How do I do a reverse image search on Google?

On a computer, go to images.google.com or Google Lens, click the camera icon in the search bar, then upload an image, paste an image URL or drag a picture in. Google returns visually similar images and the pages where that image appears.

Can I reverse image search on my phone?

Yes. Use the Google app or Google Lens to search with a photo from your camera or gallery, or in the Chrome browser press and hold an image and choose to search it with Google Lens. It works on both Android and iPhone.

What is reverse image search useful for?

It lets you find where an image appears online, check whether someone is using your photos without permission, identify a product, plant, landmark or object, and research visually rather than with words. For businesses it's handy for protecting your images and spotting opportunities.

How does reverse image search relate to SEO?

It helps you find sites using your images so you can request a credit or link, and it's a reminder that visual search is growing — well-optimised images with descriptive file names and alt text are more likely to be found and used. Image SEO is part of a healthy strategy.

Can You Search Google by Image?

Most of us search Google by typing words — but you can also search with a picture. Reverse image search lets you upload or point to an image and find out where it appears online and what it shows. As the web becomes more visual, it's a genuinely useful tool, both for everyday curiosity and for your business. Here's how it works and why it's worth knowing.

Key takeaways

Reverse image search lets you search Google with a picture instead of words.
Use images.google.com or Google Lens on desktop, and the Google app or Lens on mobile.
It's great for finding where your images are used, identifying products, and research.
It's a reminder that visual search is growing — so optimising your images matters.

What is a reverse image search?

A normal search starts with words; a reverse image search starts with a picture. Instead of describing what you're looking for, you give Google the image itself, and it finds visually similar pictures along with the web pages where that image (or ones like it) appears. It's a quick, clever way to search when a picture says more than you could easily type.

How to search Google by image

It only takes a few seconds:

On a computer: go to images.google.com or Google Lens, click the camera icon in the search bar, then upload an image, paste an image URL, or drag a picture straight in.
On your phone: use the Google app or Google Lens to search with a photo from your camera or gallery. In Chrome, you can also press and hold any image and choose to search it with Google Lens. It works on both Android and iPhone.

Google Lens has become the modern home of visual search, recognising objects, text, products and places — not just matching identical images.

Why it's useful for your business

Beyond satisfying curiosity, reverse image search has some genuinely practical uses:

Find where your images are used. See which sites are using your product shots or photos — useful for spotting both opportunities and unauthorised use.
Protect your work. If someone's using your images without permission or credit, you'll know, and can ask them to credit or link back to you.
Identify products and objects. Snap a photo to identify a product, part, plant or landmark — handy for research and competitor checks.
Research visually. Track down the original source of an image or find higher-quality versions.

Reverse image search and SEO

There's an SEO angle too. Finding sites that use your images without a link is a neat way to earn one — a friendly message asking for credit can turn an uncredited image into a quality backlink. More broadly, the rise of visual search is a reminder that your images need to be findable: descriptive file names, clear alt text and good-quality visuals all help your pictures get discovered, used and cited. Image optimisation is a small job with a real payoff. More on optimising your images →