How to Use Google Lens in Chrome to Search the Web for Images

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(Pocket-lint) – Google offers a powerful image recognition feature called Google Lens. Pocket-lint has a separate Google Lens tutorial explaining how this feature works and what it can do in general, but in this guide we’re going to tell you how you can start using it right now, specifically in the Chrome web browser on your laptop or desktop, and why you should try it.

Why should you try Google Lens?

Before we get to the nitty-gritty, be aware that you can use Google Lens to search any image online and identify what is depicted, be it buildings, animals, clothing, plants or works of art.

On laptops and desktops, Lens in Chrome lets you search for an image, find its source, see visual matches, get the text or a translation, and more. This is another, more visual way to get additional detail from an image. For example, you can use an image of a helmet to find more information about where to buy it, browse images with visually similar helmets, or find where the image is used elsewhere.

How Google Lens Works in Chrome on Desktop

When Google Lens arrived in Chrome for laptops and desktops, if you went to use it on an image on a website, your browser would open a results page in a new tab. In May 2022, Google updated the feature to display results in a more modern looking panel that opens to the right of the page/image you are viewing. Only when you want to find the source of an image does Chrome open a new browser tab. But you can also extend the experience to open in a new tab if you prefer. By default, this will be a panel on the right side of your screen.

How to Use Google Lens in Chrome on Desktop

Google Lens can help you learn more about any image on the internet. It has long been available on mobile, accessible through Google’s mobile apps on iOS devices or the native camera app on some Android phones. In 2021, Google Lens was made available to laptop and desktop users through the Chrome web browser, where it can be accessed by right-clicking on any online image, then selecting “Find an image with Google Lens”.

Before you begin: Google advises setting Google as your default search engine and updating to the latest version of Chrome.

1. Open a page in Chrome.
2. Right-click on an image.
3. From the menu, choose Search image with Google Lens.
4. Search results are displayed on the right side of your screen.

You can click the expand button in the corner to open the results in a new tab.

Remark : if you right-click anywhere outside of an image, you can choose from the “Find images with Google Lens” menu. After clicking this option, you can drag the image to select it.

You want to know more ?

Google offers a support page on Google Lens, which explains in detail how to use this feature in the Chrome web browser for laptops and desktops.

Written by Maggie Tillman.