How to search by face in google photos

In today’s digital age, everyone has a readily available camera at their disposal at all times. Moreover, unauthorized photos of you can rapidly propagate throughout the web without you even knowing it. Would it not be great if you did know how to do a face search on Google to find them?

At first, doing Google face searches sounds controversial, as it may lead to privacy issues. However, there are many benign uses for face searches, including hunting for stolen or leak photos, spotting fake profiles and online scams.

Moreover, marketers could make a Google face search to evaluate the results of marketing and public relations campaigns, following specific pictures published and shared by third parties.

This post will illustrate how to do a face search on Google from your personal computer, laptop, iOS and Android mobile devices.

  • Can You Do a Face Search on Google?
  • Face Search Pros and Cons
  • How to Do a Facial Recognition Search on Google
  • Google Face Search iPhone
    • Searching on an iPhone Using Safari
    • Reverse Image Search on an iPhone Using the Google App
  • Google Face Search Android
    • Searching on Android Using the Chrome Browser
    • Reverse Image Search on Android Using the Google App
  • Start Making Face Searches on Google

As the world’s top search engine, Google is the first natural place to look if you want to search for specific pictures or photographs on the Internet.

And technically, you can do a face search on Google, but there is a caveat.

The Google search image feature doesn’t focus con facial recognition. Instead, it uses reverse image search technology, matching the whole image.

Say, for example, you upload into Google an image in which you are wearing a white shirt and using a Laptop. Google might find pictures of people who look like you. However, it will also include search results of other people who also wear a white shirt or use laptops but don’t necessarily look like you.

Still, Google reverse image search is outstanding and is worth trying first.

If nothing comes up, you might want to consider more specialized facial recognition search engines. Follow the link to see a post that we wrote, which includes seven such tools.

Face Search Pros and Cons

Face search is a controversial issue. Check out our post about the disadvantages of facial recognition. In addition, check out our post about the benefits of facial recognition.

Moving on, let’s now focus on how to do a facial recognition search on Google.

How to Do a Facial Recognition Search on Google

Firstly, we will explain how to do an image reverse search from a personal computer (PC) or laptop:

1. Go to Google.com

How to search by face in google photos

2. Click on the “Images” menu at the top of the screen.

How to search by face in google photos

On the other hand, you can skip these steps and go directly to “images.google.com,” which will lead you to the same page.

3. On the Google Images screen, click on the camera icon.

How to search by face in google photos

4. You can either provide an URL for the image or upload it. Click on the “upload an image” tab.

How to search by face in google photos

5. Click the “Choose File” button.

How to search by face in google photos

6. The file explorer will start. Select a file from your PC or Laptop. Afterward, the image will begin uploading.

How to search by face in google photos

7. Google will present search results visually similar images relevant to the one you uploaded.

How to search by face in google photos

Google Face Search iPhone

There are two ways of making Google reverse image searches from Apple smartphones. You can use the phone’s web browser (For example, Safari), go to Google Images. Alternatively, you can download the Google App, which includes Google Lens, their image recognition technology.

Searching on an iPhone Using Safari

For this example, we will use the Safari web browser. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Safari web browser and go to Google.com. Click on the “Images” menu on the top of the page to go to Google Images. Similarly, you can directly browse to images.google.com to reach the same destination.

How to search by face in google photos

The Mobile version of the Google Image search website doesn’t allow image uploads. Therefore, you need to switch to the desktop version of the page.

2. Tap the AA button at the top left of the screen on the Safari Browser.

How to search by face in google photos

3. A menu will appear. Tap the “Request Desktop Website” option.

How to search by face in google photos

4. Once you reach the desktop version of Google Image, tap the camera icon.

How to search by face in google photos

5. Press the “Upload an Image” tap.

How to search by face in google photos

6. Tap the “Choose File” button.

How to search by face in google photos

7. You may pick an image from your phone’s photo library, browse the phone’s file system or even take a picture using the camera. Tap the “Photo Library” menu option.

How to search by face in google photos

8. At this point, you may select an image from your phone’s library. Once you have done so, the image will begin uploading to Google search.

How to search by face in google photos

9. When uploading finishes, Google will search and present relevant search results from the Internet. Just as searching from a PC or Laptop, it includes a list of websites and a link to visually similar images.

How to search by face in google photos

Reverse Image Search on an iPhone Using the Google App

Before you start, download and install the Google App from the App Store.

How to search by face in google photos

Afterward, follow these steps.

1. Open the Google App and when you reach the main screen, tap the camera button.

How to search by face in google photos

2. Google Lens will start. Tap the picture icon to select an image from your photo library. Likewise, you may also take a picture using your phone’s camera.

How to search by face in google photos

3. The Google app will upload the picture and present relevant search results, including websites’ URLs and images from the Internet.

How to search by face in google photos

A remarkable feature from Google Lens, is that it can identify relevant hotspots inside your images, for instance, an object, and focus your search on them. Try it out!

Google Face Search Android

On Android, you can also perform reverse image searches on Google, either using a web browser or the Google App.

Searching on Android Using the Chrome Browser

For this example, you need to download and install the Google Chrome browser from Google Play. Then, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and navigate to Google.com. Click on the “Images” menu on the top of the page to go to Google Images. Similarly, you can directly browse to images.google.com.

How to search by face in google photos

To continue, you need to switch to the desktop version of the page, as the mobile version of Google search doesn’t support image upload.

2. Tap the Google Chrome menu button (The three dots).

How to search by face in google photos

3. A menu will appear. Tap the “Desktop Website” option.

How to search by face in google photos

4. Once you reach the desktop version of Google Image, tap the camera icon.

How to search by face in google photos

5. Press the “Upload an Image” tap. Also, you may paste the URL of an image from the Internet.

How to search by face in google photos

6. Tap the “Choose File” button.

How to search by face in google photos

7. Tap the “Documents” action. There is also an option to take a picture with the phone’s camera by tapping the camera icon.

How to search by face in google photos

8. Select an image from your Android phone’s library. Google will search and present relevant search results from the Internet. Just as searching from a PC or Laptop, it includes a list of websites and a link to visually similar images.

How to search by face in google photos

Reverse Image Search on Android Using the Google App

First, you need to download and install the Google App from Google Play.

How to search by face in google photos

Afterward, follow these steps.

1. Open the Google App and when you reach the main screen, tap the camera button.

How to search by face in google photos

2. Google Lens will start. Tap the picture icon to select an image from your photo library. Likewise, you may also take a picture using your phone’s camera.

How to search by face in google photos

3. The Google app will upload the picture and present relevant search results, including websites’ URLs and images from the Internet.

On Android, Google Lens also singles out hotspots in your images. From there, you can select a specific object or part of the photo to sharpen your search.

Start Making Face Searches on Google

In this post, we revealed how to do a face search on Google. Furthermore, we introduced several ways in which you can accomplish this, using a web browser from your PC, Laptop, iOS or Android device.

We encourage you to take action now, start using this great Google feature. Search for photos of you that could have been stolen, leaked or taken by someone without your consent. You could be surprised by what you find.

If you don’t find any valuable matches at first, check out our post about eight facial recognition search engines.

Have you made a Google face search? Did you find relevant matches? Please share your comments below.

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How can I search a person by photo on Google?

Search with an image saved on your phone.
On your Android phone, open the Google app ..
At the bottom, tap Discover..
In the search bar, tap Google Lens ..
Take or upload a photo to use for your search: ... .
Select the area you want to use for your search: ... .
At the bottom, scroll to find your search results..

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