How to Reverse Image Search on Google

June 5, 2023
Nowadays searching for information has become easier than ever. Did you know that you can search Google using a photo instead of typing keywords?
Whether you want to learn more about an image on your computer or phone, identify plants, find similar photos, shop for items, or even locate the source of a photo, searching by image on Google can provide you with quick and accurate results.
Searching Google Using a Photo on PC or Mac
If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can follow these steps to search Google using any photo saved on your computer:
- Open Google Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome web browser on your PC or Mac.
- Navigate to Google Images: If you have a specific image in mind, visit https://images.google.com to access Google Images. Alternatively, you can search for keywords to find related images.
- Find the Image: Browse the internet or use a search query to find the image you want to search with. This could be an image you’ve saved on your computer or an image you find on a website.
- Right-Click the Image: Once you’ve found the image, right-click on it using your mouse. If you’re using a Mac, you can perform a long-tap on the image.
- Select “Search Image with Google Lens”: From the context menu that appears after right-clicking the image, choose the option “Search Image with Google Lens.” This action will initiate a search using the selected image as a reference. Or click on the button in the lower left part of the picture as you see in the image above.
- Explore the Results: Google Chrome will display a new panel on the right side of the browser containing the search results related to the image. Depending on the image content, you may see various types of results, including links to purchase products, find the image source, search for text within the image, or translate the text.
- Further Actions: If you want to delve deeper into the search results, you can click on the “Find image source” link to locate the image on other websites.
Additionally, you can click the “Text” option to search for text within the image or choose “Translate” to translate the text into another language. To view the search results in a full browser tab, click the expand button (represented by an arrow within a square) at the top-right corner of the panel.
Search a Web Image on Mobile
To find an image using Google Chrome, follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your Android, iPhone, or iPad device. If you’re using an Android device, Chrome is likely the default web browser, but if you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you may need to install Chrome from the App Store.
- If you already have an image saved on your device and want to search with that image, skip to step 5. Otherwise, continue with step 3.
- Open a new tab and navigate to https://images.google.com.
- Enter a keyword or description in the search bar to find an image related to your search. Once you find an image you’d like to search with, tap on it to view it in a larger size.
- Long-press (hold your finger down) on the image for a second or so. This will bring up a pop-up menu with several options.
- On an Android device, select “Search Image with Google Lens” from the pop-up menu. This will display information about the image, including shopping links if the image features something you can purchase.
- On an iPhone or iPad, select “Search Google for This Image” from the pop-up menu. This will search the web for the image and list websites that also host that image. You may also see websites that feature similar images that aren’t identical.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to find and search for images using Google Chrome on your Android, iPhone, or iPad device.
Use a Saved Image on Your PC
With Google Images, you can easily search for images by uploading a photo or providing an image URL.
- Access Google Images: To begin, open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) and navigate to the website https://images.google.com.
- Launch Google Lens: Once you’re on the Google Images page, locate the search bar at the center of the page. On the far-right edge of the search bar, you’ll find a camera icon. Click on the camera icon labeled “Android 7 Camera” to launch the Google Lens window.
- Uploading a Photo: Now, you have two options for uploading the photo you want to search for:
a. Drag and Drop: If the photo is stored on your computer, simply drag and drop it into the “Drag an image here” box.
b. Upload a File: Alternatively, you can click on the “Upload a file” button and select the image file from your computer.If the photo you want to search for is already on the web, you can paste the image URL into the “Paste image link” field instead.
- Initiate the Search: Once you’ve uploaded the photo, click on the “Search” button. In case the search doesn’t start automatically, clicking the button will initiate the search process.
- Explore the Results: After the search is complete, you’ll be presented with a range of results based on the uploaded photo. The types of results you encounter may vary depending on the nature of the photo.
a. Object Images: If you searched for a photo of an object like a guitar or a tool, you’ll likely see links to websites that offer more information about the object. Additionally, you might come across shopping results, enabling you to purchase the product or similar items depicted in the photo.
b. Animal or Plant Images: When searching for photos of animals or plants, the results will typically provide information about the species or breed.
c. Find Image Source: If you’re interested in finding other websites that have shared the same photo or similar images, you can click on the “Find image source” option at the top of the page.
Use a Saved Image on Your Mobile
Google Lens, a powerful visual search tool, allows users to search for information using images captured on their Android, iPhone, or iPad devices.
- Accessing Google Lens: To begin, open the Google app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. Ensure that you have the latest version of the app installed on your device. If you don’t have it, you can download it from your device’s respective app store.
- Opening Google Lens: The steps to access Google Lens may vary depending on your device’s platform. If you’re using an Android device, tap on the “Discover” button located at the bottom of the app. Then, tap on the camera icon to launch Google Lens. On an iPhone or iPad, you can find the camera icon in the search bar at the top of the Google app. Tap on it to open Google Lens.
- Selecting an Image: Once you have accessed Google Lens, choose the image you want to search for by tapping on it. Browse through your phone’s gallery and select the image you wish to search with.
- Optional: Refining the Search: If your image contains multiple objects, Google Lens allows you to refine your search by selecting a specific part of the image. If Google Lens detects objects that can be searched individually, it will display circles on the image.
Tap on the circle associated with the object you want to search for exclusively. Additionally, if a bounding box appears around the image, you can resize it to encompass only the portion you’re interested in searching for. - Viewing the Results: After selecting the image and refining your search if desired, scroll down to view the search results. The type of results you see will depend on the contents of the photo. For instance, if you’re searching for a product, you may find shopping links displayed prominently.
Google Lens is capable of recognizing a wide range of objects, landmarks, and more, so you might also see information related to dining, tourism, and other relevant features. To focus on the image itself, tap the “Search” tab above the results to explore specific information related to the image.