How to Reverse Image Search Using Your Desktop or Phone

Gone are the days you have to guess at keywords or terms related to a photo, hoping to find its source or similar pictures. With reverse image search, you can search the internet using an image instead of a keyword.

This method can bring you more accurate results and provide details about the image. Today, people use reverse image searching for many things - from verifying someone’s identity to simply trying to find where to buy a certain product. 

The good news is that you can search for reverse images on your desktop or phone. This article will show you how to use both methods in numerous search engines.

How To Reverse Image Search

Because of technology's steady growth, asking online questions using an image is now possible. Find a compatible search engine, upload the photo, and search away.

This new way of searching is called a reverse image search. It detects the subject on your image, which now works on leading browsers.

There are also reverse image search websites that rely on broader databases. With that, they can uncover more details about the image or its subject. Their answers refer to search results that include similar images and related websites.

Each tool may have its differences, but they have the following similar features:

• Reveal plagiarism
• Explore products online
• Debunk fake or edited images
• Discover fake profiles or scammers
• Find websites that use identical images
• Locate the image's source and original size
• Search for similar images with better quality
• Identify items or people with related information

You may choose a reverse image search tool that best fits your needs, which we will discuss extensively. There are free and paid reverse image services depending on the information that you're looking for.

Using Google for Reverse Image Searching

First on the list is the one that leads all search engines on the Internet. According to statistics, Google generates 8.5 billion searches daily. 

In 2011, Google introduced "Google Search by Images." This feature allows users to use the search engine using images. 

Google Reverse Image Search on Desktop 

Use this tool on your desktop with these steps:

Step 1: Open the Google search engine or go to google.com 

Step 2: Click on "Images." If "Images" is unavailable, you may open this link on your web browser: images.google.com

Step 3: Click on the camera icon.

Step 4: Drag or upload an image or paste the image's link.

Step 5: Press enter or click "Search" 

This search engine is accessible on the phone as well using the Google Chrome app.

Google Reverse Image Search on Phone 

Google's reverse image search feature is also accessible on Android and Apple smartphones. 

To use this, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open Chrome or Google App.

Step 2: Click on the lens icon to prompt Google Lens.

This image is the phone interface of the Chrome app.

Step 3: Take a photo of the image that you want to search about, or you can 

 Step 4: Once you have taken or chosen an image, you can translate, text, search, do homework, shopping, and more. In general, you may click on "Search." 

After taking or uploading the photo, Google shows initial search results. Scroll down to see more related images.

Use Bing for Your Reverse Image Search 

Another search engine in the market that you can use to search for an image in reverse is Microsoft's Bing. This search engine may also give you information about an image. 

Bing calls its reverse image search feature "Visual Search." 

Bing Reverse Image Search on Desktop 

Here are the steps for using Bing to search using an image:

Step 1: Open the Microsoft search engine or go to bing.com.

Step 2: Click the lens icon.

Step 3: Choose either dragging or uploading an image, pasting an image or the image's link, or taking a photo

Like Google Search by Image and Google Lens, Bing can also be accessible on your phone. 

Bing Reverse Image Search on Phone 

You can open this reverse image search tool on a browser or in an app. To use this, you may follow the steps below:

Step 1: You can either open your browser and go to Bing's website or open your Bing app or Microsoft Edge app.

Step 2: Click on the camera or lens icon on the right edge of the search bar.

This image is the Microsoft Edge phone app interface. 

Step 3: Either take a photo or choose an image to upload 

  The Bing or the Microsoft Edge phone app will then show you results that include related images or subjects of the image. 

Try The Yandex Reverse Image Search

Yandex is a Russia-based reverse image search website that serves international countries, including America. Like Google and Bing, this search engine is accessible on phones and desktops.

Yandex Reverse Image Search on Desktop

Like Google and Microsoft services, Yandex is also accessible on desktop software and a website version. Here are the steps to use it on your desktop:

Step 1: Open Yandex or go to Yandex's website.

Step 2: Click on "Images"

Step 3: Click the camera icon 

Step 4: Drag an image, upload an image, or paste an image's link

After uploading an image or pasting the image's link, Yandex will search right away. Search results consist of images with similar subjects to your given photo. 

You can explore the images' sources and see more information about the subject from there. 

Yandex Reverse Image Search on Phone

Searching with Yandex on your phone can happen in two ways. You can access this by going to its website using a web browser or installing its phone application. The latter is available for download in Google Play and the App Store.

Once you open either, you may follow these steps to use it:

Step 1: Click on the camera icon

Step 2: Either take a photo or select an image from your device's library

  Step 3: Wait for the results.

When the results are ready, you may choose which results you want to explore: is it similar images or websites? Also, you may scroll down on the initial results. 

Utilize Social Catfish for Reverse Image Search 

Social Catfish is a website that you can access on browsers using both desktop and phone. 

This tool offers reverse search features using images, names, addresses, phones, emails, and usernames. 

Social Catfish Reverse Image Search on Desktop 

Social Catfish is one of many websites in the market that you can use to search using an image. You can access this on a desktop with these steps:

Step 1: Go to Social Catfish's website.

Step 2: Click on "Images"

Step 3: Click the search bar to either browse and upload an image you want to search about.

Step 4: Wait for the results. 

Step 5: Click on "Yes, I understand" to continue.

Step 6: Subscribe to their website to open the full report, or you can do this before starting to search using an image.

Social Catfish Reverse Image Search on Phone 

What’s good about Social Catfish is its reverse image search tool is accessible on any web browser that your smartphone has. To use this, open your web browser. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: When you're on Social Catfish's website, click on "Images"

Step 2: Like the website's interface, click on the search bar to browse and upload an image you want to search about

Step 3: Wait for the results.

Step 4: Click on "Yes, I understand" to continue.

Step 5: Subscribe to their website, or you can do this before searching so you can access the search results.

Social Catfish guarantees that your searches are private and secure. Initial search results may include people's full names, ages, and locations. 

In contrast, paid search results may consist of related online profiles, social media accounts, email addresses, and other public records on its database. 

Using TinEye As A Reverse Image Search Tool

Aside from Social Catfish, TinEye is another website offering reverse image search. This website may help you find related websites, posts, and images to the one you uploaded. 

Follow the steps below and see possible answers:

TinEye Reverse Image Search on Desktop 

Here are the steps to use TinEye on your desktop:

Step 1: Go to TinEye's website

Step 2: Upload or paste an image link

Step 3: Click the magnifying glass icon 

Step 4: Wait for the results 

If the desktop is inconvenient, using your smartphone is the way to go. 

TinEye Reverse Image Search on Phone 

Like Social Catfish, you can access TinEye through your browser. This Canada-based reverse image search website offers a handful of free chances to image search. The free passes count to 150 inquiries a week. Having a subscription will allow you to access more than that. 

To use TinEye's website, here are the steps:

Step 1: Open your browser and go to TinEye's website.

Step 2: Upload an image from your device, enter the image you copied, or paste the image's link. 

Step 3: Click on the magnifying glass icon, or there are times that it searches right away after giving the image

Step 4: Wait for the results.

Other Reverse Image Search Phone Applications

There are services for reverse image search exclusive to smartphones. These are Veracity and Search by Image. 

Application for Apple Phone

Veracity Reverse Image Search is free and available on the Apple App Store. Like search engines and websites, this app allows Apple phone users to find similar pictures online and uncover fake profiles.

You may upload images from your device or paste a photo on the app's clipboard. 

Application for Android Phone 

Search by Image is a free application that you can get from the Google Play Store. As the user, this allows you to reverse image search in Google, TinEye, and Yandex's databases simultaneously. 

Because of the many possible search results, this app has a feature where you can edit an image before uploading. This feature allows you to narrow down or specify search results. 

Difference between Free and Paid Reverse Image Search Tools

Free reverse image search tools like Google, Bing, and Yandex rely on information available to the public. This information may come from social media accounts, news publications, blogs, and other public records. 

Paid reverse image search tools like Social Catfish and TinEye have noncommercial or free versions. These tools can give you initial search results, and you'll have to subscribe for more access.

TinEye keeps the information of the image's owner private and secure as much as the user. This privacy means that possible confidential information may not show up on TinEye's search results. 

Meanwhile, Social Catfish's paid version can provide a full public and private information report. This reverse image search website has legitimate access to confidential information. 

Wrap Up

Many search engines, websites, and phone applications that can help you with reverse image search. 

However, if you are looking for a person, there are other ways to find them on social media or their address. There are also reputable reverse phone lookup tools and credible people search sites.

It's important to note that these tools are secure, free, and legal. Paid services are available for complete reports, more search passes, or an ad-free interface.