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How to Use Google's New Handwrite Mobile Search Feature on Your Smartphone

Jul 27, 2012 10:57 PM
Jul 27, 2012 10:58 PM
Person with a hand injury using a tablet to search for ski lessons.

Google just added a new feature for mobile search called Handwrite. Just like the name suggests, you can hand write your queries on the screen of your smartphone and it will convert it to text.

It's disabled by default, so here's how to turn it on and use it.

Enable Handwrite

Sign into your Google account on your mobile browser and go to settings. Find the 'Handwrite' section and click Enable, then Save.

Switch to Handwrite Mode

Once Handwrite is enabled, there will be a small button in the bottom right corner of the screen with a lowercase 'g' (you may need to refresh the page to see it.)

How to Use Google's New Handwrite Mobile Search Feature on Your Smartphone

Tap the icon to switch to Handwrite mode.

Start Searching

Once you enter Handwrite mode, you can start writing anywhere on the screen.

Hand writing the phrase "Speed reading" on a tablet with a Google search page displayed.

Google will recognize what you wrote and it will appear in the search bar.

Google search page displayed on a tablet.

It even works in 27 languages!

Hand holding a smartphone displaying a Google search page with floral background.

This feature is very simple to use, but since handwriting isn't as easy to read as text, here are a few tips.

  • Write in print instead of cursive since it's easier to recognize.
  • Draw the number one like this '1' instead of this 'I'.
  • If it isn't recognizing your writing, switch back to type mode easily by tapping the search bar.

How do you like the new Handwrite feature? Voice your thoughts below.

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