How to Look for Freely Licensed Images on Google

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Last Updated: March 13, 2021

If you use Google Image search to find pictures or graphics for your blog posts or any other work, you might be using them illegally, since most of the images you'll find are copyrighted. There is a way, however, to search Google for images that you've already been granted permission to use.

Steps

Go to Google Images Advanced Search at https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search?hl=en.
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Select one of the following from the "Usage Rights" dropdown menu:
- labeled for reuse - Your results will only include images labeled with a license that allows you to copy and/or modify the image in ways specified in the license.
- labeled for commercial reuse - Your results will only include images labeled with a license that allows you to copy the image for commercial purposes, in ways specified in the license.
- labeled for reuse with modification - Your results will only include images labeled with a license that allows you to copy and modify the image in ways specified in the license.
- labeled for commercial reuse with modification - Your results will only include images labeled with a license that allows you to copy the image for commercial purposes and modify it in ways specified in the license.
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Select an image to use. Before reusing content that you've found, verify that its license is legitimate and check the exact terms of reuse stated in the license.
- For example, most licenses require that you give credit to the image creator when reusing an image. Google has no way of knowing whether the license is legitimate, so there is no guarantee that the content is actually or lawfully licensed unless you check.^{[1]
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Question

Where is the license to check if it is legitimate on images?

Community Answer

Search "advanced image search" and click on the first link. Go to the dropbox "usage rights" at the bottom, and if you want to use the image in any way, except for editing or changing the image, press "free to use or share" option.

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Tips

If you're looking for an image to use on wikiHow, use the "labeled for commercial reuse with modification". It's easier, however, to use the "add image" button, which will search Flickr and Wikimedia Commons and automatically provide attribution.

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