On iPhone and iPad, you can perform a reverse image search in three ways: via Visual Look Up, the native iOS 15+ feature built directly into Photos and Safari, via Google Lens in the Google or Chrome app, or via third-party applications such as Reversee. The choice depends on your goal: identifying an object in a photo, or finding the exact source of an image on the web.
⚠️ An important point to note before we begin: Visual Look Up recognizes objects in an image (plants, animals, places, works of art), but it cannot find where an image was published on the internet. To trace the origin of a photo or find similar images on the web, use Google Lens, which is described below as the second method.
Method 1: Visual Look Up: The iPhone's built-in image search (iOS 15+, no app required)
Starting with iOS 15, your iPhone has a built-in visual recognition feature called Visual Look Up, without having to download or install any apps. It’s the fastest way to get information about objects in an image: plants, animals, architectural landmarks, works of art, and books.
You can use it from the app Photos or directly from Safari. Here are the steps for each case.
From the Photos app
- Open the app Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
- Select the image you want to search.
- Tap the icon ⓘ (information) at the bottom of the screen.
- If Visual Look Up has recognized an item in the image, a search button will appear below the photo. Tap it to start the search.
- Search results display information about the identified items, along with related web resources.
From Safari
- Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and go to the page that contains the image.
- Press and hold the image until an options bar appears on the screen.
- Press: Search for the image from the available options.
- The results are displayed directly on the screen along with information about the image's content.
✅ Advantage : No installation required; very fast.
❌ Limit: Visual Look Up cannot find the exact source of an image on the web. If you need to do that, try the following method.
Method 2: Google Lens: Perform a Full Reverse Image Search on an iPhone
Google Lens is the most comprehensive way to perform an image search on iPhone and iPad. It lets you find the source of an image, discover similar images on Google, and get detailed information about the objects you photograph. You can use it via the’Google application (for images already on your device) or via Google Chrome (for images on a web page).
Google Lens via the Google app (images from your gallery)
If the image is already in your phone's photo gallery, use the Google app directly to perform your search.
- Open the’Google application on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the icon Google Lens (the stylized camera icon) in the search bar.
- You have two options:
- Real-time capture: point the camera's viewfinder at the object or photo, then press the button Search.
- Import an image from your gallery: Tap the selection icon on the left side of the screen, then select a photo from your device.
- Tap a part of the image to refine the selection if necessary.
- Scroll down the page to view the related search results.
Google Lens is available for free on iPhone through the Google app. You don't need the latest iPhone model—you just need to make sure the app is up to date on your device.
Google Lens via Google Chrome (images on a web page)
If the image is on a web page and you don't want to save it to your device, use Chrome directly to search with Google Lens.
- Install Google Chrome from the App Store, if you haven't already.
- Open Chrome and go to the web page that contains the image you want to search for.
- Press and hold the image until an options bar appears on the screen.
- Press: Search within the image : Google Lens launches automatically.
- To focus on a specific part of the image, adjust the corners of the selection area around the object you're interested in.
- Scroll down the page to view the search results.
Results obtained using Chrome may include:
- 🔎 Information about the objects in the image; ;
- 🖼️ Similar images available on the web; ;
- 🌐 Websites containing the image or a similar image.
✅ Advantage : the most comprehensive way to find the source of an image, search for similar images on Google, or get detailed information.
❌ Limit: requires the Google app or Chrome to be installed on your device.
Method 3: Search for a reverse image using Safari on an iPhone
Safari also lets you perform a reverse image search on your iPhone directly from a web page, without installing any additional apps. This is a useful option if you want to quickly search using your iPhone or iPad’s built-in browser, without using Chrome.
- Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and go to the website that contains the image.
- Press and hold the image until the options appear on the screen.
- Press: Search for the image to launch Google Lens from Safari.
- Scroll down the page to view the search results and available information.
Yes, Google Lens is available in Safari: you can perform image searches on your iPhone without installing Chrome or any other app.
✅ Advantage : No app to install; works natively in Safari.
❌ Limit: Available only for images on a web page, not for photos in your gallery.
Method 4: Third-Party Apps for Reverse Image Search on iPhone
There are third-party apps available if you want to use multiple search engines at the same time or share results more easily. Here are the most useful options that are still active.
Reversee (free, App Store)
Reversee is a free app available on the App Store that lets you perform a reverse image search by using multiple search engines at the same time. It also works as a Safari extension, making it convenient for everyday use.
- 🔎 The app collects all the images on the page you're visiting.
- 🖼️ Select the image you want to search for from the results displayed on the screen.
- ✂️ Before starting the search, you can crop and adjust the image to improve the accuracy of the results.
- 📤 Reversee also makes it easy to share image search results with other users.
Note on Other Third-Party Apps
The application Veracity, which is often mentioned in older guides on reverse image search, has not been updated since 2017. It is no longer compatible with recent versions of iOS and is no longer a reliable or useful option.
There are other reverse image search apps available on the App Store, but their reliability and level of active support vary. Before installing one, check the date of the last update and recent reviews directly on the App Store listing.
Which method should you use to perform an image search on an iPhone?
Here's a quick guide to help you choose the method that best suits your needs. See the example below based on your specific use case:
- 🍎 Visual Look Up (native to iOS 15+): to identify objects, plants, animals, or places in a photo, without having to install any apps. It does not find the exact source of an image on the web.
- 🔍 Google Lens via the Google app: to find the source of an image on Google, search for similar images, identify objects, and get detailed information from photos in your gallery. This is the most versatile way to search on an iPhone or iPad.
- 🌐 Google Lens via Chrome or Safari: to search using an image on a web page, without having to save it to your device first.
- 📱 Reversee: to use multiple search engines at the same time, easily share results, or perform batch searches from a web page.
For the vast majority of users, Google Lens via the Google app It remains the most comprehensive solution for performing a Google image search on an iPhone or iPad.
Why doesn't Google Lens work on an iPhone or iPad?
If Google Lens isn't working properly on your device, there could be several reasons. Here's how to fix the most common issues.
Check photo access permissions
The Google app needs access to your photos to perform image searches using Google Lens. If access is not granted, the feature will not work. To grant access and resolve permission issues:
- Access the Settings from your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down the page and select Google, then press Photos.
- Choose Full access.
Other Solutions for Fixing Google Lens Issues on the iPhone
- ✅ Update the Google app: Make sure you have the latest version available on the App Store.
- ✅ Check your internet connection: Google Lens requires an active internet connection to perform searches and display results.
- ✅ Restart the application: Close the Google app completely, then reopen it.
- ✅ Restart your iPhone: Simply restarting the device often resolves application issues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reverse Image Search on the iPhone
Can you do a reverse image search on an iPhone without an app?
Yes. Visual Look Up, built into iOS 15 and later, lets you search for images from the Photos app or Safari without downloading an app. Safari also gives you access to Google Lens by long-pressing an image on a web page, without needing to install Chrome on your device. Both of these features are available natively on iPhone and iPad.
Can you do a Google image search from Safari on an iPhone?
Yes. In Safari, if you long-press any image on a web page, the following option appears immediately: Search for the image, which launches Google Lens without leaving the browser. This is the fastest way to access Google Images from Safari on an iPhone, without needing an additional app.
Does Google Lens also work on Android?
Yes, Google Lens is available on Android, typically built right into the Google app and the native camera app. The features it offers are similar to those available on the iPhone and iPad, with the same ability to get information about objects and search for similar images.
How do you perform a reverse image search on a computer?
From a computer, go to images.google.com and use the camera icon in the search bar to import an image or paste a URL. Google Lens is also available in Chrome on a computer: right-click an image on a web page and select the "Search for this image" option to launch a search directly from the site.
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