How to Reverse Image Search Using Your Desktop or Phone

There are many reasons why you may want to search for something using an image. It could be that you are trying to find a person or a product, or want to learn more about something that you have an image of. 

People also use this method to verify someone's identity and protect their online privacy and lower the risk of cyberattacks. 

Whatever your reason may be, reverse image search may be a good option for you. The good news is, even social media platforms such as Twitter have the option to do a reverse image search. 

In this article, explore the reverse image search tools that work on your phone and desktop as well as background check sites that have this feature. 

What Is Reverse Image Search?

Because of technology's growth, it is now possible to ask questions on the internet in the form of an image. 

It is possible not to use texts or keywords to ask a question or if you want to learn more about an image. 

Reverse image search tools detect the subject on your image and they often work on almost any web browsers. 

The reverse image search websites have databases that can uncover more details about the image or its subject. These answers refer to search results that include similar images and related websites. 

What Can Reverse Image Search Do?

Reverse image search is possible with tools accessible on phones and computers. Some of these tools are search engines like Google and Bing. 

Google is one of the biggest search engines and has a very sophisticated reverse image search feature. 

Some websites, such as Social Catfish and TinEye, also offer reverse image search services. 

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

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

You may choose a reverse image search tool which best fits your needs. We will be discussing different tools that you can pick from. 

Reverse Image Search Tools

There are lots of reverse image search tools in the market. You may access this on your phone and computer. 

Just like how there are free reverse phone lookup tools on the internet, there are also free and paid reverse image search services depending on the information that you're looking for. 

Before seeing your options, saving an image on your device or preparing the image's link would be convenient. 

Here are some of the tools that help their users with search results. 

Google 

Google introduced "Google Search by Images" in 2011. 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 not available, 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.

If you find Google and Chrome inconvenient, you may install Google Lens. This app is available for Android and Apple phones. 

In case you want to try another option apart from Google services. There is a Microsoft equal for this feature that can also be helpful for you. 

Bing 

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

While Google calls it "Google Lens" or "Search by Image," Bing calls it "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. 

Bing and Microsoft Edge work on both Android and Apple phones. These apps are available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. 

Google and Microsoft may not be serving enough results for you. Try another search engine that also allows you to search using images. 

Yandex 

This Russia-based reverse images search website 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, Yandex Browser with Protect. 

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. 

Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yandex can help search in reverse using images. Yet, reverse image search is accessible aside from them. Another method that you may use is using people search websites such as Social Catfish and TinEye. 

Social Catfish 

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

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

For instance, you only have your phone with you. The good thing is you can still access this website. 

Social Catfish Reverse Image Search on Phone 

This 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 name, age, and location. 

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

TinEye 

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. 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

Unlike Social Catfish, Google, Bing, and Yandex, TinEye doesn't give similar images.

Instead, it finds the exact images that match. These pictures include those edited, cropped, or resized. 

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 count. 

These search engines and websites may be helpful for you as you may only have an image to use as a query. You can try one of these that best fits your needs or try them all.

Other Reverse Image Search Phone Applications

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

Application for Apple Phone

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

You may upload images from your device or paste a photo on the app's clipboard. This app is free, yet it contains ads. If you wish to remove the ads, you must pay $2.99.

Application for Android Phone 

Search by Image is a free application that you can get from 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. 

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

Conclusion

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

If you are looking for a person, there are other ways to find them on social media or their address. You can use reverse phone lookup tools or people search sites if you have their phone number, name, or email address. 

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. Because there can be a lot of results, it is important to always double check if you have the right person.