Apple Review

How to Use Visual Look Up to Identify Objects in Your Photos

Priya ChandrasekaranBy Priya Chandrasekaran
Quick TipHow-To & SetupiPhone tipsiOS featuresVisual Look UpiPhone photographyApple intelligence

Quick Tip

Tap the 'i' icon with stars in your Photos app to identify objects instantly.

A hiker spots a unique wildflower on a trail in Yosemite National Park and snaps a photo, but has no idea if the plant is harmless or invasive. Instead of pulling out a secondary device to search for the species, they can use the built-in intelligence of their iPhone to identify it instantly.

Visual Look Up is a machine learning feature integrated into the iOS Photos app that recognizes specific subjects like plants, animals, landmarks, and even certain types of pets. This tool turns your photo library into an interactive database, allowing you to extract information directly from the images you capture.

How to Identify Objects in Your Photos

To use this feature, you must have a photo that contains a recognizable subject. Follow these steps to trigger the identification process:
  1. Open the Photos App: Navigate to the specific image you want to investigate.
  2. Look for the Icon: If the image contains a recognizable object, a small icon will appear in the bottom corner of the screen.
    • A starry icon indicates a plant or animal.
    • A checkmark inside a circle indicates a landmark.
    • A paw print indicates a breed of dog or cat.
  3. Tap the Icon: Tap the icon to open the Visual Look Up overlay.
  4. Review Information: The screen will display a brief description and provide links to more detailed information via Wikipedia or other web sources.

Practical Use Cases

While many users view this as a novelty, it serves several practical functions for daily productivity and learning:
  • Travel and Landmarks: If you take a photo of the Colosseum in Rome or the Eiffel Tower, Visual Look Up can provide historical context and location details.
  • Botanical Identification: It is highly effective for identifying common household plants or garden flowers.
  • Pet Breed Recognition: If you see a dog in a park and want to know the breed, a quick photo and a Look Up can provide an answer.

Keep in mind that the accuracy of Visual Look Up depends heavily on the clarity of your photo. Blurry images or low-light shots may fail to trigger the icon. For the best results, ensure the subject is the primary focus of your frame and that the lighting is sufficient to capture fine details like leaf patterns or facial structures.