Google Lens

What Google Lens does

Google Lens helps you search and act on things you can see. Point your phone at an object, sign, document, plant, animal, product, or landmark, or choose an existing image, and Lens can return useful Google results. It suits people who want to identify something quickly, read information from the real world, or avoid typing a long search query.

Useful ways to use it

• Read and copy text: Extract words from paper, screens, labels, and signs, then copy them into another app.
• Translate what you see: Translate printed text such as menus, notices, and street signs through the camera.
• Identify items: Get help recognising plants, animals, landmarks, and everyday objects.
• Search products: Look for matching or similar clothing, furniture, and other items from a photo.
• Understand places and menus: Find information about buildings and restaurants, including details connected with Google services.

Who it suits

Lens is a practical choice for travellers, students, shoppers, and anyone who regularly needs to turn visual information into a search. It can save time when copying a booking reference, translating unfamiliar writing, checking a product, or finding out what something is. Results depend on the clarity of the image and how recognisable the subject is, so it works best when the camera has a clear view.

At a glance

Google Lens is listed in the Tools category and is developed by Google LLC. Its 4.73 rating from more than 2.78 million reviews shows broad user adoption, while the app has recorded 1,000,000,000+ installs. For Android users who want a visual route into search, translation, text capture, and identification, it is a flexible utility rather than a single-purpose scanner.