How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Google?

5/5 - (4 votes)

Whether you want to check an image’s source, find similar photos, or just want to know more about the picture, a reverse image search on Google can undoubtedly help you do it.

Upload an image from your mobile, tablet, or desktop, and Google will show all the web pages that have similar pictures along with the source.

Reverse Image Search Using a Desktop

Follow the below steps to reverse image search an image using a desktop

Step 1: Open Google Images on a Compatible Browser

Google reverse image search works only on Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Ensure that you open Google images on any of these three browsers.

Step 2: Click the Camera Button

To start a reverse image search, click on the camera icon (on the right-hand side of the search bar).

Step 3: Upload an Image

If you want to search for an image that you found online, one of the options before doing a reverse search is to save it on your system.

You can then either choose the image location on your desktop (by selecting Choose File) or drag and drop an image file directly to the browser window.

Remember, you can search for only one image at a time. If you have lots of images to search, you will have to do it one by one.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to go through the hectic process of downloading and uploading the picture, you can search the image by URL.

To copy the image’s URL, right-click on the photo and select on “copy image address”.

Choose the Paste Image URL tab. Insert your copied image address.

Once you have uploaded the image, click on Search. You will see your uploaded image on the top along with a keyword.

Google enables you to find other sizes of the image (if available). You can also explore visually similar images or websites that contain the photo.

Another way to reverse search images on a desktop is to use the Image Prospector app. It uses Google’s Image Search API, but you can reverse search images in bulk rather than one at a time.

Reverse Image Search Using Smartphone

To reverse search an image on Google using the Google app on smartphone, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Open Google Images in Your Chrome App

The first step to do a reverse search image on a mobile device is opening Google Images.

Step 2: Enter the Keyword

Describe the image you want to find in the search bar and tap on the search icon. You will see a list of images that match your search terms.

Step 3: Tap Your Desired Image

Once you have found the desired image, long-tap on it, from the drop-down menu, select Search Google for This Image.

Step 4: Browse Through the Results

After you click on Search Google for This Image, a new tab will open, showing you the location of the image, available sizes, and similar photos.

If you want to upload an image to perform a reverse image search, you will need to switch to the desktop version of the Google Images.

Reverse Image Search Using Mobile Devices

Follow these steps to reverse image search by uploading the image/posting the URL on mobile devices.

Step 1: Switch to a Desktop Mode

As of now, Google doesn’t provide an option to search for images on mobile devices directly.

Therefore, you need to switch to a desktop mode. Here’s how:

Click on the Three Dots on the top-right corner of the Chrome App and select Desktop Site.

If you’re using an iPhone, click on the Share (the arrow) button, and then choose Request Desktop Site.

Step 2: Upload an Image

Click on the camera icon on the right side of the Google Images search bar. You will see two options: Paste the Image URL and Upload an Image.

If the image is in your phone’s gallery, choose the upload an image option.

When uploading an image, you can select a previously loaded image or take a photo.

If you want to reverse search an image you found online, choose the paste Image URL option.

To obtain the picture’s URL, long-tap the image and then choose copy image address from the dropdown menu.

You can then paste the URL into the upload tab.

Step 3: Browse the Results

After you have uploaded the image or have pasted the URL, you will see related images, other available image sizes, and the source website.

Conducting a reverse image search on Google isn’t difficult. All you have to do is upload the image in Google Images and the search engine will come up with relevant results.