7 surprisingly useful ways to use Google Lens beyond basic search

Google Lens is an incredibly versatile tool that goes far beyond basic search. It uses your phone's camera to provide relevant information about various subjects. With its deep integration with Gemini, you can follow up on any questions or doubts with ease. Some lesser-known ways to use Google Lens include identifying items and finding where to buy them.

This works for a wide range of items, from fancy lamps in restaurants to obscure parts like a screw for your watch or a TV remote from decades ago. Simply point your camera and Google Lens will help you find the information or product you need. Another useful application is deciphering laundry symbols on clothes. Sometimes, brands omit text labels to save space, but Google Lens can explain what these symbols mean, their implications, and alternative care methods.

It can even consider the garment the symbol is on for a more accurate response. Car dashboard symbols can also be puzzling, but Google Lens can help. It can provide information about what the symbol means, what might have triggered it, its potential implications, and what you can do next. For bike instrument clusters, the process is similar.

Google Lens can also assist with troubleshooting devices. If you encounter an error code on your Windows PC or need help with a dish's ingredients or recipe, Google Lens can break down the information for you. You can even use it to extract text from pamphlets, store fronts, or billboards using its OCR feature. This works for instructions, addresses, phone numbers, or any other text in real-world objects around you.

You can then copy, translate, or listen to the extracted text, or even make a call or send a text using the extracted information.