How to Do a Google Search Based on an Image

Posted on 2025-05-152025-07-02 by Bert Swope

Ever see a picture and think, “Where is this from?” or “What am I looking at?”? Google has a tool that can help. It’s called reverse image search—and it lets you search using an image instead of text. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

1. Go to Google Images

Start at images.google.com. This is where the reverse image search begins.

2. Upload the Image or Paste the URL

You’ve got two options here:

Upload the image: Click the camera icon (or “Search by image”) and choose “Upload a file.” Pick the image from your computer.
Paste the image URL: If you found the picture online, right-click it, choose “Copy image address,” then paste that into the search box.

3. Drag and Drop (Optional Trick)

Another way: drag an image straight into the search bar from your desktop or another browser tab. Google will upload it automatically.

4. Check the Results

Google will show you:

Visually similar images
Websites that include the same image
Possible keywords or guesses about what the image is

If the image is well-known or already online, you’ll likely find a match.

5. Try Google Lens (Especially on Mobile)

On your phone or using Chrome, right-click (or long-press) the image and select “Search image with Google Lens.” Lens goes a step further. It can identify landmarks, products, plants, animals, and even text inside the image.

When It’s Useful

Finding the source of an image
Checking if a photo is fake or used out of context
Shopping for products you saw in a photo
Translating text inside an image
Identifying places, objects, or people

Final Tip

If Google doesn’t give clear results, try cropping or editing the image to focus on the most important part before uploading again. This can help remove background noise.

Google’s reverse image search is a simple but powerful tool. Whether you’re fact-checking, shopping, or just curious, it can save time and answer questions fast. Give it a try next time a photo leaves you wondering.