Using Google Lens to Identify Metal Detecting Finds

Identifying metal detecting finds can sometimes be easy and sometimes extremely difficult. For those metal detectorist who use Android or iPhones phones do you know there is a free app called Google Lens to help you identify detecting finds?

Google Lens app is an AI-powered technology that uses your smartphone camera and deep machine learning to detect an object in front of the camera lens. I tested it on various metal detecting finds I have dug up and found it approximately 45% accurate to find the exact same object and 85% correct on finding a similar item. I find it incredible at identifying foreign coins and religious symbols. However, it isn’t that good at identifying things that are weathered and or broken.

Google Lens can also be used to identify plants or bugs, translate foreign text, find nearby attractions, and more. It is defiantly a useful app once you know how to use it.

If you want to try playing with Google Lens and identifying your metal detecting finds, let me explain to you where to find Google Lens on your phone.  I will also share a few examples of my recent metal detecting finds and show you how accurate it is at identifying them.

Where to find Google Lens on Your Phones

There are various methods to get Google Lens working; it depends on your phone and your settings. Below are the most common ways.

Android Phones, Google Lens App from App Store – Google has a standalone app on Android for Google Lens if you want to get straight into the features. You can access Google Lens through a whole range of other methods, as detailed below. The experience is similar to whichever approach you take; tapping the Lens icon in Google Assistant takes you through to the same view you get directly in the Lens app.

Android Phones, Google Photos – Within Google Photos, Google Lens can identify foreign coins or dug-up relics. When browsing your pictures in Google Photos, you’ll see the Google Lens icon at the bottom of the window. Tapping on the icon will see the scanning dots appearing on your picture, and then Google will serve up suggestions what the AI believes it is.

Android Phones, Camera App – In some Android phones, Google Lens has been directly added to the device’s camera app. It might be in the ‘More’ section but will differ depending on the phone manufacturer, OS version, and user interface.

iPhones – If you want to access Google Lens on the iPhone you can get it via the Google app. This app covers a range of Google services which are native on Android devices. Once you’ve installed the app, you can head to the Google Lens section, grant permission for it to access your iPhone camera and off you go – you’ll get all the features above.

Google Lens Accuracy for Metal Detecting Finds. 

Below you will find items that are pretty recognizable that I used for testing. You can get an indication of where Google Lens excels and where Google Lens fails.