Google Lens

Look up what you’re looking at

Google Lens uses your phone’s camera or an image to help search for things in the world around you. It suits anyone who wants to identify an object, read text without typing it out, or find more information from a picture. Rather than being a game, it’s a practical tool for quick visual searches.

From text to plants and places

Lens can recognize text in images, letting you copy it or translate it. Point it at a plant or animal to look for a match, or use it to find information about a landmark or storefront. For shopping searches, an image can help you find similar clothing, furniture, or other products. It can also bring up popular dishes when you scan a restaurant menu, using information associated with Google Maps reviews.

A camera-led way to search

The basic idea is straightforward: show Lens a photo or camera view, then choose the kind of information you need. Text, translation, shopping, and other search modes help narrow the task. Results can lead into Google Search, so Lens is most useful when a visual clue is easier to provide than a written description.

At a glance

Published by Google LLC, Google Lens is listed in the Tools category. Its 4.73 rating from about 2.78 million reviews and 1 billion-plus installs point to broad use, though individual results depend on what Lens can recognize and the information available for it. If you’re looking for something to play, this isn’t it; if you often need to make sense of text, objects, or places you see, it may be a handy tool to keep around.