How to Do a Reverse Image Search (Desktop and Mobile) (2023)

Image search is an incredibly powerful tool, allowing you to discover amazing images from thousands of different sources around the internet. And image SEO is a pretty big deal, right now.

But what if you are in the reverse situation? You have found an image, whether it is a photograph, artwork, or even a graph, and you want to know where it came from, or more about it?

This is where reverse image search comes into play.

In this guide, I will talk you through exactly what a reverse image search is, how to carry one out and share examples of when you might need to use this process, specifically looking at:

What is a reverse image search?
How to do a Desktop Reverse Image Search on a PC or Mac
How to do a Google Reverse Image Search on a Mobile Device
Uses for Reverse Image Search

What Is a Reverse Image Search?

Performinga reverse image search allows you to take an image and find where it was originally published,other pages that have published the same image, differentsizes of the same image used,and similar images.

You are essentially using an image in place of a text-based search querywhen you are doing a reverse image search.

A reverse image search will show you a list of search results like normal text-based queries. Rather than a gallery of images, it will show you the pages that this image has been used on,a link to an image search feature for similar images, and a possible related search.

And there are several ways to perform a reverse image search, whether it is on mobile or desktop. These can be done on Google and Bing, other search engines, and by using relevant tools.

So let’s look athow you canperform a Google reverse image search on desktop, then run you through reverse image search on mobile devices, such as iPhone or Android phones, before showing you how to use other search engines and third party reverse image search tools.

I will also touch on different ways you can use a reverse image search when you combine it with our backlink analytics or brand monitoring tool.

How to do a Reverse Image Search on a PC or Mac

Performing a reverse image search on a PC or Mac, in a desktop browser, is a relatively simple process to undertake that can be done in just seconds.

There are two options to do this, depending on whether you are using Chrome or another browser. I will run through both.

How to do a Reverse Google Image Search on Desktop Browsers

This method works when you have a browser open and have loaded up the Google Images search page.

Navigate to the Google Images main page.
In the search bar, click on the camera icon with the alt ‘search by image’. This will give you a new search display offering you two options.

(Video) How to Do a Reverse Image Search From Your Phone
Option 1 is ‘Paste Image URL’, which allows you to use the URL from an image you have found on the internet.
Option 2 is ‘Upload an image’, which allows you to upload an image from your computer to use as the search item.
Whichever option you choose, after entering the URL or uploading the image, you simply click search to display the results:

Google Reverse Image Search UsingChrome

If you are using Chrome, you can find the source of an image online without having to go through the process above.

This method is for images that are already uploaded that you have found while you are browsing online.

Locate the image you want to search on the page where you originally found it.
Right-click on the image.
Select ‘Search Google for image’.
Google will then display the results of your search as above.

Reverse Image Search Using Bing

It is always worth remembering that other search engines are out there, and Bing is one of the main options.

Bing has its own reverse image search functionality on desktop, called Visual Search, and it works like this:

In the Bing search bar, click the Visual Search button. This is the dot surrounded by fourcorner lines. It will open a pop-up menu.
This menu will give you a selection of options to choose from:
- Upload —this allows you to drag an image into the box and upload it from your computer. It allows you to upload more than one image at a time.
  
  (Video) How to Perform a Reverse Image Search on Mobile & Computer 2021 | Step by Step Tutorial
- URL —search by pasting the URL of the image.
- Take a photo —this allows you to use your webcam to take a photo.
View your results.

Bing Visual Search focuses on the image and its attributes before displaying the pages the image can be found onand displaying similar images. It also pulls any text out of the image and offers suggested searches.

Reverse Image Search Using Yandex

Yandex is another popular search engine that has the ability to perform reverse image searches.

Here is how to do it:

Reverse Image Search Using Third Party Websites

There are a number of sites that specialize in performing reverse image searches on desktop. Some, as you would expect, return better results than others.

I am going to review one of my favorites; I recommend trying out if you want to use a tool or app.

(Video) How to do a Reverse Image Search From Your Phone and Computer?

Tineye.com works in exactly the same way as the normal Google reverse image search, in that you upload an image or add a URL. There are paid functions that can allow you to track an image’s usage, amongst other things.Tineye.com also has a plugin available for some browsers.

Another third-party site is SmallSEOTools.com, which has a similar process to Tineye.com and Google reverse image search. You can run a reverse image search on their easy-to-use interface that offers quick answers if you need any assistance as well. Plus, you can easily find or add an image by:

Entering Image URL
Uploading an image
Searching with keyword

How to do a Google Reverse Image Search on a Mobile Device

Performing a reverse image search on a mobile device such as an iPhone or Android phone or tablet is a little different froma desktop.

On both Apple and Android devices, youneed to have the Google Chrome app installed to access theGoogle reverse image search featureor use an app that is specifically designed for the function; it won’t work on Safari or in another mobile browser.

Reverse Image Search Using the Google Chrome App

As the camera icon isn’t available onthe search bar on the Chrome app, there are two options that act as a workaround, either by forcing the desktop version or using a version of the right-click method.

Request the desktop version:

Browse to images.google.com.
Tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Select ‘request desktop site’.
Follow the desktop instructions using the camera icon in the search bar, either using an image URL or by uploading an image.

The mobile ‘right-click’ method:

(Video) How to Reverse Image Google Search on Desktop & Mobile (Fast and Easy Guide)

Reverse Image Search Using Other Apps

There are a number of other apps that allow you to perform reverse image searches on a mobile device. These vary from official Google apps to those created by third parties.

Google Lens

Google Lens is a standalone app on Android phones, and it has functionality available on the Google app or Google Assistant app on iOS.

It has a number of uses for different tasks, and you can use it to perform a reverse image search if you need to. This isn’t really what it is designed for, though, so it is not the best use of the app.

The following are third-party apps that all allow you to perform a reverse image search on either iOS or Android devices, generally,in the same way, you would perform one on desktop —either using a URL or uploading a picture. These apps allow you to look at reverse image searches across different search engines, not just Google. These include Bing and Yandex, among others.

Uses for Reverse Image Search

Reverse image search can have a number of different uses, some of which are simply fun, but a few of them can help you perform powerful tasks.

A few simple uses for a reverse image search are as follows:

Find similar images — this can be useful for creating content or finding a particular image.
Find the dimensions and metadata of an image.
Pull text and translate it.
Discover if people are using your images, and how. This is great as part of a wider link building and backlink analysis process, while also important for brand monitoring.
Check for copyright violations. This can work for your own images, or you can check whether the image you have found is under copyright.
Editors checking for spun guest content — typically, if a writer uses agraphic, they tend to rewrite the content around that graphic, and they don’t always give credit to the author (this is not okay).

(Video) #ReverseImageSearch How to do reverse image search on mobile phones and desktop?
Finding an image source to give credit. Anytime another person’s images or graphics are used, you must give credit to the source. If you have forgotten where it came from, you can find it with a reverse image search and make sure you have the right to use it. If you do, you should link to the source.

While reverse image search can be fun to play around with, it can be a very effective tool to use as part of a wider marketing strategy. You can use it to monitor campaigns, build links, and monitor your brand.

Werecommend using it with a combination of our Backlink Analytics and also our Brand Mention Tracking tool for these same purposes. You may be able to track down a number of link opportunities that you had previously missed.

Reverse image searching 101

On a desktop, computer reverse image search is simple. Just go to images.google.com and click on the little camera icon in the search bar. Now you can either paste in the URL for an image you’ve seen online, upload an image from your hard drive, or drag an image into the search box.

Can you reverse image search on mobile? ›

You can reverse image search on your Android device with Google Chrome. You can also reverse image search on a web page by tapping and holding the image and then choosing to search with Google Lens. If the image is stored on your phone, you can tap on the Google Lens icon in Chrome’s search bar.

Does reverse image search work with screenshots? ›

Yes, of course. Doing a reverse image search of a screenshot on a phone is pretty much like how it is on a desktop. If you are on Android or iPhone, just open your favorite mobile browser, visit images.google.com and click on the camera icon. Then, choose the screenshot you just took and upload it.

Can I take a picture and search it on Google? ›

Take or upload a photo to use for your search: To take a photo: With your camera, point to an object and tap Search. . To upload an existing image: Tap Photo picker.

Can you take a picture of something and search it? ›

Best App for Searching for Anything and Everything: Google Lens. With Google Lens, all you have to do is point and shoot at any object, and Google Lens does a pretty good job of telling you what it is. I took a picture of a flowering plant I’m growing on my terrace and found it’s an Alyssum.

What happened to Google image search? ›

That’s exactly what Google has done now, with Google Images now defaulting to Google Lens when you upload an image rather than source or similar images searching.

How do I reverse Google image search? ›

The Chrome browser app for iOS and Android also supports a reverse-image search workaround. When you have the image you want to search, hold your finger on it until a pop-up menu appears; pick “Search Google for This Image” at the bottom.

How do you search an image from your camera roll? › Using an image from your files

Open the Google app on your iPhone or Android.
Tap the camera icon in the search bar. …
On Android, tap the camera icon in the top section to take a picture, or you can look for the image in your gallery in the bottom section and then tap on it to perform the search.

How do you reverse image search on Samsung? ›

Launch the Google app on your phone. In the app, right next to the “Search” field, tap the Google Lens option (a camera icon). On the “Google Lens” screen, at the bottom, tap the media icon. If you’d like to capture a photo and then perform a reverse search for it, point your phone’s camera to your object.

How do image searches work? ›

If you ask Google’s image search feature, for instance, to find something similar to the image you’re providing, it analyzes the image to collect details like color and texture, then creates a query to match with other (billions of) images for the best and most similar matches.

Can you reverse image search a person? ›

TinEye. TinEye is a reverse search engine that works excellent for face searches. To upload your image, select the up arrow icon to the left of the search field. Upload your profile image, and you’ll see a list of results showing web pages that feature that image on their page.

How do I find someones facebook pictures from my phone? › Reverse Image Search: Facebook and Google Method

Right-click the image and select Search Google for Image.
A new tab will open displaying possible matches for the photo. …
Remove the text from the search box, replace it with site:facebook.com, and press Enter.

How do I use Google lens? › You can use Google Lens from: Google Photos. Google Assistant on most Android phones….

Get details & take action on your photos

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
Select a photo.
Tap Lens .
Depending on your photo, check the details, take an action, or find similar products.

Is reverse image free? ›

Digital Inspiration Reverse Image Search is another one of the best free reverse image search tools you can use to find information regarding any picture you may have. This particular tool utilizes Google’s image search to find information. You do not have to sign up to use this tool.

How do you see if a picture is anywhere else on the Internet? ›

Google Image Search

Click on the small camera icon and then screen will change so that you can either paste an image URL or upload an image that you want to search for. If the image you are wanting to search for is online, just right-click on it and choose Copy Image Address/Copy Image URL if using Google Chrome.

Is Google reverse image search accurate? ›

Reverse image search engines are not using Artificial Intelligence or 3D as yet. They simply divide an image into groups of pixels and conduct a pixel group match with other images. It would be foolish to expect it to be a hundred percent accurate.

Can I search Google with a picture? ›

When you need to search an image on your PC, go to Google Images in a browser and click the camera icon which is usually on the right-hand side of the search box. You can then choose to paste an image URL in the search bar, or select the other tab to upload a file from your computer for searching.

How do I do an image search on Google Chrome? ›

How to use Google Image Search in Google Chrome – YouTube

What happened to Google image search? ›

That’s exactly what Google has done now, with Google Images now defaulting to Google Lens when you upload an image rather than source or similar images searching.

How do I search photos on my camera roll? › Using an image from your files

Open the Google app on your iPhone or Android.
Tap the camera icon in the search bar. …
On Android, tap the camera icon in the top section to take a picture, or you can look for the image in your gallery in the bottom section and then tap on it to perform the search.

Can you take a picture of something and search it? ›

How do I use Google Lens? › You can use Google Lens from: Google Photos. Google Assistant on most Android phones….

Get details & take action on your photos

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
Select a photo.
Tap Lens .
Depending on your photo, check the details, take an action, or find similar products.

How do you Google image search on Android? ›

On your Android phone or tablet, go to images.google.com. Search for an image. Tap an image. Scroll to find images related to the image you selected.

What happened to Google Images 2022? ›

If you’ve become accustomed to Google Chrome’s reverse image search, you’ve probably seen the recent change from “Search Google for Image” to “Search image with Google Lens”. While the previous function was one of Chrome’s most useful features, Google has prioritized Google Lens as a better solution.

How do I enable Google image view? ›

On the Custom Search home page, click the search engine you want. Click Setup, and then click the Basics tab. In the Image search section, switch image search to ON.

Is there Google Lens for desktop? ›

You can install it and enjoy it. Customize your new tab color and background quickly with Google Lens For Windows, Mac, and PC chrome themes.

Is Google Lens same as reverse image search? ›

Lens on Android now lets you do classic reverse image searches via Google Images. Reverse image searching is awfully straight-forward on the web version of Google. You just head over to Google Images, tap the little camera icon, and upload whatever image you want to search for.

What is the difference between Google Lens and Google Image Search? ›

While Google.com’s image search just tries to find similar pictures, Lens can actually identify things in a picture, like people, text, math equations, animals, landmarks, products, and more. It can translate text through the camera and even copy text from the real world (with OCR) and paste it into an app.

Why did Google remove search by image? ›

The change is essentially meant to frustrate users. Google has long been under fire from photographers and publishers who felt that image search allowed people to steal their pictures, and the removal of the view image button is one of many changes being made in response.

Is there an app that can identify a picture? ›

With CamFind, understanding the world around you has never been easier. Simply take a picture of any object and CamFind uses mobile visual search technology to tell you what it is. The CamFind app provides fast, accurate results with no typing necessary. Snap a picture, learn more.

What app can i use to search images? ›

Reverse Image Search let you search images via Google Image Search, Bing Image Search, Yandex Image Search and TinEye Image Search. FEATURES: – Directly search images from your Photo Library, Camera, Clipboard and Files on your devices. – Search images via image URL.

Is there a free reverse image search? ›

Google’s reverse image search is a breeze on a desktop computer. Go to images.google.com(Opens in a new window), click the camera icon, and either paste in the URL for an image you’ve seen online, upload an image from your hard drive, or drag an image from another window.

Videos

1. How To Reverse Image Search (Google) 2. Reverse Image Search and Google Lens on PC 3. How to verify images with reverse image search on your computer or your mobile phone | Training 4. How to Reverse Image Search on Google Images 5. Reverse Image Search in Google on Computer, Android Mobile Phone and iPhone | Search Google by Image 6. How to Do a Reverse Image Search From Your Phone + How do I open desktop site on mobile (ISL) | Deaf

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