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How to reverse image search on your iPhone or iPad

A person using their smartphone to take a close-up photo of a mushroom in the forest.
You can reverse image search on Google with photos taken by your iPhone. Carmen Martínez Torrón/Getty Images

  • To reverse image search on your iPhone or iPad, you can use Google or a third-party app. 
  • You can reverse image search on Google with an image from the search results or your device. 
  • Reverse image search allows you to look up photos to see where else they appear or find out more about them.
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Reverse image search is a handy tool that has a variety of applications. If you're a photographer, you can use it to help ensure that your photos aren't being used by other websites without your permission. 

If you're taking a stroll and see a beautiful flower and want to know the name of it, you can take a photo of it and use reverse image search to help identify it. In this article, we go over several different ways to conduct reverse image searches on your iPhone or iPad. 

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How to Google reverse image search on iPhone or iPad

When you perform a reverse image search, results may include search results for objects included in the images, similar images, and websites with the exact image or a similar image.

Using an image from image search results

1. Open the Chrome or Safari app. 

2. Go to images.google.com, then search for an image by typing key words.

3. Tap on the image that you want.

4. Tap the Google Lens icon at the top-right of the image. 

Google image search result for doughnuts with Google Lens icon highlighted with a box and arrow.
Google Lens allows you to focus on specific portions or objects within a photo. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

5. Adjust the size and location of the box as needed to center in on the detail you want to search for.

Google image search result for doughnuts with plate of doughnuts highlighted with select tool.
Adjust the corners of the box until it surrounds the object you want to search. Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Google image search pop-up menu with Search Google for This Image highlighted with a box and arrow.
If you want to reverse search an entire image, this is an easy shortcut. Abigail Abesamis Demarest
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Using an image from your device

1. Open the Google app on your iPhone or iPad. 

2. Tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar.

Google app home tab with Google Lens icon highlighted with a box and arrow.
In the Google app, you can use Google Lens as a search tool. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

3. Take a photo or upload one from your camera roll.

Google Lens page with camera button and selected images.
Select photos from your Photos app or take a photo to use Google Lens. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

4. To take a photo, tap the camera icon

5. Tap the shutter button once you have the item you want to search for in view. Drag the corners of the box as needed to center in on the detail you want to search for.

6. To upload an image from your camera roll, you'll need to give the app access to your photo library. Tap to select the photo you want to search.

Google Lens page with a photo of a dog on the beach and search results about different types of dogs.
Tap circles to choose different objects within a photo, or move the corners of the box to any portion of a photo. Abigail Abesamis Demarest

7. Scroll down to view your search results.

Google Chrome webpage with Search for Copied Image highlighted with a box and arrow.
Tap circles to choose different objects within a photo, or move the corners of the box to any portion of a photo. Abigail Abesamis Demarest
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How to reverse image search on an iPhone with third-party apps and websites

While Safari and Chrome are great for quickly searching for photos on the web, there are a number of other tools you might want to use instead. 

For example, tineye.com is a convenient website because you can use it in Safari without switching to the desktop version, like you would need to do with Google images. 

In addition, there are a few dedicated reverse image search apps you might want to try. These are often more thorough because they reference multiple search engines, rather than just Google. Reverse Image Search is a free, top-rated reverse image search app that we recommend.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

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