Point your phone at a wobbly shelf and ask, out loud, "why won't this sit level?" Then ask a follow-up without typing anything. That is Search Live: a real-time voice and camera conversation inside the Google app, with spoken answers and web links on screen.
Google first launched Search Live in June 2025 as a voice-only feature for US users testing AI Mode in Labs. In March 2026 it expanded to every language and location where AI Mode is available, which Google says means more than 200 countries and territories, and it now supports the camera too. For businesses this is a new kind of search moment: hands busy, eyes on a real object, and an assistant choosing which websites to show.
This guide explains what Search Live is, how it differs from classic voice search, which questions it suits best, and what local and product businesses should prepare in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Search Live is a back-and-forth conversation with Google Search by voice, optionally with your phone camera on, available only in the Google app on Android and iOS.
- Since 26 March 2026 it is available wherever AI Mode is, powered by the Gemini 3.1 Flash Live audio model, according to Google.
- Answers are spoken, and Google shows web links on screen alongside the audio, during both voice and camera sessions.
- It suits hands-on, visual and multi-step questions: fixing, assembling, identifying, comparing and learning.
- Preparation looks like strong AI Mode SEO plus visual clarity: clear how-to content, accurate product details and a complete Business Profile.
What is Search Live?
Search Live sits inside AI Mode. You start it by tapping the Live icon under the search bar in the Google app, by switching from a typed AI Mode conversation, or by tapping Live in Google Lens to start with the camera on. You ask a question aloud, Google answers in speech, and you can interrupt or ask follow-ups naturally. Transcripts are saved as AI Mode threads in your history.
“Search Live now covers all languages and locations where AI Mode is available”
— Google, Search Live global expansion
At launch, Google said Search Live used query fan-out, issuing several related searches, to surface a broader set of web content, and showed "easy-to-access links right on your screen". That matters: it is not a closed answer box. Websites still appear; they just appear inside a conversation. Our guide to Google AI Mode explains the system Search Live is built on.
Search Live vs classic voice search
| Classic voice search | Search Live | |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction | Speak one query, get a results page | Ongoing spoken conversation with follow-ups and interruptions |
| Answer format | Mostly visual results; sometimes a spoken snippet | Spoken AI response with web links on screen |
| Camera | Separate (Google Lens) | Can share live camera view during the conversation |
| Context | Each query mostly stands alone | Follows the thread of the conversation |
| Background use | No | Can continue in the background (camera turns off) |
| Where | Google app, Assistant devices, Chrome | Google app on Android and iOS only |
Much of the advice in our voice search SEO guide still holds, such as answering questions in plain, concise language. The difference is that Search Live builds an answer from many sources over several turns, so depth and coverage of follow-up questions matter more than winning one snippet.
Which queries suit Search Live?
- Hands-on tasks: assembling furniture, fixing an appliance, cooking, gardening. Google's own example is installing a shelving unit.
- "What is this?" questions: identifying a plant, a part, a stain, a wine label or a product on a shelf.
- Comparisons in a shop: holding two products and asking which suits a specific need.
- Learning and exploring: follow-up-heavy topics where people ask "why?" several times.
- On-the-go planning: talking through options while walking or driving, with the session running in the background.
What local businesses should prepare
Search Live conversations often end in "who can fix this near me?" or "where can I buy this today?". Those hand-offs rely on the same local data as the rest of Google. Google's AI features guidance recommends keeping Business Profile information up to date, and our guide to AI Mode for local search covers how local results appear in AI answers, while AI search for local businesses covers the wider picture.
- Complete your Business Profile. Categories, services, hours, photos and attributes; use our Business Profile optimisation checklist.
- Publish problem pages. Write pages for the problems customers see and describe ("boiler pressure dropping", "cracked tile grout"), each with symptoms, causes, DIY limits and when to call a pro.
- Add clear photos of real problems and results. Camera-led questions start from what people see; images with descriptive alt text and captions connect your pages to those situations.
- State service areas and response times in text. Follow-up questions often ask "can someone come today?".
- Collect specific reviews. Reviews that mention the exact job help AI answers match you to the problem.
What product businesses should prepare
| Priority | Why it matters for Search Live | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Recognisable product imagery | Camera questions start from a physical product | Clear packshots from several angles, consistent naming on packaging and site; see Google Lens SEO |
| Set-up and how-to content | Hands-on follow-ups need step-level detail | Step-by-step guides and short videos for assembly, care and troubleshooting |
| Accurate product data | Comparisons rely on specs, price and availability | Keep Merchant Center feeds and on-page specs aligned |
| Compatibility and sizing | "Will this fit…?" is a classic follow-up | Publish dimensions, compatibility lists and fit guides in HTML text |
| Support FAQs | Conversations drift into problems and fixes | Public, crawlable help pages rather than PDFs |
Writing in a direct, answer-first way helps across all of these; see answer-first writing and our guide to content for conversational queries.
Measuring Search Live
There is no separate Search Live report. Google's AI features guidance says clicks from AI features are counted in Search Console's Performance report under the "Web" search type, and the Search Console generative AI performance report shows impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode, with a filter for text-based versus multimodal (image-based) searches such as Google Lens. Google does not state whether Search Live sessions are broken out, so treat any trend as indirect. Watch multimodal impressions, how-to page traffic and calls or direction requests in Business Profile Insights.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as old voice search. One-line answers are not enough; conversations need depth for follow-ups.
- Ignoring images. If your product or problem pages have no clear, descriptive images, camera-led journeys have little to connect to.
- Hiding how-to content in PDFs or apps. Keep instructions on crawlable pages.
- Neglecting the Business Profile. Local hand-offs depend on accurate hours, services and areas.
- Expecting a dedicated metric. Plan to read Search Live through broader AI Mode and local signals.
Related Guides
- Google Web Guide: The AI-Organised Results Experiment Explained
- AI Summaries in Google Discover: What Publishers Should Expect
- The Google Shopping Graph: How Product Data Powers AI Mode Shopping
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I use Search Live?
Google says Search Live is available in all languages and locations where AI Mode is available, more than 200 countries and territories, in the Google app on Android and iOS.
How is Search Live different from Google Lens?
Lens identifies what the camera sees. Search Live is a spoken conversation that can include the live camera view, with follow-ups and spoken answers. You can start Search Live from Lens by tapping Live.
Does Search Live show websites?
Yes. Google says it shows helpful web links on screen alongside the audio responses, during both voice and camera conversations.
Can I track Search Live traffic in Search Console?
Not separately. Clicks from AI features count under the Web search type, and the generative AI report shows impressions for AI Overviews and AI Mode with a multimodal filter, but Google does not break out Search Live.
Do I need special markup for Search Live?
No. Google says there are no extra requirements to appear in AI features beyond normal Search eligibility. Focus on clear content, images and accurate business and product data.
Conclusion
Search Live turns search into a spoken, visual conversation, but it still points people to websites and local businesses. Prepare with deep how-to content, clear images, accurate product data and a complete Business Profile. Our local SEO services team can get your listings and pages ready for conversational search. Get a free quote.
