How to look up things with a picture

The Google Goggles app was an image recognition mobile app using visual search technology to identify objects through a mobile device’s camera. Users take a photo of a physical object, and Google searches and retrieves information about the image.

The Google Goggles mobile app can:

• Recognize and offer information for historical landmarks

• Scan barcodes and QR codes

• Recognize books, CDs, artwork, logos, and other 2D objects

• Add contacts by scanning business cards

• Translate foreign language text

The Google Goggles translate feature can translate foreign text (like a dinner menu) for travelers visiting foreign-speaking countries. A very handy feature for those with wanderlust.

Google Goggles is now Google Lens

In August 2018, Google Goggles was retired and replaced by Google Lens. The idea is the same: Someone can view or take a picture of an item and Google will tell you what it is. But while barcode-based Goggles had its limitations, artificial intelligence-based Lens has greater capabilities.

In addition to the above Goggles features, Lens can also:

• Recognize and share real-time information about stores and restaurants.
• Transcribe images of complicated codes or long paragraphs.
• Add events to your calendar from a poster.
• Shop from images of clothes, furniture, and decor.
• Identify plants, animals, and popular dishes.

Download Google Lens Mobile App

Have you ever asked Google “If I take a picture of something can you tell me what it is?”

Well, now you know the answer is yes! On any mobile device.

For Android users, download Google Lens from Google Play Store. For iPhone users, download the Google app from the App Store (not to be confused with the Chrome app)

To learn more about Google Lens, you can watch this Google Lens video on YouTube

Download Google Goggles Mobile App

You can no longer download the Google Goggles app, but to see what Google Goggles used to look like, you can watch this Google Goggles video on YouTube

Google’s reverse image search is a breeze on a desktop, but what about when you’re on a mobile device? Google, Bing, and others have options.

By Eric Griffith

Image Search is the ability to search on a term and find images related to what you typed. Most search engines offer it, and it’s great. But what if you have an image and want to know its origin? Or…

Google Images is a great place to search for pictures and photos by using relevant keywords. You can also search Google using an image — called a reverse image search — to find out more information about a specific photo or graphic.

Here's why you might want to use it and how to Google reverse image search. 

Quick tip: Though Google Images is free and easy to use, you can also try other reverse image search tools with more advanced capabilities, like TinEye and Yandex.

What is a reverse image search?

When you do a reverse image search on Google, you place a photo, or a link to a photo, in the search bar instead of a text query. Google then finds websites featuring your image as well as related images.

Google Images also detects the subject of your photo and brings up other websites related to your image topic.

When to use Google reverse image search

It's most helpful to search with an image on Google in the following cases:

• Find information about a photo. A reverse image search could bring up a website that includes a person's name or information about a product.
• Uncover plagiarism. A reverse image search will bring up similar images. This can reveal whether an image was copied from someone else's work.
• Find other similar images. If you want to find other photos connected to a specific image, a reverse search will populate related pictures.

Google reverse image search on iPhone or Android

You can reverse image search on iPhone or Android using a photo from the internet or your camera roll. Here's how to do it.

Using an image from the search results

Before proceeding with this method, you'll first have to download the Google Chrome mobile app to do a reverse image search on your mobile device.

1. Open google.com in the Chrome app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Describe the image you want to search. For example, you could type "tuxedo cat."

3. Tap the Images tab at the top so you can only see the image search results.

4. Select an image from the search results by tapping it to enlarge.

Quick tip: You can tap and hold the image until a menu pops up, and then choose Search image with Google Lens on Android or Search Google for This Image on iOS.

5. Tap the Google Lens icon in the bottom left corner of the image.

6. After a moment, Chrome will give you images that match your search terms.

Using an image from your files

This option requires that you have Google for Android or Google for iOS installed on your device.

1. Open the Google app on your iPhone or Android.

2. Tap the camera icon in the search bar. The app might ask for permission to access your camera and image gallery. When it does, grant permission.

Quick tip: If you have the Google Search widget on yout Home Screen, you can tap the camera icon to start a reverse image search

3. Either tap the camera icon in the top section to take a picture, or look for the image in your gallery in the bottom section and then tap on the image to perform the search.

4. After a moment, Google will display the results of the image search.

Google reverse image search on a computer

You can do a more robust Google reverse image search on your computer by uploading a file from your computer or searching for an image on the web. Google Images works with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers.

Using an image from the internet

1. Right click on the image you found in Google.

2. Choose Copy image address in the pop-up.

3. Open images.google.com in a web browser.

4. Click the camera icon.

5. Paste the picture's URL in the text box that says Paste image link.

6. Click on the Search button, and you'll be taken to a page of results related to your image.

Quick tip: You can also do a reverse image search from Google image search results. Just right-click on an image and choose Search image with Google Lens.

Using an image from your files

1. Open images.google.com in a web browser.

2. Click the camera icon.

3. Either drag and drop your image where it says Drag an image here, or click on the upload a file link to search for the image on your computer.

4. If you choose to upload the image, find it on your computer, click on it, and select Open.

5. After the image is uploaded, you'll be taken to a page containing similar images or information about the image.

Others ways to reverse image search

If you don't want to use Google, there are other tools you can use to perform your reverse image search.

Using Bing

Other search engines can also perform reverse image searches, and one of them is Bing from Microsoft.

On desktop:

1. Open www.bing.com in your desktop browser.

2. Click the camera icon in the search bar.

3. In the pop-up, you can drag and drop an image into it, browse for the picture on your computer, paste an image or its URL, or take a photo.

4. Bing will then open another window with the results of your image search.

On mobile:

1. Open www.bing.com in your browser.

2. Tap the camera icon in the search bar. You will need to give Bing access to your camera and media if you want to use it for your reverse image search.

3. Tap the magnifying glass icon in the bottom center to take a photo. You can also tap the picture frame icon in the bottom left, and then choose an image from your library.

4. Bing will then show you the results of your reverse image search.

Using a third-party app

If you're looking for something beyond the Google app and Google Chrome for your reverse image search needs, there are a couple of other apps you try.

Reversee

As long as you have the image file or its URL, you can use Reversee to do a reverse image search. The app doesn't have its own search engine, so it uses others (Google is the default) to do the reverse image search instead.

It's available for both Android and iOS devices for free. However, you can upgrade to the pro version through in-app purchases for $3.99. This will give you access to advanced search engines like Yandex.

CamFind

If you've ever seen an object in the real world and wondered what it is, CamFind can help. All you have to do is take a picture of it, and the app will use its advanced image recognition software to identify it for you. However, keep in mind that you might not always get a result.

The app is available on both Google Play and App Store, and it's completely free.

Search By Image

Search By Image is a free reverse image search app that helps you find images or photos that are similar. It uses popular search engines, such as Google, Bing, Yandex, and Tiny, and it's available completely free for Android devices only.

Quick tip: There are also websites for reverse image searching that you can use if you're looking for other non-Google methods.

How can I search something by image?

How do I search Google using a picture?