Guides
Practical guides for finding where a picture came from, checking whether it can be trusted, getting more from every search engine and understanding IP addresses.
How to reverse image search
Learn how to reverse image search from your phone or computer, which engines to try, and how to read the results.
Updated November 8, 2026
Google reverse image search
How Google Lens handles reverse image search, what it does well, where it falls short, and how to get more accurate matches.
Updated November 8, 2026
Reverse image search on mobile
How to run a reverse image search from an iPhone or Android phone using your photos, screenshots, camera or an image from a website.
Updated November 8, 2026
How to find the original source of an image
A practical method for tracing an image to its original creator or first publication using four reverse image search engines.
Updated November 8, 2026
How reverse image search works
How search engines turn a picture into a searchable fingerprint, why results differ between engines, and what reverse image search cannot tell you.
Updated November 8, 2026
Google Lens vs Bing vs Yandex vs TinEye
A practical comparison of Google Lens, Bing Visual Search, Yandex Images and TinEye, with advice on which engine suits which job.
Updated November 8, 2026
How to check if a profile photo is fake or stolen
Use reverse image search to check whether a dating or social media profile photo appears under other names, and learn the other warning signs to look for.
Updated November 8, 2026
How to check if product photos are stolen
Use reverse image search to see where an online seller's product photos come from, and learn the other red flags that matter before you pay.
Updated November 8, 2026
How to verify a news or social media photo
A simple routine for checking whether a viral photo is old, misplaced or edited, using reverse image search and basic visual clues.
Updated November 8, 2026
How to find a higher-resolution version of an image
Use reverse image search, size sorting and source pages to find a larger, sharper version of a picture, and what to check before you use it.
Updated November 8, 2026
Reverse image search found nothing? Try these fixes
Why a reverse image search can come back empty, and a step-by-step list of fixes to try before you give up.
Updated November 8, 2026
Image search by keyword: tips for better results
How to write better image search queries, use quotation marks, exclusions and filters, and compare Google, Bing and Yandex image results.
Updated November 8, 2026
What is an IP address?
Learn what an IP address is, the difference between public and private addresses, and what an IP address can and cannot reveal about you.
Updated November 11, 2026
IPv4 vs IPv6
Compare IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, learn how to read an IPv6 address and find out which one your connection uses.
Updated November 11, 2026
How to find your IP address
Find your public and private IP address on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac, and learn why your IP address changes.
Updated November 11, 2026
Why your IP address shows the wrong location
Find out why an IP lookup can show the wrong city or country, why different tools disagree and what you can check or do about it.
Updated November 11, 2026
What can someone learn from your IP address?
See what websites and others can and cannot learn from your IP address, and practical ways to share less of it.
Updated November 11, 2026