Reverse Video Search– 6 Different Methods To Follow

Reverse video search is an easy way to learn more about any video. If you ever come across a clip online and wonder where it came from or if there’s more content like it, this tool makes it easy to find the source. For example, imagine you see a funny video of a dancing dog but don’t know its origin – you can run a reverse video search to find out where it was first posted and explore related clips.

This feature is useful for many reasons, from verifying authenticity to finding better quality versions of a video. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the simple steps to using reverse video search and share some tools that can help make the process faster and easier. Keep reading to find out how you can try it yourself.

What is Reverse Video Search?

People usually search the internet by typing words or phrases to find the details they need. This common way of searching is called standard search. But reverse video search is now becoming a new and useful method to find details about videos and pictures. This method uses smart tools that study the video or image you provide and match it with data already available online. It helps you get more accurate and clear results than the usual search method.

Reverse video search is helpful in many cases, such as:

Finding the original source of a video that has been shared or posted many times on social media or other sites.

Finding videos or content that look similar or are related to the video.

Checking whether the video is real and making sure that it has not been altered or edited.

Learning about people, things, or places shown in the video that may be useful or important.

How does reverse video search work?

Search engines like Google and Bing examine the colors and pixels in a video to find similar or related clips across the internet. This method can often return a video to where it originally came from, but the results aren’t always accurate. Even a small change like a pixel edit can break a match and make it difficult to find a video in search results.

As millions of videos go online every day, search engines face the daunting task of indexing each one so people can find them. In this post, we’ll look at some easy ways to perform a reverse video search.

How to Reverse Search a Video? 6 Different Methods You Can Follow

Here we will look at 6 easy ways to do a reverse search. To make it clear, we are using a YouTube video from Chrome DevTools 101 as an example in this guide.

1. Reverse Video Search on Google

Google does not offer a direct reverse search option for videos, so you need to take a screenshot of the video and then use Google’s reverse image search. Follow these steps to perform a reverse video search with Google:

Select a frame in the video that looks unique and easy to find online. Pause the video at that frame.

Take a screenshot of the frame (press Ctrl + PrtScn on Windows or Shift + Command + 4 on Mac).

Save the screenshot to your device.

Open images.google.com and click on the small camera icon in the search bar. Select the option to search by image. Upload the screenshot by clicking “Upload Image” and select your saved file.

If a match is found, Google will show results for your screenshot.

These results will show websites that have the same or similar image. This can help you find the original source of the video or any related content. Keep reading to learn about other methods of reverse video search.

2. Reverse Video Search with TinEye

TinEye is a simple tool that helps you find where an image or video appears online. It works using smart image search and recognition technology.

Take a screenshot of the video you want to check, or copy its link.

Open TinEye and go to the search box. Click the “Upload” button and add your screenshot, or simply drag and drop the file. You can also paste the video link directly into the box.

Reverse Video Search with TinEye

Tap the magnifying glass icon to start the search.

TinEye will show results for similar-looking images or videos along with other close matches. For example, it may show that the same video was also posted on X (formerly Twitter) via Chrome DevTools.

Reverse Video Search with TinEye 2

You can examine the results more closely for additional details. This makes it one of the easiest ways to find the original sources of videos and other similar content.

3. Reverse Video Search on Bing

Along with Google, Bing also lets you do a reverse video search, which helps you find where a video came from or find similar videos. Like Google, Bing works best when you use a clear screenshot from the video.

Here are the steps to do a reverse video search on Bing:

Take a screenshot of the video you want to find. Make sure the picture is clear and shows a unique scene from the video.

Go to the Bing Visual Search page. Click the “Upload Image” button to add your screenshot, or drag and drop it into the search box. You can also paste a video link or image URL into the box.

Bing will then show results for “related content” that match your screenshot. These results may take you to the original video or show you other similar videos.

Using Bing reverse video search is an easy way to get details about a video. By following these simple steps, you can use Bing to find the source or learn more about a clip. Keep reading to see other methods for reverse video search.

4. Reverse Search Video via Yandex Images

Yandex is a well-known Russian search engine that also offers many online tools. Along with the normal search, it gives you the option of reverse search. To search for a video with it, simply follow these steps:

First, open the Yandex Image Search page.

Next, you will land on the main search screen.

You will see a search bar in the middle of the page.

Tap on the small image icon on the right, then drag and drop a screenshot of the video clip.

Yandex will then show you all the matching results for that video.

Select the one you want, and you are done.

5. Reverse Search Using Berify

Berify.com is a reverse search tool that helps you search for images and videos simultaneously on multiple search engines like Google, Bing, Yandex, and others. This tool gives you more comprehensive results than using just one search engine.

Upload a screenshot or drag and drop a file into the box that says “Browse here and upload an image.”

Click the “Search” button to get started.

Berify.com has a free plan where you can sign up and use a little searching. If you need more, you can opt for a monthly paid plan.

Add the screenshot to the search box that says, “Browse here and upload an image.” You can drag and drop the file or click to select it from your computer.

Press the “Search” button to get started.

Berify.com shows results that match your image or video. It can also show the main source or related content. Keep reading to learn more ways to reverse search a video using other tools.

6. Reverse Video Search Using Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a well-known site that has a huge collection of photos and videos with over a billion files. You can also use it to perform a reverse video search. Follow these simple steps:

Take a screenshot of the video you want to check.

Open Shutterstock in your browser. In the search bar, click on the camera icon to use the “Search by image” option.
Upload the screenshot by clicking on the “Choose file” button or drag and drop it.

You can also add filters to find out if the visual is vector, animation, or AI-based design.

Click on the magnifying glass to start the search.

Shutterstock will show you photos or videos that look close to your screenshot.

Why it matters: Use cases

Reverse video search is useful in many situations, from news and media work to small personal projects. People use it when they want to check facts, find out where a video came from, or get a better copy of a clip. The most common reasons why reverse video search is important are listed below:

1. Find the original source of a video

You can track where the video first appeared and who uploaded it. This provides clear evidence of where it started.

Reporters and media teams often use this because they need accurate and reliable sources. Knowing the first upload confirms that the clip is real and also helps in reaching out to the creator for more details. This can be very important when covering real events.

2. Find fake or edited clips

Editing tools are now easy to use, so many clips are cut or altered online. By checking a video against the original, you can see if someone has cut it, trimmed it, or added changes. Watching the full version reveals missing parts and exposes attempts to deceive viewers.

3. Check for copyrighted or stolen videos

Sites like YouTube scan videos for reuse, but creators still need to check themselves. Reverse video search helps find copies of their work shared without permission. This makes it easier to report problems and protect their content rights.

4. Find related or similar clips

Sometimes a search will show clips that look similar or share a similar theme. This helps people find more content in their area of interest. For hobbies, projects, or creative work, it’s a quick way to find new ideas or options.

5. Find full videos or clearer versions

If you only find a short or low-quality clip, reverse video search can help you find a longer or sharper version. This is very useful when you need the best video for your work or project.

When clips are uploaded repeatedly, their quality goes down. The original upload usually remains the clearest version, so tracing it back gives you the most reliable copy.

How to Use Reverse Video Search for SEO

Reverse video search is a simple SEO tool. It helps you see where your videos appear on other websites or social media. This way, you can find new opportunities to get backlinks for your site.

For example, if you see your video on another website, you can send the owner a message and ask them to credit or link to your original content. These backlinks build your site’s credibility and increase your ranking in search results.

You can also use reverse video search to get keyword ideas. By checking out videos that rank well in your niche, you can see what terms people are commonly searching for.

Looking at their titles, tags, and descriptions gives you new keyword options that you can add to your own videos and posts.

Benefits of Reverse Video Search

Reverse video search helps you easily find, examine, and understand videos. It gives you clear ideas about how videos spread online and helps you find the real source of viral content.

1. Use reverse video search to find the source of viral videos

Reverse video search lets you quickly find where a viral video started and shows you matching results with minimal effort.

2. Reverse video search helps you compare versions of the same video

With reverse video search, you can check different versions of a video. It also helps you find the original creator and see if any changes or edits have been made to the clip.