Google Lens is a technology that enables your phone’s camera to identify different objects around you using image recognition technology.
If you want to find out what that object is, Google Lens can identify it for you. Google Lens can look up a product for you if you want to buy something similar. For those dealing with text, Google Lens can copy and translate it for you if it is written in a different language.
By using the phone’s camera, Google Lens will attempt to understand the image, read barcodes, QR codes, labels, and text. After obtaining this information, it will search through the Internet. Thereafter, it will display relevant search results such as websites, news articles, restaurants, online retailers, and more.
Google Lens is a feature built into some Android devices, but if your phone is missing this fantastic feature, there are ways to install it on your phone.
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How to Get Google Lens on Any Phone using Google App
- Download the Google App (iPhone and Android) on your iPhone or on your Android device. The links are below:
- Google App on Apple Store (iPhones): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google/id284815942
- Google App on Google Play Store (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
- Open Google App on your phone. If this is your first time using the Google app, you may be asked to give Google permission to access your
photos and/or location. - Tap the camera icon on your phone as shown below
- Search with your camera the relevant text or image that you want Google Lens to copy, translate, or search.
- Based on the text or image that you have given, you will get translated text, related products, and more.
How to Get Google Lens App on Android
As of the publication date of this article, Google Lens isn’t available on Apple phones.
- Download Google Lens App (Android) on your Android device. You will have to download the Google App mentioned above. Please see the Google Lens link below:
- Google Lens on Google Play Store (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.ar.lens
- After installing Google Lens, you can use your camera directly. Open your device camera.
- Tap Modes
- Tap Lens
- Search with your camera the relevant text or image that you want Google Lens to copy, translate, or search.
- Based on the text or image that you have given, you will get translated text, related products, and more.
How to Get Google Lens on Any Phone using Google Chrome Browser
To use Google Lens with your Google Chrome browser, simply follow the steps:
- Open your Google Chrome browser
- Tap the camera icon beside the search bar
- Search with your camera
Features of Google Lens
Here is a quick overview of some awesome features of Google Lens:
| Google Lens Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Translate |
|
| Text |
|
| Search |
|
| Homework |
|
| Shopping |
|
| Places |
|
Some Examples from Google Lens
Translated text from German to English
You can point to any text, and it will translate it in real-time. You can also opt to listen to the translated text if you want to hear it out loud.
Shop for exact or similar products
If you see a piece of clothing or an object in a magazine, on social media, or on someone you know, you can simply look it up with Google Lens. It will provide you with online retailers that sell the product in question, so you can buy it.
Solve a math equation using Google Lens Homework
In the event that you want help solving a math equation, you will simply have to write it down and take a photo of it. After you highlight the math equation and Google Lens reads it, it may have the ability to compute the math problem.
Inc case it is unable to compute it, Google Lens can also provide the equation to providers such as Tiger Algebra, Symbolab, and Mathway. Finally, it can also research relevant information on the Internet.
Final Words: Using Google Lens on Any Phone
It’s no secret that Google Lens is an incredibly useful image recognition tool, whether you’re looking to translate text, identify plants, or solve equations.
The tool is super simple to install and use on any device, regardless of the platform.
There are some phones, especially Google Pixel phones, that already come pre-installed with Google Lens.
Currently, iPhones and other Android phones can also access this feature using the Google App. Android users can also download the Google Lens App from the Google Play Store if they do not already have them on their handsets. The standalone Google Lens App on Google Play specifies that it needs Android 6.0 or higher in order to function properly.
Installing the latest version of the Google App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store will enable you to start using the Google Lens tool on your phone.
Please take note that if you want Google to allow access to your photo library, you will need to grant that access in order for the server to see the pictures.
