Google Lens

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Google Lens lets you point your phone's camera at something and find out what it is. It can name plants and landmarks, read and translate text, and find where to buy something.

It's built into the Google app, Google Photos and many Android camera apps, so you may already have it.

What You Can Use It For

• Menus abroad. Point at a French menu and see it in English on screen.
• Labels. Make the small print on a medicine box bigger, or copy it.
• Objects. "What is this bird, plant or ornament?"

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Phone

1. Open the Google app (on iPhone, get it from the App Store first).
2. Tap the camera icon in the search bar. That's Lens.
3. Point your camera at the thing and tap the shutter button.
4. Choose Search, Translate or Text at the bottom, depending on what you want.

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to lens.google. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Read what Lens can do. On a computer, you can also right-click an image in Chrome and choose Search with Google Lens.

Things To Try Typing

Things to try with Lens.

What It Costs

It's free. There's no paid version to buy.

If anyone asks you to pay to use it, or to "unlock" it, that's a scam.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. If you're signed in, Lens searches can be saved in your Google My Activity, where you can delete them.
• Avoid pointing Lens at bank cards, passports or letters with account numbers.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Free and already on many phones.
• Translates signs and menus instantly.
• Can read text aloud using the Listen option, which helps with small print.

Watch-Outs

• It can be wrong, especially with plants and mushrooms. Never eat anything based on it.
• Needs an internet connection for most things.
• Shopping results can include adverts.

Similar Tools

• Google Translate: translates words, speech and signs.
• Seeing AI: reads text and describes scenes aloud.
• PlantNet: a free plant identifier from scientists.

Common Questions

Is Google Lens free?

Yes, it's free in the Google app and Google Photos.

How do I open Google Lens?

Open the Google app and tap the camera icon in the search bar.

Can Google Lens read text aloud?

Yes. Point it at text, choose Text, then tap Listen.