How Do I Use Visual Lookup in iOS 15?
Visual Lookup is a tool built into the Photos app, so you access it through Photos. It’s accessed the same way that you access photo information and EXIF metadata. The difference is that if Visual Lookup information is available for a photo, the info icon will have sparkly stars on it. Here’s how to use Visual Lookup in iOS 15:
What Is Visual Lookup on iOS 15, and What Can I Use it for?
Visual Lookup is a visual search tool that leverages on-device machine learning. That means it’s capable of analyzing the photos on your phone, determining the subject matter, and providing you with additional information. It’s similar to Google Lens, but it runs right on your phone and can identify things even if you aren’t connected to the internet. In addition to just recognizing the contents of a photo and telling you what it sees, Visual Search can also provide additional information. That feature does require a connection to the internet, as it pulls up Siri Knowledge, similar images from the web, and other information that isn’t on your phone. Visual Lookup can identify animals, landmarks, plants, books, art, and a variety of other objects. If you see something you’d like to know more about, you can take a picture of it, use Visual Lookup, and learn more. For example, if you see an intriguing plant, you can snap a photo and then use Visual Lookup to find its species. If you’re on vacation and want more information about a landmark, take a picture, use Visual Lookup, and you can find out its name and other information. Or if you’re at a friend’s house and see a book on their table or art on their wall, snap a picture, use Visual Lookup, and impress them with your sudden expertise.
Why Is Visual Lookup Not Working?
Visual Lookup doesn’t work with everything, but features like this that rely on machine learning get better over time. If you see the Visual Lookup option on some of your photos, but not all, it probably just can’t tell what’s in some of the pictures. Try taking another shot with the subject centered and in focus, as that can help. It’s also possible for Visual Lookup to get stuck. If it isn’t showing up on any of your new photos, force close the Photos app and try again. If that doesn’t work, restart your iPhone and try again. If Visual Lookup doesn’t work with any of your photos, make sure that your version of the Photos app supports it. This feature is only available in iOS 15 and newer, so it won’t work if you have an older version of the operating system. It also requires the A12 Bionic chip or later, so if your phone or iPad has an older chip, you won’t be able to use the feature.
