Pinterest Image Search: How to Search by Image

Ever spotted something amazing while scrolling Pinterest and wondered where you could find more like it? Maybe you’ve seen a gorgeous coffee table in someone’s feed or a stunning outfit that caught your eye, and traditional keyword searches just weren’t cutting it. 

That’s exactly where Pinterest’s image search feature comes in handy.

Pinterest image search lets you use photos instead of words to discover exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you’re hunting for home decor inspiration, trying to identify a mystery plant, or searching for products similar to something you’ve photographed, Pinterest’s visual search technology (called Pinterest Lens) makes it incredibly easy to find what you need.

What is Pinterest Image Search?

Pinterest image search is powered by Pinterest Lens, which can analyze images and find similar content across Pinterest’s massive database. Instead of typing keywords into Pinterest search and hoping you stumble across what you’re looking for, you can simply upload a photo or point your camera at an object, and Pinterest will show you related Pins.

This is a game-changer compared to traditional keyword searches because visual search understands context in ways that text alone can’t capture. For example, if you search for “blue dress,” you’ll get thousands of results. But if you upload a photo of a specific vintage-style blue dress with intricate lace details, Pinterest Lens will show you similar dresses with those exact characteristics.

The real magic happens in everyday situations. You might be at a friend’s house and fall in love with their dining room setup, or you could see an interesting architectural detail while walking around your neighborhood. With Pinterest Lens, you can capture these moments and instantly find similar ideas, products, or tutorials.

How to Search by Image on Pinterest (Mobile App)

The Pinterest mobile app offers the most robust image search experience. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Open the Pinterest app on your phone or tablet.

Step 2: Tap the search bar at the top of your screen, then look for the camera icon on the right side of the search bar.

Step 3: You’ll see three options:

• Take a photo: Point your camera at any object in real-time
• Upload from gallery: Choose an existing photo from your phone
• Search your screenshots: Pinterest will automatically suggest recent screenshots that might be good for visual searches

Step 4: After uploading or taking your photo, Pinterest will analyze the image and show you similar Pins. You can tap on different parts of the image to focus your search on specific elements.

Using Pinterest Lens in Real Life

Here are some practical ways I’ve seen friends use Pinterest Lens effectively:

• Scanning furniture at a coffee shop to find similar pieces for their apartment
• Photographing plants at a botanical garden to identify species and care instructions
• Capturing outfit details from street style to recreate looks on a budget
• Taking photos of interesting tile patterns during home renovations to find suppliers

The key is to get good, clear photos with decent lighting. Pinterest Lens works best when it can clearly see the details of what you’re trying to identify.

How to Search by Image on Pinterest (Desktop)

Unfortunately, Pinterest’s desktop experience for image search is much more limited compared to the mobile app. 

The full Pinterest Lens functionality isn’t available on desktop browsers, which means you can’t simply drag and drop images into the search bar for visual searches.

Your best workaround is to use the mobile app or mobile browser version of Pinterest for image searches, even if you prefer browsing on desktop for other Pinterest activities. Many users I know will take a quick photo on their phone to search with Pinterest Lens, then continue browsing the results on their computer.

You can also select the “Explore” option at the bottom of the image to reveal similar images.

Pinterest has been focusing heavily on mobile-first features, which makes sense since visual search naturally works better with camera functionality that’s always in your pocket.

Benefits of Using Pinterest Image Search

Pinterest image search offers several unique advantages that make it incredibly useful for discovery:

• Faster, more accurate discovery: When you know what something looks like but can’t describe it in words, visual search is infinitely faster than trying various keyword combinations. This is especially helpful for abstract concepts like “that specific shade of green I saw in a magazine” or “furniture with clean lines but some curved elements.”
• Shopping made simple: Pinterest image search is fantastic for shopping inspiration and finding products. According to Tailwind’s 2025 Pinterest Marketing Benchmark Study, shopping-related content performs exceptionally well on Pinterest, with Fashion, Decor, and Beauty content seeing particularly strong engagement.
• Creative inspiration without creative blocks: Visual search helps when you’re creatively stuck. Instead of staring at a blank mood board wondering what style direction to take, you can search with images that represent the feeling or aesthetic you’re going for.
• Discovering related ideas: Pinterest Lens doesn’t just find exact matches — it finds conceptually related content. Search with a photo of a rustic wooden table, and you might discover farmhouse dining room setups, DIY wood finishing techniques, or complementary rustic decor ideas you hadn’t considered.

Troubleshooting Pinterest Image Search

Sometimes Pinterest Lens doesn’t work as expected. Here are common issues and solutions:

Camera icon not showing up: Make sure your Pinterest app is updated to the latest version. Older versions of the app might not have the full visual search functionality. Also, check that Pinterest has camera permissions enabled in your phone’s settings.

Poor or irrelevant results: This usually comes down to photo quality. Pinterest Lens works best with:

• Good lighting (natural light is ideal)
• Clear, focused images
• Photos where the main subject takes up most of the frame
• Minimal background distractions

No results at all: Try cropping your image to focus on the specific element you want to search for. Sometimes Pinterest Lens gets confused by busy backgrounds or multiple objects in one photo.

Alternative approach: If Pinterest Lens isn’t giving you what you need, try starting with a broad keyword search and then using Pinterest Lens on the results you find. This combination approach often yields better results than either method alone.

Tips for Better Pinterest Image Search Results

Getting great results from Pinterest image search is part art, part science. Here are strategies that consistently work well:

• Use good lighting and clear angles: Natural lighting almost always produces better search results than artificial lighting. When photographing objects, try to avoid harsh shadows or extreme angles that might confuse Pinterest’s image recognition.
• Crop strategically: Before searching, crop your image to focus on the main element you’re interested in. If you want to find similar coffee mugs, crop out the background café scene and focus just on the mug.
• Combine methods for precision: Start with Pinterest Lens to get in the right ballpark, then use keyword searches to refine your results. For example, use visual search to find similar dining room styles, then add keywords like “small space” or “budget friendly” to narrow down the results.
• Try different parts of the same image: Pinterest Lens lets you tap on different sections of your photo to focus the search. If you upload a photo of an outfit, you can tap specifically on the shoes, the jewelry, or the overall style to get different sets of results.
• Save and organize as you search: Create dedicated boards for your visual search discoveries. This makes it easy to compare options and refer back to ideas later. Using Tailwind’s Pinterest Extension can help streamline this saving process when you’re researching across multiple sources.

Finding Pinterest Keywords Through Visual Search

One often-overlooked benefit of Pinterest image search is how it can help you discover effective keywords for your own content. When you search with an image and find successful Pins in your niche, pay attention to the language those creators use in their Pin titles and descriptions.

This is particularly valuable for content creators and businesses trying to understand how their audience searches for products or ideas. Visual search results can reveal keyword combinations you might not have considered, helping you optimize your own Pinterest strategy.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into Pinterest keyword research, Tailwind’s free Pinterest keyword tool can help you discover trending search terms and optimize your content for better discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pinterest Image Search

Can I use Pinterest image search to find the original source of an image? 

Pinterest image search is designed to find similar content rather than track down original sources. While you might occasionally find the original Pin that way, Pinterest Lens is primarily focused on showing you related ideas and products rather than functioning as a reverse image search engine.

Does Pinterest image search work with screenshots from other social media platforms? 

Yes! Pinterest Lens can analyze screenshots from Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms. In fact, Pinterest specifically suggests recent screenshots when you open the camera feature, recognizing that many users want to find Pinterest-friendly versions of ideas they’ve seen elsewhere.

Why do my Pinterest image search results sometimes include products I can’t afford?

Pinterest’s algorithm doesn’t filter results by price range during visual searches. To find more budget-friendly alternatives, try adding keywords like “affordable,” “budget,” or “DIY” to your search after using Pinterest Lens, or look for similar Pins that might link to different retailers or tutorials.

Can Pinterest image search identify text or words in images? 

Pinterest Lens focuses primarily on visual elements like objects, colors, and styles rather than reading text within images. If you’re trying to find something based on text you’ve seen in a Pin, you’ll have better luck typing those words directly into Pinterest’s search bar.