Start with a file you can inspect
Open the image in your gallery and decide what you want to find: copies, an object, a landmark, or another photo with a similar face. Save a separate search copy if you need to crop it. Remove unrelated message text or notifications before sending a screenshot to an external service.
A picture displayed in a messaging app may be a compressed preview. If you own the image, prefer the original from your gallery or cloud library. Extra pixels will not solve every problem, but a heavily compressed thumbnail can remove information the search needs.
Search through Lens or your browser
Google’s Android guide covers selecting a stored image and searching with Lens. Follow the controls in your current version rather than assuming every manufacturer’s gallery has the same menu.
To use Facehunch, open the app, sign in, check your search credits, choose a photo and confirm permission before starting the search. Use the separately labelled example workspace for a fictional walkthrough. Starting the test transmits the image to FaceCheck. The API test is deliberately restricted and cannot verify a person’s identity. The fictional example is available if you want to inspect the experience without sending your own photo.
Check what you actually found
Separate the visible picture from the claim around it. A reused image can establish a connection between two files without establishing a connection between two account owners. Read the source page, look for an explicit caption, and note whether the account is personal, promotional, archival or a fan page.
Keep a small record of the source URL, the relevant statement and the date you viewed it. Avoid collecting unrelated personal information. A short, precise note is more useful than a folder of unexplained screenshots.
Fix common Android upload problems
- The file is unavailable. Download it from cloud storage before choosing it again.
- The format is rejected. Export as JPG, PNG or WebP; changing the extension alone does not convert the file.
- The file is too large. Resize a copy while keeping the subject recognisable.
- The search is empty. Check index coverage and the search type before assuming the image is original.
If you are mainly trying to recover the original source of a repost, continue with the source-tracing workflow.
Written by Facehunch with AI assistance and checked against the cited sources. Our editorial policy.