How to Search Images with Google Lens in Chrome

Google Lens in Chrome lets you search by image instead of typing keywords. You can select any image on a webpage, or upload one from your computer, and Google will find visually similar images, identify objects, extract text, and translate it. This guide covers both the desktop and mobile versions of Chrome.

What You’ll Need

• A computer or mobile device with Google Chrome installed (updated to the latest version).
• An internet connection.
• For uploading an image: an image file saved on your device.
• For searching an image on a webpage: the webpage must be open in Chrome.

Step-by-Step

On Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS)

1. Right-click the image. Hover your mouse cursor over the image you want to search, then click the right mouse button (or two-finger tap on a trackpad).
2. Select “Search image with Google Lens.” In the context menu that appears, click the option that says “Search image with Google Lens.” If you don’t see it, make sure Chrome is up to date.
3. Review the Lens panel. A side panel will open on the right side of the browser window. The image you selected appears at the top, along with a search bar and several tabs: “Search,” “Text,” “Translate,” and “Find image source.”
4. Search visually. The default “Search” tab shows results for visually similar images, matching products, and related content. You can scroll through the results and click any thumbnail to open it in a new tab.
5. Extract text. Click the “Text” tab to copy text from the image. Lens will highlight text areas; click and drag to select specific text, then use the copy icon or the “Copy all” button.
6. Translate text. Click the “Translate” tab to translate text in the image. Choose the target language from the dropdown, and Lens will overlay the translation on the image.
7. Find the source. Click “Find image source” to locate where the image appears elsewhere on the web. This is useful for reverse image searches.
8. Search a specific part of the image. After opening Lens, you can click and drag on the image to draw a selection box around a specific object or area. Release the mouse to search only that region.
9. Upload an image from your computer. If the image is not on a webpage, go to lens.google.com in Chrome. Click the camera icon in the search bar, then select “Upload a file” and choose the image from your computer. The same Lens interface will open.

On Mobile (Android and iOS)

1. Open Chrome on your phone or tablet. Navigate to the webpage that contains the image you want to search.
2. Press and hold the image. Tap and hold your finger on the image until a context menu appears.
3. Tap “Search image with Google Lens.” The menu will show this option. On some Android devices, you may see “Search with Google Lens” or a Lens icon.
4. Use the Lens interface. A full-screen or bottom-sheet view will open with the image. You’ll see the same tabs as on desktop: Search, Text, Translate, and Find image source. Swipe through them to use the features.
5. Select a specific area. On mobile, you can drag the corner handles of the selection box to focus on a particular part of the image before searching.
6. Upload from your phone. To search an image saved on your device, open the Chrome app and go to lens.google.com. Tap the camera icon, then choose “Upload a file” and select the image from your gallery.

Common Mistakes

• Right-clicking on a link or background. If you right-click on a hyperlink or an empty area of the page, the Lens option won’t appear. Make sure you right-click directly on the image element.
• Using an outdated Chrome version. Google Lens is built into Chrome, but older versions may not have the option. Update Chrome to the latest version to ensure the feature is available.
• Selecting too much or too little. When you draw a selection box, including the entire image with lots of background can dilute the search. Focus on the specific object or text you’re interested in.
• Expecting exact matches. Lens finds visually similar images, not necessarily the exact same file. It may return different crops, resolutions, or edited versions.
• Ignoring the tabs. Many users only look at the default search results and miss the Text and Translate features, which are often the most useful.

Tips

• Use “Find image source” to verify authenticity. If you want to know where an image originally came from, use this tab to trace it back to the earliest or most authoritative source.
• Combine with text search. After Lens shows results, you can refine your search by adding keywords in the search bar. For example, if you find a plant, type “care” to get care instructions.
• Use Lens for product identification. Take a screenshot of a product you like, upload it, and Lens will help you find where to buy it or similar items.
• Translate signs and menus. When traveling, use the Translate tab on a photo of a menu or street sign to get an instant translation.
• Copy text from screenshots. Instead of retyping a quote or code from an image, use the Text tab to copy it directly.
• Use keyboard shortcuts on desktop. After opening Lens, you can press Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac) to copy the selected text, and Ctrl+A (Cmd+A) to select all text.

Troubleshooting

• “Search image with Google Lens” option is missing.
  • Update Chrome: Go to Chrome menu (three dots) > Help > About Google Chrome. The browser will check for updates and install them if available.
  • Restart Chrome: Close all Chrome windows and reopen the browser.
  • Check if you’re in Incognito mode: Some extensions or settings might disable Lens in Incognito. Try in a normal window.
  • Disable conflicting extensions: Temporarily disable extensions that might interfere with context menus, such as ad blockers or screenshot tools.
• Lens panel opens but shows no results.
  • Check your internet connection.
  • Try a different image or a different region of the image.
  • If the image is very dark, blurry, or abstract, Lens may struggle. Try a clearer image.
• Text extraction is inaccurate.
  • Make sure the image is well-lit and text is legible.
  • Use the selection box to focus on the text area only.
  • If the text is in a stylized font, try a different image or manually type the text.
• Translation doesn’t appear.
  • Select the correct source language if known, or set it to “Detect language.”
  • Ensure the text is clear and not too small.
  • Try selecting a smaller portion of the image with the text.
• Lens keeps crashing or freezes.
  • Clear Chrome’s cache and cookies: Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.
  • Disable hardware acceleration: Settings > System > toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available.” Restart Chrome.
  • If the issue persists, reset Chrome settings to default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Lens in Chrome without right-clicking?

Yes, you can go directly to lens.google.com and upload an image. On mobile, you can also use the Google Lens app, but within Chrome, right-clicking or long-pressing is the quickest way.

Does Google Lens work on any image on the web?

It works on most images, but some websites may block right-clicking or have scripts that prevent the context menu. In such cases, take a screenshot and upload that instead.

Is Google Lens free to use?

Yes, Google Lens is completely free and built into Chrome.

Can I search for images using a URL?

Yes, on lens.google.com you can paste an image URL directly into the search bar instead of uploading a file.

Does Google Lens work offline?

No, Lens requires an internet connection because the image is processed on Google’s servers.

Will Lens show me the exact same image I searched?

It may, but it’s not guaranteed. Lens finds visually similar images, which might be different resolutions, crops, or versions of the same image.

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