How to reverse search an image
Reverse image searching allows you to find other websites that contain the image you’re looking for. If someone has shared or threatened to share, your intimate images without consent and you want to find where, or if, it has been posted, this could be a useful tool.
** Proceed with caution **
Searching for your content online can be very distressing so proceed with caution if you choose to do this and maybe limit the time you spend searching. Alternatively, ask a trusted friend to do this for you.
So, what’s the process?
- You will need the original copies of the images
- Open a search engine with reverse image search tool (see below)
- Drag and drop the image into the search bar.
- If there are no images found, the top result will be ‘No other sizes of this image found’.
- If there are images found, the top result will be ‘find other sizes of this image’. By clicking ‘all sizes’, this will take you to a page with search results
Image reverse search engines
Most search engines have a reverse image search function, it's usually found as an image icon alongside the image search bar. If you are wanting to perform a tougher search, it's best to use more than one engine to double-check as sometimes the images cannot be found on one engine but can be on another.
You can find links below to some of the most popular search engines and their reverse image tool.
Please note: we do not endorse or recommend the following platforms, we are simply providing available tools for public use.
What happens if I find a result?
If you do find a result and there is an intimate image or video shared without your consent, we’re here to help you.
- Firstly, don’t panic. That's easier said than done, but we can help. You’re not alone in dealing with this.
- Screenshot the page where it has been posted and save it. This is evidence if you decide to report to the police. You can do this by calling the police non-emergency number 101; you’ll need to give brief details to a call handler and an appropriate officer should return your call.
- Contact the Helpline. We are able to help you to report and remove the content. Whilst we cannot guarantee it will be removed, we do hold a very good takedown success rate and we are very persistent and determined.
- Provide us with links. We will ask you to copy and paste the URL and send us the links to the content; if there are other images or videos on the page, we may have to ask you to confirm which images are of you.