How to perform a reverse Google Image Search from your WordPress Media Library

Did you ever find an image in your WordPress Media Library and wonder, “Where did this come from?” or “Is this image being used elsewhere online?” Knowing an image’s origin is crucial for proper attribution, copyright compliance, and even discovering if your own original images are being used without permission. If you have not been using Image Source Control to manage image credits, it may be time to conduct a reverse image search to identify the original source.

While there are many online tools for a reverse image search, wouldn’t it be convenient to kick off this search directly from your WordPress admin area?

Today, I’ll show you how to perform a reverse image search right from your Media Library list view. I’ll provide a simple code solution that helped me do reverse image lookups more quickly.

You can add the code as a mini-plugin or directly to your theme’s functions.php file. This is a lightweight solution for those who want this specific functionality without installing a larger, multipurpose plugin—though I haven’t found one at all that has this feature.

And once you’ve performed the reverse image search and found the source, I’ll touch on why managing those image credits effectively is the vital next step – something Image Source Control excels at.

What is Reverse Image Search?

You’ve probably used a search engine like Google countless times by typing in keywords. Reverse image search flips that concept: instead of text, you use an image as your search query. You provide an image, and the search engine scours the web for that image or visually similar ones.

But why would you want to do this, especially from within your WordPress Media Library? There are several compelling reasons:

• Finding the Original Source / Creator for Attribution: This is perhaps the most common use case for website owners. You might have an image saved from a while ago, or one provided by a contributor, and you need to find out who originally created it so you can give them proper credit. A reverse image search can often lead you back to the photographer’s portfolio, a stock photo site, or the original article where it was published.
• Checking for Copyright Information: Once you find potential sources, you can investigate the image’s usage rights. Is it under a Creative Commons license? Is it royalty-free? Or is it a rights-managed image that requires a specific license for your use? This is a crucial step in avoiding copyright infringement. Don’t forget to use Image Source Control to manage image credits for external images.
• Discovering Unauthorized Use of Your Own Images: If you create original photography or graphics, a reverse image search can help you find out if your images are being used on other websites without your permission. This allows you to take action if necessary, such as sending a takedown notice or requesting attribution.
• Finding Higher-Resolution Versions or Similar Images: Sometimes, the image you have isn’t the best quality. A reverse search might uncover a larger, clearer version. It can also help you find images that are visually similar, which can be useful if you’re looking for alternatives or inspiration.

An Important Note on Copyright Information from Reverse Searches:

While a reverse image search is a powerful tool for finding where an image appears online, it’s crucial to understand its limitations regarding copyright. The search results themselves do not definitively confirm copyright status or usage rights.

• An image appearing on many websites doesn’t automatically mean it’s free to use.
• The first result isn’t always the original creator or rights holder.
• Websites may incorrectly attribute images or use them without permission.

Always use the reverse image search as a starting point for your investigation. You’ll still need to visit the source websites, look for copyright statements, terms of use, or contact the potential rights holder to verify the licensing information before using an image. Think of it as detective work – the reverse search gives you clues, but you need to follow through to get the full story.

Adding the Reverse Image Search Link to your Media Library

Here’s how you can add a new “Reverse Search” column to your Media Library. This column will display a link for each image, which will take you directly to Google Images to perform a reverse image search for that specific image.

Option 1: The Mini-Plugin Method for most users

For ease of use and to avoid editing theme files directly, I’ve created a tiny reverse image search plugin.

1. Download the plugin ZIP file from here. You can also see and get the code from this Gist.
2. In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin^(?).
3. Choose the downloaded ZIP file and click “Install Now,“ then “Activate.”

That’s it! The new Reverse Search column will now appear in your Media Library List View.

Option 2: The functions.php Code Snippet Method for advanced users

If you’re comfortable editing your theme files, you can add the following PHP code to your active theme’s functions.php file. Warning: Always back up your site before editing theme files. An error here could break your site. If you’re unsure, use the reverse image search plugin above.

// Add a 'Reverse Search' column to the Media Library list view
function isc_add_reverse_search_column( $columns ) {
    $columns['reverse_search'] = esc_html__( 'Reverse Search', 'isc-reverse-search' );
    return $columns;
}
add_filter( 'manage_media_columns', 'isc_add_reverse_search_column' );

// Populate the 'Reverse Search' column
function isc_reverse_search_column_content( $column_name, $post_id ) {
    if ( 'reverse_search' !== $column_name ) {
        return;
    }

    if ( ! wp_attachment_is_image( $post_id ) ) {
        return
    }

    $image_url = wp_get_attachment_url( $post_id );
    if ( $image_url ) {
        $link_text = esc_html__( 'Copy URL & Search Google', 'isc-reverse-search' );
        $success_message = esc_js( __( 'Image URL copied to clipboard! Google Images will open. Select the Lense icon and paste the URL there.', 'isc-reverse-search' ) );
        $error_message = esc_js( __( 'Failed to copy URL. Please copy it manually.', 'isc-reverse-search' ) );
        $google_images_home = 'https://images.google.com/';

        printf(
            '<a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="iscCopyToClipboardAndOpen(\'%s\', \'%s\', \'%s\', \'%s\'); return false;">%s</a>',
            esc_js( $image_url ),
            esc_url( $google_images_home ),
            $success_message,
            $error_message,
            $link_text
        );
    }
}
add_action( 'manage_media_custom_column', 'isc_reverse_search_column_content', 10, 2 );

// Inline JavaScript for the copy and open functionality
function isc_add_reverse_search_js() {
    $screen = get_current_screen();
    if ( $screen && $screen->id !== 'upload' ) {
		return;
	}
    ?>
    <script type_text_javascript>
        function iscCopyToClipboardAndOpen(imageUrl, googleUrl, successMsg, errorMsg) {
            if (!navigator.clipboard) {
                window.open(googleUrl, '_blank');
                alert(errorMsg + ' ' + '<?php echo esc_js( __( 'Clipboard API not available. Opening Google Images.', 'isc-reverse-search' ) ); ?>');
                return;
            }
            navigator.clipboard.writeText(imageUrl).then(function() {
                alert(successMsg);
                window.open(googleUrl, '_blank');
            }, function(err) {
                console.error('ISC Reverse Search: Could not copy text: ', err);
                alert(errorMsg);
                window.open(googleUrl, '_blank');
            });
        }
    </script>
    <?php
}
add_action( 'admin_footer-upload.php', 'isc_add_reverse_search_js' );Code language: PHP (php)

How it works

The plugin and the custom code perform the same function. Here are the steps.

1. Go to your WordPress Admin > Media > Library.
2. Make sure you are in the “List“ view (not the “Grid“ view).
3. You’ll see a new column: “Reverse Search.”

4. Click the “Copy URL & Search Google” link for any image. A new tab will open with the Google search.
   Select the Lens icon and paste in the URL (which is already stored in your cache).

Things to keep in mind:

• Publicly Accessible Images: This method relies on your images being publicly accessible via their URL. If your site is on a local development environment (e.g., on your computer and not live on the internet) or behind a password protection that Google cannot bypass, Google won’t be able to fetch the image for the search.
• HTTPS needed: Features used in this plugin only work on sites that use HTTPS.
• Google’s Service: This functionality links to Google Images, an external service provided by Google. Its availability or the quality of its results is outside my control.
• Image Privacy: Use this feature only for images you are comfortable having Google process.

Next Step: Managing Image Credits on your WordPress site

Finding an image’s source is just the first step. If you’re using images from others, proper attribution is key for copyright compliance and ethical use. If they are your own images, you might want to assert your copyright.

This is where my plugin Image Source Control (ISC) comes in. While the snippet above helps you find information, ISC helps you:

• Easily add and manage image credits, captions, and copyright details directly within the WordPress Media Library.
• Automatically display these image credits below posts, as overlays, or in dedicated lists.
• Bulk edit copyright information.
• Delete unused images.
• And much more…

If you’re serious about managing image attributions professionally and legally on your WordPress site, Image Source Control is the perfect companion to this reverse search trick.

Conclusion

Adding a reverse image search link to your WordPress Media Library can be a handy time-saver.

With the simple plugin or code snippet provided, you can quickly investigate the origins of your images. Remember, responsible image use goes hand in hand with proper attribution, so consider a robust solution like Image Source Control to manage your image credits effectively.

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