used a Google Pixel running Android 9.

***Please Note*** Overview selection is currently only available on Google Pixel devices.

1. 1
   Tap the recent apps icon in the lower right corner of the screen.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Swipe horizontally to center the app you wish to select text from.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Long-press the text until the selection cursors appear.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Use the selection cursors to highlight a single word or block of text, then tap either; Copy, Search, or Share.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

• Copy: This will copy the selectd text to your device's clipboard.
• Search: Tap this and Google will perform a search on the text selected.
• Share: This will launch your sharing options.

1. 1
   Tap the 'recent apps button in the bottom right corner.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Swipe through your recent applications, then long-press the image you wish to share until the action toolbar appears.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Tap Lens or Share.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

• Lens: Tap to use Google's own image recognition tool.
• Share: Will display your device's sharing options, such as social accounts, messaging apps, email apps, etc.

1. 1
   Long-press a space on your home screen, then tap Home settings.

   
   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help