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How to Use Google Lens

Google Lens is an image and text recognition app that uses Google Search to deliver results based on what it sees in photos.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
August 22, 2023

This is for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Desktop. Screenshots are from iPhone and Windows 10

Google Lens is an image and text recognition app that uses Google Search to deliver results based on what it sees in photos.

You have probably seen the colorful camera icon in the Google Search bar or the Google app. It’s an unassuming shortcut that leads to a variety of impressive abilities. This is Google Lens, and it’s a Google app you should know.

What is Google Lens

Google Lens is most easily described as the visual component of Google Search. You typically do Google Searches with HR text queries, but Google Lens uses images and your camera as input. It identifies things in images; such as QR codes, plants, text, and products; then delivers information or search results related to the object or text.

Long-time smartphone users may remember an app called “Google Goggles.” It was launched in 2010, and it was one of our first looks at what image recognition software could do with the cameras we were starting to carry around with us everywhere. Goggles was the precursor to Google Lens.

Google Lens was officially launched in 2017 and pre-installed on the Pixel 2 smartphone. Since then, Lens has slowly crept into more and more Google services: Google Assistant, Google Search, and Google Photos. Google Lens will also be integrated with the company’s AI chatbot, Google Bard.

What Does Google Lens Do

Google Lens essentially lets you do Google Searches by simply pointing your camera at things. What it can do with what it sees is pretty amazing. Google Lens can tell you a lot more than just what you’re looking at.

Got a math equation that you can not figure out? Do not bother typing the whole thing into your calculator point Google Lens at it. See some text in the real world that you do not feel like manually typing? Snap a photo and let Google Lens copy it for you. Find a weird bug in your backyard that you are not sure about? Google Lens can identify it for you.

These are just some of the simple things you can do with Google Lens. It can also read text from the real world out loud, translate text, search the web for an image you found, and tell you where to buy something you see out in the world.

How to Use

Google Lens is available in the Google app for iPhone, iPad, and Android; simply tap the colorful camera icon in the search bar. In a desktop browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, you can use Lens by clicking the icon in the search bar on Google.com.

Using an iPhone, iPad, and Android

To use Google Lens on the iPhone, iPad, and Android, first, open the Google app and tap the colorful camera icon on the right side of the search bar. Refer to the below image:

Next, you can choose from different functions under the shutter button before pointing your camera at an object or text and snapping a photo. See the below image:

Now, you can also use photos you already took from the section under the viewfinder for Lens searches. See the following image:

That’s how easy it is to use Google Lens! If you have an Android phone, you may also be able to use Lens directly from one of the multiple modes in the camera app.

Using on the Desktop

To use Google Lens on the web, in a desktop browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, first head to Google.com and tap the colorful camera icon on the right side of the search bar. Refer to the below image:

Next, you can either drag a photo into the box, browse for a photo on your device, or paste a link to a photo. See the below image:

Google Lens 5 — Drag and Drop an image to search

Now you can select text in the image, see visually similar images, or click Find the Image Source to try and find where the image originated from. See the following image:

Google Lens 6 — Your image search results

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Tribalism is a social form which can exist at any level of technology. It’s a complete illusion to associate it with low levels of technology. It is probably, in fact, a form of social organization second only to the family in its ability to endure.
Terance McKenna

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How to Create and Open Zip Files on iPhone or iPad

The days of pulling your hair out and trying to deal with zip files on your iPhone or iPad are behind us. Thanks to the Files app, it’s pretty easy to unzip files and create zip files.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
August 1, 2023

This is for the iPhone and iPad. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 16+

The days of pulling your hair out and trying to deal with zip files on your iPhone or iPad are behind us. Thanks to the Files app, it’s pretty easy to unzip files and create zip files. Let’s explore this feature.

Introduced in iOS 11, the Files app was a long-requested feature for both the iPhone and iPad. It drastically improved file management capabilities and made it easy to deal with zip files without additional apps or hacks.

Create a Zip File

First, open the Files app. Refer to the below image:

Next, navigate to the files or folders you would like to zip. See the below image:

Zip 2 — Locating Files or Folders to Zip

Now, tap the three-dot Menu icon and choose Select. The Select option is visible on an iPad in the top bar without the menu. See the following image:

Next, select all the files or folders you would like to zip together. Refer to the below image:

Zip 4 — Selecting Files or Folders to Zip

Now, with the files selected, tap the three-dot Menu icon in the bottom right and choose Compress. See the below image:

The zip file will be created. Press and hold the zip file to see the option to Rename it or Move it somewhere else. See the following image:

That’s all there is to it! Files management was a pain to deal with on the iPhone and iPad for a long time, but the Files app swiftly fixed that situation.

Open a Zip File

First, open the Files app. Refer to the below image:

Next, navigate to the zip file’s location. If you downloaded it to your iPhone, it will likely be in the Download folder under On My iPhone.

Now, tap the file to unzip it. Your iPhone will extract the zip file’s contents to the current folder. See the below image:

That’s really all there is to it. Apple just assumes that if you are selecting a zip file you probably want to open it. If you want to take a peek inside without unzipping the file, press, and hold, then select Quick Look from the menu (see the last image under Create a Zip File to see the option).