WhatsApp is about to launch Reverse Image Search feature

Reverse image searches are really useful for discovering the original source of a photo, but saving a photo from one app and re-uploading it to another can be a pain. Luckily, WhatsApp is planning to cut down on the number of steps it takes to perform a reverse search, as the latest beta adds an in-app option that can do the job for you.

New WhatsApp Beta Includes Built-in Reverse Image Search Tool

As spotted by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta build lets you search for images from within the app. If you're a WhatsApp beta tester, you'll find this new feature in version 2.24.23.13 for Android and version 24.22.10.79 for iOS.

If you have the correct version, you can search for it by tapping on the image in the chat and then tapping Search . You'll find a new option called Search on web ; tap that option and WhatsApp will send the image to Google Lens for analysis.

WABetaInfo notes that this new feature simply acts as a bridge between WhatsApp and Google Lens, so you don't have to worry about the app uploading your images to WhatsApp servers for processing, which is important because privacy-conscious people love using the app because of its end-to-end encryption protocol.

It's unclear whether WhatsApp will let you choose which app to upload the image to, or whether you'll be forced to use Google Lens. Ideally, WhatsApp would let you choose one of the reverse image search apps you've installed on iOS or Android. But if you don't mind using Google Lens, this update really cuts down on the number of steps required to search for images online. Here's hoping this feature makes it out of beta and into the WhatsApp release channel.

Lesley Montoya

Update 09 December 2024