Guide
Enable Semantic Search (SigLIP2 Model)
Install the optional on-device model, choose Wi-Fi only, and start searching your photos by meaning.
3 min · How-to · Updated September 14, 2026
- 1
Open AI Models
Settings → AI Models. The semantic search model is listed with its size, about 375 MB.
- 2
Choose Wi-Fi only
Enable the Wi-Fi restriction if you want to avoid mobile data. The download comes from Google Play as an asset pack.
- 3
Install
Tap Install and confirm the Play prompt. The model is stored on the device.
- 4
Let indexing run
Semantic indexing starts in the background, roughly two seconds per photo, and prefers a charger.
- 5
Search by meaning
Open Search and type a phrase like sunset over water. Results improve as more of the library is indexed.
Requirements
The app must be installed from Google Play, because the model is delivered as a Play asset pack. Devices below a RAM threshold do not show the option, since the model would not run reliably there.
Removing the model
AI Models lets you remove it at any time. Existing embeddings are dropped and search falls back to the keyword index.
How it works
The semantic search page explains the model, and the blog post How semantic search works goes deeper.