How to Search Pictures on iPhone & iPad by Object

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The Photos app is getting better at recognizing what’s in a photo, making it much easier to find exactly the picture you're looking for. If you’ve been wondering, “How do I search by image on my iPhone?” we'll cover how to use the search function to find objects in your photo library.

Related: How to Add Captions to iPhone Photos in iOS 14

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Why You'll Love This Tip

• Quickly find the photo you're looking for. 

• Avoid scrolling through the camera roll to find certain photos. 

How to Search for Objects in Photos App

If I want to find pictures of my garden, this feature makes things easy! Here’s how to search for objects in the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. To learn more great Photos app tricks, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter.

1. Open the Photos app.
   
   
2. Tap Search.
   
   
3. Enter an object-based search term such as “car” or “flower.”
   
   
4. Tap a specific search term option or See All.
   
   
5. You’ll see all the pictures that contain the object you searched for.
   
   

While not perfect, the photo search on your iPhone or iPad returns some surprisingly accurate results. Try it out with your own search terms. Next, learn how to find recipes from photos on your iPhone! You can also learn how to turn off location on iPhone Photos.