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YouTube Adds Google Lens to Shorts: Search Anything You See in a Tap

YouTube integrates Google Lens into Shorts, allowing users to pause a video and search any object, place, or text on screen with instant visual results.

Paras Guglani May 31, 2025 2 minutes read

YouTube is bringing a powerful new tool to its Shorts platform: Google Lens integration. This update will allow viewers to search anything they see on-screen—be it an object, landmark, or text—directly from the video with a simple tap.

Visual Search with Google Lens in YouTube Shorts

With this new feature, users watching YouTube Shorts can pause a video and use Google Lens to get real-time information about any visible element. Whether you’re curious about a landmark, a product, or on-screen text, Google Lens offers an instant answer—without leaving the video.

How to Use Google Lens in YouTube Shorts

Once the feature rolls out, here’s how you can access it:

Open the YouTube app and navigate to Shorts via the Shorts tab or by tapping a Short on the home page.
Pause the video by tapping the screen.
Select the “Lens” icon from the top menu.
Tap, highlight, or draw around the object or text you want to learn more about.
On first use, accept the terms by tapping anywhere on the screen.
To translate on-screen text, tap the “translate” icon in the lower right corner.
To exit, tap the “X” on the top left or swipe down.

The results will appear directly over the video, letting users quickly return to the content once they’ve satisfied their curiosity.

Limitations and Rollout

YouTube confirmed that during the beta phase, Google Lens search results will remain ad-free. However, the feature will not work on Shorts that include Shopping affiliate links or paid product promotions.

The update is now rolling out globally and should be available to all users by the end of this week.

By integrating Google Lens, YouTube Shorts becomes more interactive and informative, combining entertainment with real-time discovery. Users can now learn, explore, and engage with what they watch—right when curiosity strikes.

For more updates on YouTube features and app innovations, visit passionategeekz.com.