To reverse image search on Google, go to google.com, click the Search by image camera icon, and upload a file or paste an image link; Google Lens then shows matching pages and similar images.
This guide covers every route on a computer, in Chrome, on iPhone and on Android, plus how to trace an image's source, spot a fake, and fix searches that return nothing.
The fastest way to reverse image search on Google
This works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge on any Windows PC, Mac or laptop.
- Open google.com in your browser.
- Click the Search by image camera icon in the search box.
- Click Upload a file, select your image, then click Open or Choose.
- Scroll the results for websites that use the image, similar images, and objects Google recognised.
On a phone, tap the Google Lens icon in the Google app search bar instead, then pick a photo. The phone sections below give the full steps.
What Google reverse image search does
Google now runs every image search through Google Lens. You give it a picture instead of words, and it returns pages and items related to that picture.
| Result type | What it shows | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Websites with the image | Pages that host the same or a similar image | Finding the source, spotting reposts |
| Similar images | Visually close pictures from across the web | Higher-resolution copies, alternate crops |
| Objects in the image | Search results for things Lens recognises, such as a plant, landmark or product | Identifying what is in the photo |
| AI Overviews | A generated summary about the image, when Google shows one | A quick explanation before you click through |
| About this image | When Google first saw the image and its early uses, in supported regions | Checking whether a photo is old or out of context |
The main ways to reverse image search on Google
| Your situation | Use this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Image file saved on a PC or laptop | Upload or drag and drop on google.com | Works in any major browser |
| Image is on a web page | Paste the image link, or right-click it in Chrome | No need to save the file first |
| Browsing in Chrome on a computer | Right-click > Search with Google Lens | Results open in a side panel next to the page |
| Photo on an iPhone or iPad | Google Lens in the Google app, Chrome or Google Photos | The Google app adds part-of-image search |
| Photo on an Android phone | Google Lens in the Google app, Chrome or Google Photos | Lens is built into the Google app on Android |
| Anything on screen on a Pixel or other supported Android phone | Circle to Search | Search without leaving the app you are in |
How to reverse image search on Google from a computer
Google's image search page supports three inputs on Windows, Mac and Chromebook: upload, drag and drop, and an image link. All three open the same Lens results.
| Method | Steps | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Method 1: Upload an image to Google Images | Go to google.com > click Search by image > Upload a file > select the image > click Open or Choose | The image is already on your drive |
| Method 2: Paste an image link | Right-click the image on its web page > Copy Image Address > go to google.com > Search by image > paste into Paste image link > click Search | The image is online and you do not want to download it |
| Method 3: Drag and drop an image | Open google.com > find the image file in File Explorer or Finder > drag it onto the search box | You have the folder open already |
The copy option is named Copy Image Address in Chrome; other browsers use similar wording such as "Copy image link".
How to reverse image search in Google Chrome
Chrome has Google Lens built into the desktop browser, so you can search an image without leaving the page. Google must be your default search engine for these options to appear.
- Open the page that contains the image in Chrome.
- Right-click the image and select Search with Google Lens.
- Read the results in the side panel on the right.
- Select any result to open it in a new tab.
- To search the whole page instead, click More (three dots) at the top right and select Search this tab with Google Lens, or right-click an empty part of the page and choose the same option.
- Close the side panel with Esc or its Close button.
You can also select the address bar and choose Ask Google about this page.
How to reverse image search on iPhone
iPhone and iPad have four routes. The Google app gives the most options, including searching inside part of an image.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Method 1: Use the Google app on iPhone | Open the Google app > tap Google Lens in the search bar > tap Photo picker > select a photo > scroll the results |
| Method 2: Use Chrome on iPhone | Open a new tab > tap the Google Lens icon > tap Photo picker at the bottom left > select a photo. For a web image, touch and hold it and tap Search image with Google |
| Method 3: Use Safari and Google Images | Open google.com in Safari > search for an image > select it > tap Google Lens at the bottom left, or touch and hold it and select Search image with Google Lens |
| Method 4: Use Google Photos on iPhone | Open Google Photos > select a photo > tap More > Google Lens |
If Lens cannot see your photos, open Settings > Apps > Google > Photos and choose Limited access or Full access.
How to reverse image search on Android
Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy models, use the same Google Lens tools. Circle to Search adds a fourth route on supported phones.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Method 1: Use the Google app on Android | Open the Google app > tap Google Lens in the search bar > under Screenshots or your gallery, select a photo > scroll the results |
| Method 2: Use Google Photos on Android | Open Google Photos > select a photo > tap More at the top > Google Lens |
| Method 3: Use Chrome on Android | Go to the page with the image > touch and hold the image > tap Search image with Google Lens. For a saved photo, open a new tab and tap Google Lens in the search bar |
| Circle to Search (select phones, including Pixel 6 and later) | Touch and hold the Home button or navigation handle > circle, highlight or tap the image > read results in the lower half of the screen |
Chrome shows the Lens option on web images only when Google is the default search engine, and asks you to agree to page data processing the first time.
How to reverse image search a screenshot
A screenshot is just an image file, so every upload route works. The difference is where the file lives on each device.
| Device | Steps |
|---|---|
| On Windows | Save the screenshot as a file > go to google.com > Search by image > Upload a file, or drag the file onto the search box |
| On Mac | Find the screenshot on your desktop or in Finder > drag it onto the google.com search box, or use Upload a file |
| On iPhone | Open the Google app > tap Google Lens > Photo picker > select the screenshot from your camera roll |
| On Android | Open the Google app > tap Google Lens > pick the image under Screenshots, or use Circle to Search on the live screen instead |
Crop the screenshot to the picture you care about first. Toolbars, captions and notifications in the frame pull Lens toward the wrong matches.
How to search only part of an image
Lens places a selection box on the image. Shrinking it to one object gives more specific results than searching the whole frame.
- Open the image in Google Lens using any method above.
- On a phone, drag the corners of the box around the object you want; tap and hold the middle of the box to move it.
- On a computer in Chrome, click, highlight text, or select and drag anywhere on the page.
- To search words in the picture, tap Select Text on Android or iPhone and highlight them.
- Check the results update below the image, then type extra words in Add to your search or Ask about this image to narrow them.
How to find the original source of an image
Lens lists pages that use the image, but the top result is not always the creator. Use About this image to see which page Google found first.
- Search the image on Google or in the Google app.
- Open the image in the Image Viewer.
- Select About, then Learn more about an image.
- Check when Google first saw the image or similar versions.
- Open the pages under Early uses to find the earliest publisher.
- Look for credit, creator and copyright details, which come from the file's IPTC metadata when the owner supplied it.
About this image is available only in some regions. Where it is missing, check older uses by opening the image result pages and comparing their publish dates.
How to use reverse image search to check if a photo is fake
A reverse search cannot prove a photo is real, but it catches the most common trick: an old or unrelated picture reused with a new claim.
- Run the photo through Google Lens or About this image.
- Check older uses: if Google saw the image long before the event it claims to show, it was taken out of context.
- Look for the same image with different captions on other sites, and compare what each one says it shows.
- Open How the image was made or edited to see C2PA or SynthID signals that show whether it came from a camera or an AI generator.
- On a supported Android phone, use Circle to Search to check whether the photo is original or modified.
- Treat credit metadata with caution, since editing tools can change it.
How to use reverse image search for shopping
Lens shopping results are available in the United States and many other countries. They work best on clothing, furniture and packaged products.
- Open the product photo in Google Lens, or right-click it in Chrome and select Search with Google Lens.
- Drag the selection box tightly around the one item you want.
- Scroll to the product results to see similar items and where to buy them.
- Add a colour, brand or size in Add to your search to narrow the matches.
- For a physical product, scan its barcode with Lens to find the exact item.
Tips for better reverse image search results
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Crop key details | A smaller selection gives Lens one clear subject to match |
| Search text in the image | Select Text turns signs, labels and captions into a normal text search |
| Use a clear, well-lit image | Blurry or dark photos lose the details Lens matches on |
| Upload the largest copy you have | Thumbnails and heavily compressed copies match fewer pages |
| Add keywords after the search | Add to your search combines the picture with words, such as a brand or place |
| Check older uses and captions | About this image shows when and where the picture appeared first |
To filter text-based image results by date, size or site, run a Google advanced search instead.
How to check a Google reverse image search worked
- Confirm your image appears as a thumbnail at the top of the Lens results, or in the Chrome side panel.
- Check the selection box sits on the part of the image you meant to search.
- Scroll to the list of pages; at least one should show the same image or a close copy.
- Open one result and confirm the picture on that page matches yours.
If the results show only loosely similar pictures, the image is probably not indexed anywhere. The next section covers why.
Why Google reverse image search may not work
Google Images does not load or the results are blank
A browser extension, stale cache or disabled JavaScript is blocking the page.
- Open a private or incognito window and search again.
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Turn off toolbars and extensions one at a time.
- Turn on JavaScript in your browser settings.
Search with Google Lens is missing from Chrome's menu
Chrome shows Lens options only when Google is the default search engine.
- In Chrome, select More > Settings > Search engine.
- Under Search engine, select Change and choose Google.
- Right-click the image again and select Search with Google Lens.
No matching pages for the image
The image is too new, private, behind a login, or on a site that blocks indexing, so Google has never seen it.
- Wait and search again later if the image was only just posted.
- Accept that images inside private accounts or logged-in pages cannot appear in results.
- Check the site's own search or ask the site owner if it blocks search engines.
Results match the wrong thing
The image was heavily edited, or it is too generic, such as a plain sky or a stock-style object.
- Crop to the most distinctive part, such as a logo, face in a crowd or building.
- Search any visible text with Select Text.
- Add keywords in Add to your search.
Circle to Search does not start
It works only on select Android models and may not work in banking, medical or other confidential apps.
- Confirm your phone supports Circle to Search, such as a Pixel 6 or later.
- Try it on a different app's screen.
- Use Google Lens in the Google app on a screenshot instead.
Privacy: What to know before uploading images
| What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Lens searches can be saved to your Google Account | Find and delete them on the Lens page in My Activity, or turn off Web & App Activity |
| Visual Search History is off by default | The images themselves are not kept with your activity unless you turn it on |
| Chrome's page search sends a screenshot and page data to Google | Google says it keeps them only for temporary processing and does not use them for training |
| Pasted image URLs are not saved in browser history | Google may still store the URL to improve its products |
| Your image is compared against public web pages | Uploading a photo does not publish it, but anyone can reverse search a photo you post publicly |
Google cannot delete an image from another website. To remove one, contact the site owner, then ask Google to refresh the outdated result.
Google Lens vs. the old Google Images reverse search
The camera icon on Google Images now opens Google Lens image search. Lens still finds pages that use your image, but it also reads what is inside the picture.
| Task | Plain image matching | Google Lens today |
|---|---|---|
| Find pages with the image | Yes | Yes, under websites with the image |
| Find similar images | Yes | Yes |
| Search one object in the picture | No, whole image only | Drag a box around one object |
| Search or translate text in the image | No | Select Text |
| Refine with words | Separate text search | Add to your search or Ask about this image |
| Where it runs | Google Images | google.com, the Google app, Chrome, Google Photos and Circle to Search |
Lens also lets you search with your camera, translate text and scan barcodes from the same screen.
Other reverse image search tools to try
A second engine often finds pages Google misses, because each one indexes the web differently.
| Tool | How you search | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Bing Visual Search | Drag and drop, Paste image or URL, Take photo or Browse | Bing website, Bing app and Microsoft Edge |
| Circle to Search | Circle or tap anything on screen | Select Android phones |
| Google Photos with Lens | More > Google Lens on a saved photo | Android and iPhone |
| TinEye and Yandex | Upload or paste an image link on each site | Web browser |
Common reverse image search examples
| You have a photo of | What Lens can return |
|---|---|
| A plant or animal | The species or breed |
| A landmark or building | Its name, history and opening hours |
| Clothing or home goods | Similar products and where to buy them |
| A painting in a museum | The artist and background on the work |
| A book cover | A summary and reviews |
| A business card or event flyer | Contact details to save, or an event to add to your calendar |
| A viral news photo | Earlier uses that show whether it is recycled |
Frequently asked questions
What is reverse image searching?
Reverse image searching means using a picture as your search query instead of words. Google Lens compares it with images it has indexed and returns pages that use it, visually similar images, and information about objects it recognises in the picture.
How do I reverse image search on a PC or laptop?
Open google.com, click the Search by image camera icon, then choose Upload a file or drag the image onto the search box. You can also paste an image link. This works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on any Windows or Mac computer.
How do I reverse image search on Google Images?
The camera icon in the Google Images search box opens Google Lens. Click it, upload a file or paste an image link, and Lens returns matching pages and similar images. Clicking an image in normal results and choosing Google Lens works too.
How do I reverse image search on iPhone?
Open the Google app, tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar, tap Photo picker and choose a photo. Chrome and Google Photos on iPhone also include Google Lens, and Safari users can search from google.com image results.
How do I reverse image search on an Android phone or Samsung?
Open the Google app, tap Google Lens in the search bar and select a photo. On web pages in Chrome, touch and hold an image and tap Search image with Google Lens. Supported Samsung and Pixel phones can also use Circle to Search.
How do I reverse image search on Microsoft Edge?
Go to google.com in Edge, click Search by image, and upload or paste the image. Google lists Edge as a compatible browser for Lens. Edge also has Bing's own visual search icon if you prefer Microsoft's engine.
How do I reverse image search on Bing?
Open Bing Visual Search, then drag and drop an image, paste an image or URL, take a photo, or browse for a file. The same visual search is available in the Bing app and Microsoft Edge.
How do I reverse image search a picture from Discord?
Save the image to your device or copy its link, then open google.com and use Search by image to upload the file or paste the link. On a phone, save it to your gallery and pick it in Google Lens.
Why does Google reverse image search not work?
It usually fails because the image is too new, private, behind a login, heavily edited or too generic for Google to match. If the page itself will not load, try a private window, clear the cache and cookies, and turn off extensions.
How do I prevent reverse image search of my photos?
You cannot block other people from searching a photo you post publicly. Keep sensitive photos in private accounts, which Google does not index. To remove an image already online, ask the site owner to take it down, then request a refresh of the Google result.
