How to Do a Reverse Image Search (Desktop and Mobile)

Semrush Team

Dec 23, 20226 min read
Reverse Image Search

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A reverse image search is the act of searching the internet with an image rather than keywords.

It helps you uncover more details about the image itself and its subject matter.

Such as:

  • The original size of the image
  • Alternative sizes
  • Other appearances on the internet
  • Visually similar images

Here’s an example of a reverse image search for an image of a Tesla Model 3:

Tesla Model 3 reverse image search

In this article, we’ll cover how to do a reverse image search on desktop and mobile.

And how you can get attribution for any of your uncredited images.

How to Do a Reverse Image Search on a Desktop

Performing a reverse image search on your desktop computer is simple.

Let’s look at how you can do it on any browser on your desktop.

How to Do a Reverse Google Image Search on Desktop Browsers

Open Google Images. Select the camera icon.

google images camera icon

You’ll get two options:

  1. Paste image link. This option allows you to use the URL of an image you have found on the internet.
  2. Upload a file. This option allows you to upload an image from your computer to use as the search item.
search images with google lens

Choose the search option based on your preference. 

As an example, we’ll use the “Paste image link” option and hit “Search.”

paste url and search

Now, Google will take you to the Google Lens interface.

Google Lens interface

In Google Lens, click on the “Find image source” link at top.

find image source

Then Google will show the image's search results page.

google serp

It will include information about the image's size, webpages where that image is used, and other visually similar images.

How to Do a Reverse Google Image Search for Online Images 

You can use Google Lens to quickly do a reverse image search for any image you see online.

This works on the Chrome browser on a desktop computer or laptop.

1. Locate the image you want to search and right-click on it.

2. Select “Search image with Google” option.

using google lens for online images

This will open up the Google Lens panel on the right side of the page:

search image with google option

3. Click on the “Find image source” link at top.

Find image source

Then Google will show the image's search results page.

google serp

Reverse Image Search Using Microsoft Bing

Microsoft Bing has its own reverse image search functionality called Visual Search. 

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Microsoft Bing

2. Click the Visual Search icon in the search bar.

Bing visual search

You’ll get three options to conduct your reverse image search:

  • Upload: This option allows you to drag an image into the box and upload it from your computer. You can upload more than one image at a time.
  • URL: This option lets you search for an image by pasting its URL
  • Take a photo: This option allows you to use your webcam to take a photo and use it for reverse image search
reverse image search in visual search

3. Choose the option that works best for you and wait while Visual Search analyzes your image.

Then Microsoft Bing will show visually similar images, pages that feature the image, and related content.

Like so:

visual search results

Reverse Image Search Using Yandex

Yandex is another popular search engine that can perform reverse image searches.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Yandex Images.

2. Click on the Visual Search icon in the search bar.

image search with Yandex

You’ll get two options to conduct your reverse image search:

  • Upload an image file (or drag and drop)
  • Enter image URL 
Yandex image search options

3. Choose the option that works best for you and hit “Search.”

Yandex search

Then Yandex’s reverse search results will display information about image’s size, other webpages where that image is used, and other similar images.

Reverse Image Search Using Third-Party Websites

Multiple third-party websites specialize in reverse image searches.

But TinEye is one of the best options out there.

TinEye works exactly the same way as the normal Google reverse image search. 

You can upload an image or add a URL to perform image searches. 

TinEye reverse image search

And it will scan the web to find webpages where the image is used.

Like so:

how TinEye works

A paid version gives you advanced features like custom alerts and more usage quota.

TinEye also has extensions available for some browsers.

How to Do a Google Reverse Image Search on a Mobile Device

Performing a reverse image search on a mobile device is quite similar to desktop.

On both iOS and Android devices, you can use the Google Chrome app to access the Google reverse image search feature.

Reverse Image Search on Android Phone Using Google Chrome

The entire process is almost identical to how you would do this in the Chrome browser on a desktop.

1. Go to Google Images.

2. Select the camera icon.

Reverse Image Search on Android Phone Using Google Chrome

You’ll get two options to complete your search:

  1. Search with your camera
  2. Upload an image
search with camera or upload your image

3. Choose the search option that works best for you. Google will run a reverse search on the image and return the results:

google results page

Swipe up from the bottom to see more results:

see more results

Reverse Image Search on iPhone Using Google Chrome

The camera icon isn’t available on the search bar in the iPhone’s Chrome app by default, but two options act as a workaround.

These include:

  1. Using the “long press” method.
  2. Using your browser to request the desktop version of Google.

Use the Long Press Method

1. Navigate to the image you want to search. 

2. Perform a “long press” (i.e., press and hold down on the image until a menu pops up). And select “Search Google for this Image.”

Long Press Method

3. Google will run a reverse search on the image and return the results:

google image serp

Use the Desktop Version of Google

1. In Chrome, go to Google Images.

2. Tap the three-dot menu at the bottom of your screen.

click on 3 dots in the desktop version of google

3. Scroll down to the menu and select “Request Desktop Site.”

Request Desktop Site

The app will take you to the the desktop version of the Google Images website:

desktop version of the Google Images

Note: You can also do this in your Safari browser by clicking on the font size icon on the left side of your URL bar.

From there, perform the same steps as you would on a desktop. 

4. Select the camera icon.

select the camera icon

5. Then paste the URL or upload the image you want to search for. 

paste the URL or upload the image

Let’s look at four practical uses for a reverse image search:

  • Find more information about the image's subject matter. With reverse image search, you can look up what the image essentially is and uncover more information about it.
  • Check for copyright violations. This can work for your own images, or you can check whether the image you have found is under copyright.
  • Finding an image source to give credit. When you use someone else’s image, it's best to give the credit where it’s due. If you don’t know the original source of the image, you can find it with a reverse image search and give them the credit.
  • Build backlinks. With reverse image search, you can identify websites that have used your images without crediting your site with a backlink. Once you find those sites, send an email asking them for proper attribution.

You can use Semrush’s Link Building Tool to track your outreach efforts.

And make sure you get credit for your work.

Start by entering your domain. Then, configure any additional settings you may find useful for future SEO link building. (You can change these settings at any time.)

enter your domain in Link Building Tool

Note: The tool provides a list of backlink prospects based on your competitors and target keywords. But we’ll focus on adding those sites you found in your reverse image search.

Click the “+ Add” button under “Uploaded.”

“+ Add” button under “Uploaded”

Then, manually add those sites that use your image without attribution. And click “Add new domains.”

manually add sites that use your image without attribution in the Link Building Tool

You’ll see your added backlink prospects in the tool.

"Domain prospects" page in Link Building Tool

From here, you can choose your outreach strategy. In this case, it will likely be “Link from mention.”

"Select an outreach strategy" drop-down menu

Your backlink prospect will move to the “In Progress” tab.

“Domains in Progress” tab

Then, you can… 

  • Connect your mailbox
  • Contact site administrators to add attribution for your image
  • Track your requests within the tool
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