How to reverse search a video
Yes, you can reverse search a video. Upload the clip or a screenshot to Reverse Video Search Tool and it finds the original video, the earliest upload we find and the reposts — on iPhone, Android or desktop, with no app to install.
Drop a video or screenshot
Step 1 — Get the video onto your device
- TikTok, Reels, Shorts: use Save or Download, or start a screen recording.
- X, Facebook, Reddit: save the video if the app allows it, or screen-record a few seconds.
- A video you're watching on a TV or laptop: take a screenshot of a clear moment.
Step 2 — Upload it
Open reversevideosearchtool.com in any browser and drop in the file. Supported: MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF, JPG, PNG.
Step 3 — Read your results
- Best match: the full video your clip came from.
- Earliest upload we find: the account and date — usually the creator.
- Reposts: where else the video appears, by platform.
Step 4 — Confirm the source
Open the earliest upload and compare: the date, the account's other videos, the caption and the full-length footage. The proof report keeps all of it together.
On iPhone
Save the video to Photos (or record your screen from Control Center), open Safari, go to reversevideosearchtool.com and upload from Photos. (Apple guide to screen recording)
On Android
Download the video or use the built-in screen recorder, open Chrome, go to reversevideosearchtool.com and upload from your gallery. (Android guide to screen recording)
On desktop
Drag the downloaded file — or a screenshot (Windows: Win+Shift+S, Mac: Cmd+Shift+4) — into the upload box.
How investigators find the source
In its Advanced Guide on Verifying Video Content (2017), Bellingcat shows how sorting copies of a video by date reveals the original:
"If we sort them by date, we can find the oldest upload, which served as the source material for Action Tube." — Aric Toler, Bellingcat
Reverse Video Search Tool puts the earliest upload we find at the top of your results, so you start where the trail begins.
FAQ
Can you reverse search a video?
Yes. Upload a clip or a screenshot to Reverse Video Search Tool to find the original video and where it was posted.
How do I find the source of a video?
Upload it, then open the earliest upload we find; it shows the account and the date it was posted.
How do I find the original video from a short clip?
Upload the clip; the best match is the full-length video it was cut from.
Can I reverse search a video on my phone?
Yes. The site works in Safari on iPhone and Chrome on Android — no app needed.
Do I need an account?
Sign in with Google to run a search; results are saved to your account.