Have you ever stumbled upon a picture online and wanted to know where it came from, who took it, or whether it appears elsewhere on the web? That’s where reverse image search comes in handy—and yes, you can do it from your iPhone.
While Google doesn’t offer a dedicated app for reverse image search, there are simple ways to use this powerful tool right from Safari or Chrome on your iPhone. Whether you’re trying to verify the source of a photo, fact-check an image, or find similar visuals, here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started.
What Is Google Reverse Image Search?
Google’s reverse image search lets you upload an image or paste a URL to search for visually similar images across the web. It helps identify the origins of images, discover related content, and even find higher-resolution versions.
How to Use Google Reverse Image Search on iPhone
Method 1: Using Safari or Chrome (Desktop Mode)
Open Safari or Chrome on your iPhone.
Visit images.google.com.
Tap the “aA” icon (Safari) or the three-dot menu (Chrome) in the address bar.
Choose “Request Desktop Website.” This loads the desktop version of Google Images, which supports image uploads.
Tap the camera icon in the search bar. You’ll see two options:
Paste image URL
Upload an image
Select “Upload an image”, then tap “Photo Library” or “Browse” to upload a photo from your iPhone.
Once uploaded, Google will analyze the image and show visually similar results along with any pages where the image appears.
Method 2: Using Google Lens (Integrated with Google App)
While it’s not exactly the same as the traditional reverse image search, Google Lens offers similar functionality and is well integrated into the Google app for iOS.
Download and open the Google app from the App Store.
Tap the camera icon in the search bar to launch Google Lens.
Either take a photo or upload one from your camera roll.
Google Lens will instantly search for matches and provide visual results, related content, or product listings based on what’s in the photo.
When to Use Reverse Image Search
Verify the authenticity of a viral photo
Identify a person, place, or product
Find the original source of an image
Check if your own images are being used elsewhere online
Discover similar styles or designs
Final Thoughts
Reverse image searching from an iPhone is simple once you know how. Whether you prefer the classic desktop version of Google Images or the more modern and mobile-friendly Google Lens, you have all the tools you need to dig deeper into any photo you find online. Give it a try next time you’re curious about an image—you might be surprised at what you discover.
