Chrome is a super popular browser for good reason, packing tons of features that make browsing the internet way smoother. There are so many functionalities, and more are constantly being added, that it’s likely even the most experienced users might not know them all.
One of these features is Google Lens integration. Many of you probably know what Google Lens is and might have even used it on your phone. However, you might not know it’s now part of the Chrome browser on your computer. And if you’ve never even heard of Google Lens, no worries, I’ve got your back.
What exactly is Google Lens?
Google Lens is an AI tool that helps you find things using an image. You can search for the image’s source on the internet, find text in the image, or even translate that text.
It can also help you recognize plants or animals in the image, or locate that jacket or shoes you saw someone wearing in a picture.
You’ve probably come across Google Lens in apps like Google Photos, Google Search, or on Android devices such as the camera app on Google Pixel. But now it’s also integrated into the Google Chrome browser on your desktop.
So, if you come across an image while reading an article on your computer and want to find its source or identify something in it, you no longer need to reach for your phone. It’s actually really easy to use.
Using Google Lens to Search an Image in Chrome
There are two main ways to use Google Lens to search an image in Chrome.
Method 1: Right-click on image
The most effective method is to directly right-click on the image you’re interested in. Then, from the context menu, select “Search image with Google Lens”.
Method 2: Right-click anywhere on page
Alternatively, you can right-click anywhere on the page and then select “Search Images with Google Lens”. This lets you select multiple images or even text from the webpage. Think of it like taking a screenshot, so you can capture any section of the screen you need.
Then, just drag your mouse over the image or images you want to search.
Navigating the Google Lens Panel
Either way you start the search, the Google Lens panel will open on the right side of your screen. You can use it right there in the side panel, or you can click the ‘Open’ button to view it in a separate tab.
If you need to focus on a specific part of the image, you can adjust the selection area using your mouse.
The panel will show you visual matches and other relevant results for the content in the image. This could include landmarks or websites with similar items like clothing. Clicking on a result will open it in a new tab.
But, if you are looking for the webpage that has that exact image, then select the ‘Find Image Source’ option in the panel.
To detect the text from the image, switch to the ‘Text’ tab.
Next, select the text from the image. You can copy it or view search results for your text selection.
To translate any text in the image, select the ‘Translate’ tab.
Then, select the source and destination languages from the dropdown at the top. Google can auto-detect the source language if you’re not sure, and you only need to select the language you want to translate to.
To close the Google Lens panel, just click the ‘Close (X)’ button.
Google Lens in Chrome is a great feature that can improve your browsing experience. And while it’s already become much better for desktop use, it’s likely only going to keep getting better from here.