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Google Images

About Google Images 

When you do a Google Image Search, you can filter your results to find images that offer licenses for reuse.

NOTE: Images might be subject to copyright. Review the below information related to image licensing terms and reuse.


Search Filters in Google Images

When searching Google Images, you can filter image results using Tools. Filter images by Size (Large, Medium, Icon), Color, Type (Clip Art, Line Drawing, GIF, etc.), Time, and Usage Rights (Creative Commons licenses, Commercial & other licenses).

Google Images search results and filters under tools


Review Image License and Terms of Reuse

Before you reuse content, make sure that its license is legitimate and check the exact terms of reuse. For example, the license might require that you give credit to the image creator when you use the image.

It is recommended that you:

  • Use the "Usage rights" filter to find images that have license information attached to them. Google filters images by license based on information provided by the sites that host those images, or the image provider.
  • Always confirm an image's license information. You can follow the "License details" link and review it for accuracy with both the license's provider and the image's host site.

Types of Usage Rights

For each “Usage rights” filter, you can limit results to images that have license details attached, which include how you can license and use an image.

To find license details: Select an image, then below the image, select License details. We recommend that you always review the licensing requirements of any images you want to use.

  • Creative Commons licenses: These images are usually free to use, but require credit. They may also have limitations on how, or in what context, you can use them. For example, an image’s license might state that you can’t modify it or use it for commercial purposes.
  • Commercial or other licenses: These images have non-Creative Commons licenses and can be from either free sites or commercial sites that require payment.