Image Search allows you to key in a phrase and gets photographs that are connected to what you wrote. It's available on most search engines, and it's fantastic. What if you have a picture and want to know where it came from? Or look for photographs that are similar? This is known as a reverse image search.
On a desktop computer, Google's reverse image search is a breeze. Go to images.google.com, click the camera icon, and enter the URL for a picture you've seen online, upload an image from your computer, or drag an image from another window.
But what if you're on the go and need to run a reverse picture search? There are several choices available.
Google Reverse Image Search on Mobile
On a limited basis, Google implemented a reverse image search tool into phones and tablets.
The camera symbol does not appear in the search bar while using images.google.com on a mobile device. You'll need to download the desktop version on your mobile device to obtain it. It works on Safari, but the Chrome browser app operates better (iOS or Android).
Tap the aA symbol in the top left corner of Safari and select Request Desktop Website. Tap the three-dot menu in Chrome, scroll down the pop-up menu, and select Request Desktop Site. The desktop version of Google Images will load in both browsers, and the camera symbol will display. After that, you'll be able to upload photographs from your camera roll.
Chrome may possibly allow a reverse image search solution, depending on your phone. Hold your finger on the picture you wish to search in your browser until a pop-up menu displays; select Search Google for This Image at the bottom. This will not function in the Google app or in any other browser (not even in Safari). Chrome is the only browser that supports it.
If this doesn't work, you may also choose to open the image in a new tab. After that, copy the URL and paste it into images.google.com. Reverse image search results will show using any approach; you may need to choose the More sizes option at the top to see only the photos. You'll have the option of narrowing your search by looking for animated GIFs, clip-art analogs, or the original image's color palette.
A reverse picture search tool is also available in Google Lens. On iOS and Android, Lens has its own app, but it's also a component of the Google app, Google Photos, and Google Assistant. Lens, on the other hand, is more about assisting you with activities like as quick translation, object identification, and product discovery than it is about discovering a source image.
Bing Visual Search on Mobile
Bing, Microsoft's other main search engine, handles reverse picture searches as well, but labels it "visual search." On any mobile browser or in the Bing app, tap the camera icon. You must grant Bing access to your camera in order to search for an image, according to a pop-up; accept or decline with a tap.
Tap the Browse button in the lower-left corner of the following screen. You may snap a photo, explore your photo collection, or browse third-party services via a pop-up menu. To discover images in third-party services like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, and Dropbox, tap Browse.
Third-Party Image Search Engines
There are a few dedicated search engines for merely looking for photographs, but not all of them function with your smartphone or default browsers.
So far, it has crawled over 52 billion photos. On the PC, TinEye allows you to search by URL, upload, or drag-and-drop. Simply click the upload (up arrow) symbol on your mobile device to see options for taking a photo, using one from the library, or uploading via third-party services.
Yandex
Yandex, the Russian search engine, resembles a Cyrillic version of Bing. It includes a one-of-a-kind picture search that works directly from the browser on mobile devices. You may snap a photo, upload a photo, or discover a photo in a third-party service by clicking Images and tapping the camera symbol in the search box.
There are other search engines dedicated to assisting creatives in determining whether their work has been stolen. For further possibilities, look into Verify and Pixsy. You should be aware that using them might cost you money. They will, however, track stolen photographs for you both online and offline, warning you whenever one of your images is used without your consent. Then you may go collect on the theft, making them worthwhile to use.
Apps for Reverse Image Search
If you'd rather use an app than a browser, go straight to a reverse image search tool you carry on your phone.
Search By Image
Before submitting a picture to this program, you may edit it as much as you like to obtain results from Google, Bing, TinEye, and Yandex.
This is a basic tool for shooting photos with your smartphone and searching for comparable objects, as well as pricing comparisons if the photo is of a product.
Reversee
This software uploads your photos straight to Google Images to find comparable images, but you can upgrade to the premium version for $3.99 in-app to receive results from Bing and Yandex as well.