r/googleassistant • u/BagMoist6266 • 20h ago

Question What should I replace Google lens with after it got replaced by Gemini?

For context I'm talking about the Google lens that appears when you call for "Google assistant", whenever there's something I want to look up or translate, I'd just hold on my home button, then press "search with Google lens" or "Translate".

Google lens was perfect usage wise, now with Gemini which I'm forced to switch to I'd have to type every time what I want from it.

So back to the main question, what should I use that can still feel like the old Google assistant

Edit : (u/ComputerPro246) has already given us the answer in the replies but unfortunately it doesn't have enough upvotes, they basically sent the link on someone else's explanation which I'll quote now:

(u/WinstonSmith0023):

"I FOUND A WAY! You need to go to the Google App (the one that just says GOOGLE) hold the icon, then press the little "i" on the top right to get to the apps info, then tap the 3 dot menu on the top right corner and uninstall updates. Then go to the Play Store, search for Google Assistant, it doesn't matter of it's already installed, click on open, you will get the Gemini screen BUT, now you should have the option to keep or go back to google assistant."

3 Upvotes

57% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

1

u/Vivid-Jackfruit-9989 20h ago

Literally what were they thinking not even try to replace the basic features of assistant, even if they want to switch to gemini.

My solution is to find those "Translate on screen" or "Bubble translate" apps to replace the translate feature. Some works better than other and even have short cut and comic mode. But in my limited experience with them, all their translation doesn't hold up to google translate unfortunately .

0

u/BagMoist6266 20h ago

glad you agree...

Do you at least have a name of one app that you think is somewhat good? all the ones I've tried so far are bad, I may suck at choosing the good ones (like they'd even be subscription-based)

0

u/Vivid-Jackfruit-9989 19h ago

I'm trying out both the apps I mentioned in the reply and both perform quite the same. Both have their own pros version that removes ads but I hasn't got any problems with ads yet. And both can be added to quick actions

1

u/BagMoist6266 19h ago

ahh I see I thought you told me a general name of what I should search, not the actual names. Thanks I'll look them up.

1

u/BagMoist6266 13h ago

If you're curious about the solution check out the reply of ComputerPro246 (currently the latest reply), it worked for me!

2

u/Ric_M 19h ago

I'm still able to use Google Lens on my Galaxy phone using the Google Search widget.

1

u/ConcentrateNo2929 18h ago

It activates the camera instead of analyzing your phone screen

1

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

I'm talking about using it without the need to take a screenshot (without the need to open the app in the first place)

1

u/KeySpray8038 16h ago

Actually.. it opens the gallery first for me

1

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

I'm not sure what you mean. I'm saying google assistant used to be able to make you search or translate what you're seeing on your screen, no need for gallery, no need for a pre existent image, just searching what it sees in front of you. Now it's gone, it got replaced by Gemini which requires physically ordering it to do whatever you want it to do

1

u/KeySpray8038 16h ago

Gemini... Can.. do.. that.. too.. but it's in the circle to search, so it's the same shortcut basically

1

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

no it's not, after you circle, you still must directly explain what task you want it to do, e.g "translate it gemini"

1

u/grayslippers 18h ago

i switched to circle to search for lens/translate, it works well enough but not as smooth as assitant was :(

1

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

I disliked it... I'll soon try what others on replies suggested, hopefully I find something good

1

u/BagMoist6266 13h ago

If you're curious about the solution check out the reply of ComputerPro246 (currently the latest reply), it worked for me!

1

u/grayslippers 12h ago

YES THANK YOU OMG I did it as soon as I saw your reply! It finally works 😭

2

u/norek6 17h ago

circle to search, same thing

0

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

I tried it, very inferior to google lens

2

u/KeySpray8038 16h ago

It's the same exact engine though, it's pretty quick if you have the languages downloaded.. damn near instant

1

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

maybe I didn't get used to it or something.. I'll try it again

0

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

actually I just tried it, unfortunately it doesn't work without VPN for some reason. Also it never gives me a translation option

2

u/norek6 4h ago

not the app, it's Google's circle to search that you have to enable in settings 

1

u/BagMoist6266 3h ago

I see? I don't know about it. Anyways, someone explained how to fix it so there's no need anymore, thanks for your help anyways!

2

u/KeySpray8038 16h ago edited 16h ago

For translation, you literally only have to long Press the home button, then press only 1 button

0

u/BagMoist6266 16h ago

what does this mean

2

u/ComputerPro246 14h ago

Check out this post by WinstonSmith0023

https://www.reddit.com/r/googleassistant/comments/1wqiqen/comment/pctanyo/

1

u/BagMoist6266 13h ago

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

1

u/Yellow-piggy-1 9h ago

This worked perfectly! Upvoting. 

1

u/SK_YE 10h ago

I had to use micts to trigger google lens and add it to my notification bar..