Reverse Image Search refers to searching using images, rather than text. If you go to Google Images on a PC or laptop, you will notice a camera icon next to the text box, using which you can upload images and Google will automatically find sites and images relevant to that image.
But if you go to Google images from any smartphone, you will find that camera icon is missing. In fact, even the official Google app doesn’t have this feature. So that begs the question – how can you actually perform reverse image search on smartphones. Let’s find out.
Using the Chrome browser
Now, as I said earlier, there is no official way to search with images on Google, even on Chrome. However, there is a workaround – if you find that image on any website(and not from your phone storage), then all you need to do is click on the image and hold on till a pop up appears. There should be an option “Search Google For This Image” at the bottom of that pop up. Click on it, and Google will show you results relevant to that image.
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The obvious disadvantage with this method is that you need to use the Chrome browser, and you cannot use local images for reverse search.
Using Bing Search Engine
I am sure you have heard of Bing, the search engine from Microsoft. Bing also supports reverse image search, and that too for mobile. Just go to Bing Images on your smartphone and you should be presented with an option to take a picture or upload local images for search. Please note that Microsoft might use these uploaded images to improve their engine further or for other services, so you should avoid this if you are concerned about privacy.
Bing’s main advantage is that you can upload local pictures, as compared to Google Chrome, where you can only use online pictures. You can either take a picture, upload from your local storage or from your drive.
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Please remember that this only works on the Bing website, not the official Bing app for both Android and iOS.
Reverse Photos
Another useful service is reverse photos , it is basically a wrapper for Google Images.
Just upload your image and it will automatically show you Google Image search results.
Hopefully, you are now able to successfully perform reverse image search from your smartphone. There are of course other websites and services as well, but Google Image Search is still the best one out there.
