How to perform a Google reverse image search

This short guide is a reference tool to help refresh your knowledge or practise what you have learned in the How to perform a Google reverse image search online video course, including how to:

upload an image using the Google Search bar
identify places, objects or products from an image, or search for text within an image.

Step by step

A reverse image search uses a photo instead of words to find online information. It can be a helpful tool for learning more about unfamiliar images or finding products online.

Upload an image for search

To start a reverse image search, you need to first upload an image.

Go to google.com and find the camera icon on the right side of the Search bar.
Click the icon and the Search bar will change to a panel titled Search any image with Google Lens.
On your computer, locate the image you want to use for your search.
Click and hold the image file, then drag and drop it into the panel.
Google will upload the image and begin the search automatically.
Your uploaded image will appear at the top of the results page.
The part of the image that Google used to perform the search may be highlighted.
Look at the panel on the right for information about your image.
Scroll through the search results to find out more about the subject of the image and click on any links that are of interest.

Search for text in an image

From the Google Search bar, click the camera icon to upload an image containing text, such as a plaque or sign.
Google will automatically highlight any searchable text in a pale box.
Click the text to select it.
Options will pop up and you can click:

Select all to highlight all text
Copy to paste the text into a document
Listen to hear the text spoken aloud.

To learn more, click Search to find information based on the highlighted text.

Google’s reverse image search text feature works best with good-quality images that have clear, readable text.