# Why did Chrome change image search to Google Lens? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493 "2021-12-22T21:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/21 "2022-08-12T19:59:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If you click the “Find Image Source” link on the top of the Google Lens results, it will open a proper Google Image Search in a new tab Yes, I know. I hate that it’s two steps, and that it opens a new tab. I’d rather never see Lens, ever. It’s not even slightly useful and I hope it goes away. or they give me a preference to turn it off forever ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/22 "2022-08-12T23:41:00Z")
Firefox still has the regular image search. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/23 "2022-08-13T06:15:19Z")
In that case, I may have a workaround for @squeegee. You need an extension that can change your user agent so that Chrome/Edge appears to be Firefox. I tested it with this one: > **[User-Agent Switcher and Manager](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/user-agent-switcher-and-m/bhchdcejhohfmigjafbampogmaanbfkg?hl=en-US)** > > Spoof websites trying to gather information about your web navigation to deliver distinct content you may not want That said, this won’t work forever. Though maybe someone will write a better fix. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/24 "2022-08-13T13:36:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > In that case, I may have a workaround for @squeegee. You need an extension that can change your user agent so that Chrome/Edge appears to be Firefox. > > I tested it with this one: > That said, this won’t work forever. Though maybe someone will write a better fix 🤩 🤩 🤩 That worked!! Wow, thank you so much, @BigT !!! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/25 "2023-03-06T16:31:07Z")
Resurrecting this thread to point out something new I stumbled upon recently. There’s an option to disable Lens in `chrome://flags`. Just type that into your address bar, then search for “Lens”, and then disable “Enable Lens features in Chrome.” It seems Google actually listened to people who complained, as I couldn’t find anything like that back when I wrote my previous post. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/26 "2023-03-06T16:34:32Z")
Thanks for this. Found the option, disabled it, restarted chrome and, voila, back to a normal image search. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/27 "2023-03-06T16:47:55Z")
I did find one thing that slightly redeems Google Lens: it’s ability to search for text in an image; occasionally comes in handy. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/28 "2023-03-06T20:14:00Z")
Thanks for that. I’ve been too lazy to go change it again after it was switched the second time. It seems to be a slight variation on what was linked to in this earlier post: > [@Why did Chrome change image search to Google Lens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493/4): > > Found out how to switch it. In Chrome browser, go to chrome://flags Search for ‘lens’ Change drop-down to ‘Disabled’ Restart browser [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-chrome-change-image-search-to-google-lens/956493.md?page=1)