Windows 11 keeps getting smarter, and one of the most impressive upgrades is the new Visual Search feature built directly into the Snipping Tool. If you’ve used Google Lens before, you’ll instantly recognize what this does. Visual Search lets you identify objects, translate text, get shopping results, copy text from images, and pull out useful information just by capturing a screenshot.
Instead of saving a screenshot and uploading it to Bing or Google manually, Visual Search does all the heavy lifting inside the Snipping Tool itself. Whether you want to identify a product, translate a menu, extract text from a photo, or quickly gather information from an image, this feature makes it incredibly easy.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to use the Snipping Tool’s Visual Search on Windows 11 and make the most of it.
What You’ll Need
To use Visual Search inside Snipping Tool, make sure you have:
- Windows 11 version 23H2 or later
- The latest version of Snipping Tool from the Microsoft Store
- An active internet connection for AI-powered recognition
- Administrator access (optional, but helpful if updates are needed)
Once these are in place, you’re ready to start using Visual Search like Google Lens.
How to Use Snipping Tool’s Visual Search on Windows 11
Here’s a step-by-step guide to accessing and using the AI-powered Visual Search feature.
1. Open the Snipping Tool on Your PC
You can launch the Snipping Tool in multiple ways.
- Press Windows + Shift + S to open the snipping toolbar directly.
- Or, click Start and search for Snipping Tool.
- Open the Snipping Tool app from the results.
The app should show the new AI Visual Search interface if you’re on a supported build.
2. Capture an Image or Open an Existing One
Snipping Tool now supports both fresh screen captures and existing images.
To take a new screenshot:
- Click New in the Snipping Tool window.
- Select the area you want to capture.
- The captured image will open inside the editor automatically.
To load an existing image:
- Click the Open file button.
- Choose any image from your PC.
- Snipping Tool will load it for analysis.
Visual Search works on both.
3. Click the Visual Search Button
Once your screenshot or image appears:
- Look for the Visual Search or Search icon on the toolbar.
- Click it to begin image recognition.
Snipping Tool sends the image to Microsoft’s AI service to analyze objects, text, landmarks, products, and more.
4. View the AI-Generated Results
After a few seconds, you’ll see a panel slide in from the right side with detailed results, which may include:
- Recognized objects
- Product shopping links
- Landmark information
- Text automatically extracted from the image
- Similar image results
- Translation suggestions
Think of it like having Google Lens or Bing Image Search built into Windows.
5. Use Text Actions (Copy, Select, or Translate Text)
Visual Search includes automatic text recognition, which is great for pulling text from screenshots.
You can:
- Click Copy all text
- Highlight specific text to copy
- Use Translate to convert text to another language
- Search the selected text on the web
- Paste it directly into documents or apps
This is incredibly useful when dealing with PDFs, pictures of documents, menus, or online forms.
6. Identify Products and Get Shopping Links
If your screenshot includes products, Visual Search detects them and provides:
- Product names
- Similar items
- Prices
- Shopping links across online stores
This is handy when you want to find a similar chair, a pair of shoes, or a gadget seen in a video or image.
7. Use the Search Suggestions for More Information
Depending on what’s in your screenshot, you may see:
- Ingredient lookups
- Book or movie details
- Landmark identification
- Brand recognition
- Object classification
Click any suggestion to open more detailed information in Microsoft Edge.
8. Save or Share Your Enhanced Results
Once you’ve extracted text, identified an item, or found helpful information, you can:
- Copy the results
- Paste them into apps like Word, OneNote, or email
- Save the edited screenshot
- Share the image or text with others
This helps you complete tasks faster without switching apps.
Wrapping Up
The Snipping Tool’s Visual Search feature brings Google Lens-style intelligence straight into Windows 11. With a single screenshot, you can identify objects, extract text, translate content, and find shopping links without leaving your desktop. It’s one of the most practical AI upgrades Microsoft has added to Windows in years.
If you rely on screenshots daily or often need quick information from images, using Visual Search inside the Snipping Tool will speed up your workflow and make everyday tasks much easier.
