You snap a photo of a landmark, grab a screenshot of a mysterious plant, or save an image from the web—and suddenly you need to know more about it. Searching by image makes that possible in seconds, using the same technology that powers Google Lens and reverse image search.

4 relaterte innlegg

Images indexed by Google: over 100 billion · Monthly Google Lens searches: over 10 billion · Supported platforms for Google Lens: Android, iOS, desktop · Reverse image search available: since 2011

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Google Lens continues to expand platform integration (Circle to Search, Visual Intelligence on iPhone)
  • AI-powered improvements expected to boost accuracy for screenshot and face searches

The table below shows key milestones and scale numbers for Google’s image search ecosystem.

Fact Value
Reverse image search launched 2011 (Google)
Google Lens launch 2017
Daily image searches via Google Lens over 15 billion (as of 2024)
Supported languages for Google Lens over 100

How do I search using a picture?

Searching by image lets you find web pages that contain the same or similar pictures. Two main tools make this possible: Google Images reverse image search and Google Lens. Both are free, and both work across Android, iPhone, and desktop.

What is reverse image search?

  • Upload an image (from your device, a URL, or drag-and-drop) to find matching results.
  • Launched by Google in 2011 (official Google Search product background).
  • Works best with photos that have clear subjects.

Which platforms support search by image?

  • Android: Google App with Lens, Chrome, Circle to Search on some devices.
  • iPhone/iPad: Google App, Chrome, Safari (Google Support iOS steps).
  • Desktop: images.google.com or right-click in Chrome.
The upshot

No matter which device you carry, you already have a tool for image search. The catch: each platform uses slightly different steps, so one-size-fits-all instructions don’t work.

The implication: platform-specific knowledge saves time and frustration.

Can I use a picture to do a Google search on Android?

Yes, and it’s straightforward. The primary method is Google Lens, built into the Google app and Chrome.

How to use Google Lens on Android

  • Open the Google app (pre-installed on most Android phones).
  • Tap the Google Lens icon (multicolor camera) in the search bar.
  • Point your camera at an object, or tap the gallery icon to choose an existing photo.
  • Swipe up to see search results: matching images, product links, text recognition, and more (official Google Search Lens walkthrough).

How to upload an image from your Android device

  • Open Chrome or the Google app.
  • Tap the camera icon in the search bar (or switch to image mode).
  • Select Upload from device and choose your photo.
  • Results appear instantly, including similar images and web pages.
Pro tip

For better matches, crop the image to focus on the most relevant part before uploading, as recommended by Digital Trends consumer tech advice.

The pattern: on Android, Lens is the most direct path, but Chrome’s upload option works for users who prefer file-based workflows.

Can I search by image on iPhone?

Absolutely. Google Lens is available on iPhone through the Google app, Chrome, or Safari. Apple’s own Visual Intelligence also works on iPhone 15 Pro and later.

How to use Google Lens on iPhone

  • Download the Google app from the App Store if you don’t have it.
  • Tap the Lens icon in the search bar.
  • Take a photo or upload one from your library.
  • Use the “Add to your search” field to refine results (Google Support iOS Lens details).

How to search with an image from Safari or Google app

  • In Safari, touch and hold an image on a webpage.
  • Tap Search image with Google Lens from the pop-up menu.
  • Alternatively, in the Google app, tap the Lens icon and then the gallery icon to upload a saved image (Google Support iOS touch-and-hold).

“On iPhone and iPad, you can search with an image from the Google app, Chrome app, or Safari app.”

— Google Support official iOS guidance

“Google Lens is designed to help you search what you see, get things done faster, and understand the world around you.”

— Google Play Lens description

What this means: iPhone users have multiple friction-free paths, with touch-and-hold in Safari being the fastest for web images.

Can I use a screenshot for a reverse image search?

Yes, screenshots work perfectly for reverse image search. The key is to avoid cropping that removes too much context.

How to reverse image search a screenshot on mobile

  • Take a screenshot on your phone.
  • Open the Google app and tap the Lens icon.
  • Select the screenshot from your gallery.
  • Google Lens will try to identify objects, text, and locations in the screenshot (Digital Trends mobile reverse search).

How to reverse image search a screenshot on desktop

  • Save the screenshot to your computer.
  • Go to images.google.com.
  • Click the camera icon, then choose Upload an image and select your screenshot.
  • Alternatively, drag the screenshot file directly into the search box (Pocket-lint desktop reverse search).
The catch

Screenshots taken at low resolution or heavily cropped may produce weaker results. A clean, uncropped screenshot gives Google’s algorithm the best chance to match the image to its original source.

The catch: screenshot quality directly determines whether the search finds the original source or returns irrelevant results.

How do I search with an image on a computer?

Desktop image search is fast, especially with drag-and-drop. No app installation needed—just a browser.

How to drag and drop an image into Google Images

  • Open images.google.com in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
  • Locate the image file on your computer.
  • Drag the file and drop it into the search box on the Google Images homepage.
  • Results appear instantly with matching images, sizes, and web pages (official Google Search desktop instructions).

How to paste an image URL to search

  • Right-click an image on any website and select Copy image address.
  • Go to images.google.com.
  • Click the camera icon and paste the URL into the “Paste image URL” field.
  • Press Enter or click Search by image.

“If you’re using Safari instead of Chrome, the easiest workaround is to visit images.google.com and upload the image directly.”

— YouTube tutorial from tech educator

The implication: desktop users can bypass any platform limitations by simply using the web version of Google Images.

Confirmed facts

  • Google Images supports reverse image search since 2011.(official Google Search)
  • Google Lens is available on Android and iOS through the Google app.(Google Support)
  • Desktop search by image works on images.google.com. (Pocket-lint)

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of monthly active users for Google Lens is not publicly disclosed.
  • Effectiveness of screenshot-based reverse search depends on image quality and cropping.(Digital Trends)
Flere kilder

youtube.com, facebook.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, lens.google

For en grundig gjennomgang av verktøyene, se full guide til reverse søk og Lens.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Google Images and Google Lens?

Google Images is a web-based reverse image search tool that lets you upload or paste image URLs. Google Lens is a visual search tool built into the Google app and Chrome; it can identify objects, text, and landmarks in real time using your camera or a photo. Both can find matching images, but Lens adds interactive overlays and shopping links.

Can I search by image without using Google?

Yes. Alternate tools like TinEye, Bing Visual Search, and Yandex.Images offer reverse image search. TinEye, for example, focuses on finding exact matches and has a privacy policy that says it doesn’t keep your uploaded images after searching.

Is reverse image search free?

All major reverse image search tools—Google Images, Google Lens, TinEye, Bing Visual Search—are free to use. No subscription or payment is required.

Does reverse image search save my photos?

Google states that images you upload are used only to return search results and are not saved. TinEye publicly states it does not store uploaded images. Check each service’s privacy policy for specifics.

Can I search for an image from a link in my browser?

Yes. Right-click any image on a webpage and choose “Search image with Google Lens” (Chrome) or copy the image address and paste it into images.google.com. On Safari, touch and hold an image and select the Lens option.

How accurate is reverse image search?

Accuracy depends on image quality, cropping, and the uniqueness of the subject. Well-lit, high-resolution photos with clear subjects return the best matches. Screenshots with text overlays may perform less well.

Can I reverse image search a face?

Google Lens can identify faces only if they appear in widely shared images (e.g., public figures). For privacy reasons, it does not return results for private individuals without explicit matches.

For anyone who regularly identifies plants, products, landmarks, or suspicious images, the choice is clear: learn the specific steps for your device and make reverse image search a habit, or waste precious time typing vague queries into a text box. The pattern: the user who masters platform-specific workflows gets faster, more accurate results than one who relies on generic text searches.