5 ways to search what you see with Google Lens

If you're new to Google Lens or just looking to up your game, here's how you can make the most of this cool tool on both Android and iOS devices. Let's dive into some of our favorite ways to use Lens to explore the world around you.
Point your camera and ask a question
Ever wondered about that intriguing piece of art at the museum? Just whip out your camera and point it at the object. Ask away, and you'll get an AI-generated overview packed with key info and links to dive deeper. Feeling chatty? Go ahead and ask your question out loud as you snap a pic—it's as easy as asking a buddy about something you're curious about.
Find helpful context with "About this image"
You know the saying, "Seeing is believing"? Well, sometimes it's good to double-check. If you come across an image online or anywhere else and want more context, the "About this image" feature in Lens has got you covered. It'll show you how the image is used across different pages, giving you insights from news and fact-checking sites.
Image credit: “Lenticular Cloud over Harold's Cross Dublin Ireland taken at 11:30AM, 30th June 2015” by Omnisource5, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Search what you see on desktop, with Lens in Chrome
When you're cruising the web on your desktop, Lens in Chrome makes it a breeze to search and ask questions about anything that catches your eye—without even leaving your current tab. Just hit the Lens icon in the address bar, click or drag to select whatever you're curious about, and voila! Helpful results pop up in a side panel, and you can even refine your search or ask more questions.
Get product details instantly
Spotted something you fancy while shopping? Snap a pic with Lens, and bam! You'll instantly see product details like prices, deals, reviews, and where to snag it. And if you're in a store, you get the bonus of checking if similar items are in stock, comparing prices, and reading shopper reviews.
Summarize or copy text from a photo
Got text in a photo, even if it's handwritten? Use Lens to snap it, and you can get a summary, ask questions about the content, or copy it right to your clipboard. Depending on what you ask, Lens might even highlight specific parts of the image, like pointing out the veggie options on a restaurant menu.
Curious about something you see? Let Lens and its AI magic help you out. For more handy tips on using Lens, check out this post.
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Comments (29)
0/500
Honestly, I've had Google Lens on my phone for ages but barely use it. This article made me realize I'm basically ignoring a superpower in my pocket. Gonna try that 'point and ask' thing with my weird houseplant later 🌱. Hope it doesn't tell me it's an alien species!
Ich hab eigentlich schon öfter von Google Lens gehört, aber es dann doch nie wirklich genutzt. Dieser Artikel hat mich jetzt auf neue Ideen gebracht – direktes Fragen per Kamera klingt richtig praktisch! Mal schauen, ob das bei diesen komplizierten Pflanzen in meinem Garten auch funktioniert 😅 Vielleicht wird‘s ja nützlicher als erwartet.
Google Lens is pretty neat! Pointing my camera to ID plants or translate signs feels like sci-fi magic. But sometimes it’s hit-or-miss with obscure stuff. Anyone else find it struggles with weird fonts? 🤔
Google Lens sounds super handy! Pointing my camera to ID plants or translate signs is like having a mini genius in my pocket. 😎 Gotta try the shopping feature next time I’m out!

If you're new to Google Lens or just looking to up your game, here's how you can make the most of this cool tool on both Android and iOS devices. Let's dive into some of our favorite ways to use Lens to explore the world around you.
Point your camera and ask a question
Ever wondered about that intriguing piece of art at the museum? Just whip out your camera and point it at the object. Ask away, and you'll get an AI-generated overview packed with key info and links to dive deeper. Feeling chatty? Go ahead and ask your question out loud as you snap a pic—it's as easy as asking a buddy about something you're curious about.
Find helpful context with "About this image"
You know the saying, "Seeing is believing"? Well, sometimes it's good to double-check. If you come across an image online or anywhere else and want more context, the "About this image" feature in Lens has got you covered. It'll show you how the image is used across different pages, giving you insights from news and fact-checking sites.
Image credit: “Lenticular Cloud over Harold's Cross Dublin Ireland taken at 11:30AM, 30th June 2015” by Omnisource5, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Search what you see on desktop, with Lens in Chrome
When you're cruising the web on your desktop, Lens in Chrome makes it a breeze to search and ask questions about anything that catches your eye—without even leaving your current tab. Just hit the Lens icon in the address bar, click or drag to select whatever you're curious about, and voila! Helpful results pop up in a side panel, and you can even refine your search or ask more questions.
Get product details instantly
Spotted something you fancy while shopping? Snap a pic with Lens, and bam! You'll instantly see product details like prices, deals, reviews, and where to snag it. And if you're in a store, you get the bonus of checking if similar items are in stock, comparing prices, and reading shopper reviews.
Summarize or copy text from a photo
Got text in a photo, even if it's handwritten? Use Lens to snap it, and you can get a summary, ask questions about the content, or copy it right to your clipboard. Depending on what you ask, Lens might even highlight specific parts of the image, like pointing out the veggie options on a restaurant menu.
Curious about something you see? Let Lens and its AI magic help you out. For more handy tips on using Lens, check out this post.
Barry Diller: Trust in Sam Altman irrelevant as AGI nears
Barry Diller, the billionaire media titan, does not believe OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is untrustworthy, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise. Speaking at the Wall Street Journal's "Future of Everything" conference this week, Diller defended Altman
YouTube expands AI deepfake detection to politicians, government officials, and journalists
On Tuesday, YouTube announced it is expanding its deepfake detection technology to a select group of government officials, political candidates, and journalists. The tool identifies AI-generated likenesses and lets pilot participants request the remo
Honestly, I've had Google Lens on my phone for ages but barely use it. This article made me realize I'm basically ignoring a superpower in my pocket. Gonna try that 'point and ask' thing with my weird houseplant later 🌱. Hope it doesn't tell me it's an alien species!
Ich hab eigentlich schon öfter von Google Lens gehört, aber es dann doch nie wirklich genutzt. Dieser Artikel hat mich jetzt auf neue Ideen gebracht – direktes Fragen per Kamera klingt richtig praktisch! Mal schauen, ob das bei diesen komplizierten Pflanzen in meinem Garten auch funktioniert 😅 Vielleicht wird‘s ja nützlicher als erwartet.
Google Lens is pretty neat! Pointing my camera to ID plants or translate signs feels like sci-fi magic. But sometimes it’s hit-or-miss with obscure stuff. Anyone else find it struggles with weird fonts? 🤔
Google Lens sounds super handy! Pointing my camera to ID plants or translate signs is like having a mini genius in my pocket. 😎 Gotta try the shopping feature next time I’m out!





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