Trying to identify something from a camera view, screenshot, website image, or page on your screen gets messy fast when words are not enough. Google Lens handles those searches from the Google app, Chrome, Google Photos, Android screen search tools, and desktop Google Search.
1. Start with the right Google Lens app
On Android, open Google Play, install or update Google Lens, then open Google Lens and search with the camera or a saved photo. Another Android route is to open Google Play, install or update Google, then use the Google Lens button in the Google app search bar.
On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, install or update Google, then open Google. Google Lens is inside the Google app on iOS and iPadOS. For saved photos, open Google Photos, select a photo, tap More, then tap Google Lens.
2. Search with your camera
- 1.Open the Google app or Chrome.
- 2.In the search bar, tap Google Lens.
- 3.Point the camera at the object, text, product, place, QR code, or barcode.
- 4.Tap Search.
- 5.In Chrome on Android, tap Search with your camera, then tap Shutter Search.
- 6.For an English voice question, press and hold the Shutter button and ask about what is in view.
For cleaner results, fill the frame with the item, text, or code you want Lens to read.
3. Use a saved photo or screenshot
Open the Google app or Chrome, then tap Google Lens in the search bar. On Android, choose a picture under Screenshots. On iPhone or iPad, tap Photo picker, then select a picture. After that, drag the corners of the selection box around the exact part of the image you want searched.
On Android, tap Ask about this image and enter keywords to refine the result. On iPhone or iPad, tap Add to your search in the Google app and enter keywords to refine the result.
4. Search an image from a website
This fixes the annoying extra step of downloading an online image just to identify it. On Android, open the website in the Google app or Chrome, then touch and hold the image. Tap Search image with Google Lens. Drag the corners of the box around one part of the image when you want a narrower search.
On iPhone or iPad, open the website in the Google app or Chrome. Touch and hold the image. In the Google app, tap Search inside image. In Chrome, tap Search image with Google.
5. Use Google Lens on a computer
On your computer, go to google.com. Click Search by image, click Upload a file, then select the image from your computer. Click Open or Choose.
In Chrome, right click an image and choose Search with Google Lens. In Chrome, right click outside an image and choose Search with Google Lens to start a page search. To search part of the current tab in Chrome, click More, click Search this tab with Google Lens, select the area, and review the results in the side panel.
Use the upload option for a file on your computer and the Chrome menu option for something already open in a tab.
6. Search what is already on your screen
This fixes app-hopping when the thing you want to search is already open. On Android 10 and later, open the app or content you want to search. Invoke Assistant over the app, then tap Search screen.
On supported Android phones, start Circle to Search by long pressing the Home button with 3-button navigation or long pressing the Navigation handle with gesture navigation. Circle, highlight, or tap the text, image, or video you want to search. Add text in the search bar for more specific results. Swipe up on the results to see more.
7. Translate text with Lens and Circle to Search
Open Google Lens or start Circle to Search. Circle or tap the text you want translated, then tap Translate. To translate the full screen on supported Android phones, open Circle to Search and tap Translate next to the search bar.
On devices with the feature, tap Scroll and translate, then scroll over new text. In Chrome on iPhone, open Search Screen with Google Lens, highlight the text, then tap Google Translate.
8. Add faster Google Lens shortcuts on iPhone
This fixes buried Lens access when you use it often on an iPhone. For a Lock Screen widget on iOS 16 and later, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, tap Lock Screen, tap Add Widgets, choose Google, find Lens, then tap Done.
For a Lock Screen shortcut on iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, tap Minus on an existing shortcut, tap Plus, choose Google Lens, then tap Done. For Control Center on iOS 18 and later, open Control Center, tap Plus, tap Add a Control, choose Google Lens, then tap the background to save.
On iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, open Settings, tap Action Button, choose Shortcut, tap Choose a Shortcut, select Google Lens, then touch and hold the Action Button to launch it. For a Home Screen widget, touch and hold the Home Screen, tap Edit, tap Add Widget, search for Google, tap Google, then select your preferred widget.
9. Fix permissions and skip outdated Lens advice
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Google, tap Photos, then choose Limited access or Full access. On supported Android devices using Assistant screen search or Circle to Search, open Settings, search for Digital assistant app, tap Digital assistant app, set Default digital assistant to Google, and turn on Use screenshot.
To control Visual Search History on Android, open Settings, tap Google, tap Manage your Google Account, tap Data & privacy, tap Web & App Activity, then check or uncheck Include Visual Search History. To remove the standalone Lens app on Android, open Google Play Store, tap the Profile icon, tap Manage apps & device, tap Manage, select Google Lens, then tap Uninstall.
Skip old Google Goggles instructions. The current replacement is Google Lens through the Google app, Google Photos, Chrome, and the Android Lens app. Skip older chrome://flags tutorials for disabling or restoring old image search behavior. Current Chrome Lens behavior uses the current Chrome interface, and managed work or school Chrome devices use administrator policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Lens a separate app on iPhone?
No. On iPhone and iPad, Google Lens is inside the Google app. You can also reach Lens-related searches through Chrome, Safari image search paths, Google Photos, and supported iOS shortcuts.
Can Google Lens scan QR codes and barcodes?
Yes. In Chrome on iPhone, open a new tab, tap Google Lens in the search bar, place the QR code or barcode in the highlighted box. When it works, a code displays in the address bar, so tap the link that pops up on your screen.
How do I use Google Lens from Google Photos?
Open Google Photos, select a photo, tap More, then tap Google Lens. Google Photos then shows details, actions, or similar products based on the image.
Why is Google Lens missing from Chrome?
In Chrome, Google must be the default search engine for some Lens features. On managed work or school devices, an administrator can also control Lens access with Chrome policies.