Google Lens isn’t just a phone feature. On a Chromebook, it’s built into the Launcher, the screenshot tool, the Chrome browser, and the Gallery app, so you can search or extract text from anything on screen in a couple of clicks.
Quick answer: Press the Launcher key (or click Launcher), select the Lens icon, then drag to select any region of your screen — results appear in a Google Search panel. You can also right-click any image in Chrome and choose “Search image with Google Lens,” or open an image in the Gallery app and select “Search with Google Lens” at the top.
Search Your Screen from the Launcher
- At the bottom left, select Launcher (or press the Launcher key on your keyboard).
- Select the Lens icon.
- On your screen, click and drag to select the region you want to search — a photo, a paragraph of text, a product, anything visible.
- The results open in a Google Search window, with options to search Google, copy any detected text, or (on Chromebook Plus devices) use extra actions like adding an event to Calendar or sending text to Docs.
To close the Lens results, click anywhere outside the results window.
Search with Lens via the Screenshot Tool
- Open Screen Capture using the shortcut or Quick Settings.
- From the menu at the bottom of the screen, select Take partial screenshot.
- Click and drag to select a region.
- Select Search with Google instead of saving the screenshot.
- Results appear in a Google Search window, same as the Launcher method.
Search an Image in Chrome
- Right-click any image on a webpage in the Chrome browser.
- Select Search image with Google Lens from the context menu.
- Results open in a side panel without leaving the page you’re on.
Search an Image in the Gallery App
- Open the Gallery app and open the image you want to search.
- Select Search with Google Lens at the top of the screen.
- Review results the same way as other Lens searches.
This works for images already saved locally on your Chromebook, not just ones you’ve screenshotted.
What You Can Do With the Results
- Search with Google Search — available for anything you select, whether it’s an object, a landmark, or a product
- Copy text — available when text is detected in your selection, straight to your clipboard for pasting elsewhere
- More actions (Chromebook Plus only) — context-aware options, like adding a detected date to your Calendar or sending selected text to Docs
Lens Not Working?
- Make sure Google is set as your default search engine — Lens on Chromebook relies on this setting.
- If the Lens icon is missing from your Launcher, make sure ChromeOS is up to date — see how to turn ChromeOS automatic updates on or off and check for a pending update.
- If you’re trying to search an image and nothing happens, try the Chrome right-click method instead as a fallback — it works independently of the Launcher Lens tool.
FAQ
Do I need a Chromebook Plus to use Google Lens?
No, core Lens features (searching your screen, copying text) work on any Chromebook. Chromebook Plus devices get extra context-aware actions on top of that.
Does Google Lens work offline?
No, Lens needs an internet connection to process your selection and return search results.
Can I use Lens to translate text on my screen?
Yes — select text with Lens and the Google Search results will typically offer a translation option if the text is in a foreign language.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for Lens?
There’s no dedicated single-key shortcut; you launch it through the Launcher, the screenshot tool, or right-click in Chrome, as described above.
