How to Use Google Lens in Chrome
Google Lens is built into Chrome and lets you search what you see on a page: an image, a product, or a block of text. On a computer, select More (three dots) > Search this tab with Google Lens, or right-click the page and choose the same option, then select what you want to search. Results open in the side panel. Lens needs Google as your default search engine. The steps below follow Google’s Search with Google Lens in Chrome help.
How to Search with Google Lens from Any Image
To perform a visual search using Google Lens in Chrome on a computer:
- Go to the page with the image.
- Select More > Search this tab with Google Lens, or right-click the page and select Search this tab with Google Lens.
- Click the image you want to search.
- Results appear in the side panel. Select a result to open it in a new tab.
Using Lens to Search a Region of a Page
You can use Google Lens to search a specific area of a webpage:
- Open Lens as above.
- Drag across the part of the page you want to search, or highlight text.
- Release the mouse button to start the search.
- To ask a question about the page instead, type it in the search box at the top right or in the side panel.
Translating Text with Lens and Chrome
Lens can search text you highlight on a page. To translate a whole page, use Chrome’s built-in translate feature: on the right of the address bar select Translate, or right-click the page and select Translate to [Language]. To translate only some text, highlight it, right-click and select Translate selection to [Language].
Shopping with Lens in Chrome
Google Lens can help you find products you see in images. Google’s own example: select an image of a shirt on a page to find out where to buy it.
- Open Lens on the page with the product.
- Click the product image or drag around it.
- The side panel shows matching results, including places to buy.
Google Lens on Android, iPhone and iPad
- Android, an image on a page: touch and hold the image, then tap Search image with Google Lens.
- Android, with your camera: open a new tab, then in the search bar tap Google Lens > Search with your camera.
- iPhone: on a website, tap Google Lens on the left of the address bar, or tap More > Search Screen with Google Lens. Then tap, draw or highlight what you want to search.
What Lens Sends to Google
When you use Lens on a page, Google says a screenshot of the page and page data are sent to Google. Google says it keeps that data only in temporary storage to process the search and does not use the page or image for training. The part you select is sent to Google Search, and you can manage it in My Google Activity.
Lens vs Traditional Reverse Image Search
| Feature | Google Lens | Traditional Reverse Image Search |
|---|---|---|
| Image Recognition | Advanced recognition with AI | Basic matching |
| Text on the page | Select and search text | Not available |
| Shopping Integration | Shows places to buy | Not available |
| Search Specific Region | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable Google Lens in Chrome?
Lens is built in. It needs Google as your default search engine. The first time you use it, Chrome asks you to agree to sending page data to Google.
Can I use Google Lens on mobile devices?
Yes, Google Lens functions are available on Android and iOS devices through the Chrome app.
What should I do if Google Lens is not working?
Check that Google is your default search engine, update Chrome, restart it, and make sure your internet connection is working.
Is Google Lens available on all platforms?
Yes. Google’s help covers Lens in Chrome on computers, Android phones and tablets, and iPhone.
Can Google Lens search for text within any image?
Lens can select and search text on a page. On iPhone, after you highlight text with Lens, you can tap Google Translate to translate it.