How to Use Google Lens to Identify Anything with Your Camera
Google Lens lets you point your camera at text, plants, animals, or products and instantly find out what they are — no typing needed.
At a Glance
Open Google Lens
~15sPoint your camera at anything
~15sTap the shutter button
~15sExplore the results
~15sUse "Translate" for foreign text
~15sYou Did It!
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Google Lens is one of the most useful tools on your phone — and most people have never heard of it. It lets you point your camera at almost anything and get instant information: the name of a plant, a translation of text in another language, information about a restaurant, or a link to buy a product you see in a store.
What Google Lens can do:
- Identify plants and animals from a photo - Translate text in another language (like a restaurant menu in Spanish or French) - Identify a product and show you where to buy it online - Search for similar images online - Copy handwritten or printed text into your phone so you can paste it elsewhere - Identify landmarks and buildings
How to open Google Lens:
On Android phones: Open the Google app (the colorful "G" icon). Tap the colorful camera icon at the right side of the search bar. Your camera will open in Lens mode.
On iPhone: Download the free Google app from the App Store. Open it and tap the camera icon next to the search bar.
On any phone: Open Google Photos and find a photo you've already taken. Tap the Google Lens icon (it looks like a small camera with a circle) at the bottom.
How to use it:
1. Point your phone's camera at whatever you want to identify. 2. Tap the shutter button (the circle on screen) to take a photo, or just hover over text to see it analyzed live. 3. Google Lens shows you information at the bottom of the screen. Swipe up for more details.
Translating text:
Point Google Lens at any text in a foreign language. Tap "Translate" at the bottom. The words on your screen will be replaced instantly with English text.
Copying text from paper:
Point Lens at any printed text — a receipt, a label, a letter. Tap "Text" at the bottom. You'll see the text appear that you can select and copy — no typing needed.
Quick Tip:
Google Lens works with photos you've already taken too. Open Google Photos, tap any photo, then tap the Lens icon at the bottom. This is great for identifying plants or products you photographed earlier.
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