This article explains how to use a Facebook image search method with the image’s ID number. It also includes information on how to perform a reverse search in Google.

What to Know

  • Open a web browser and log in to Facebook. Right-click an image and select Open in New Tab (or similar).Look for three sets of numbers separated by underscores in the address bar or file name. Copy the middle set of numbers.Type https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= followed by the middle set of numbers. Press Enter.

Facebook assigns a numerical ID to all photos uploaded to the social media channel. Images downloaded from Facebook have that numerical ID as part of the file name by default. If you know this number, you can use it to find the source of the picture on Facebook. It might be the profile picture of the person who shared it or the person whose profile you are trying to find might be named or tagged in the image.

  • Right-click the image you want to search for on Facebook.
  • Select Open in New Tab in Google Chrome. If you are using a different web browser, select View Photo, View Image, or a similar option.
  • Look for three sets of numbers separated by underscores in the address bar or file name of the image, such as those highlighted in this example.
  • Locate the middle string of numbers. In this example, that is 10161570371170223. This is the ID number you will use on Facebook to find the image.
  • Type (or copy and paste) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= into your browser’s address bar.
  • Paste the ID number of the image directly after the = in the address bar. This example would appear as https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10161570371170223 with no spaces.
  • Press Enter to go directly to the photo on Facebook and find the profile on which it was posted.
  • Privacy settings might prevent you from accessing the image on a Facebook page. If the photo is not public or the owner has blocked you, the photo might not be viewable.

Reverse Image Search: Facebook and Google Method

You can perform a reverse image search in Google using a photo posted on Facebook to possibly learn more about who posted it.

Right-click the image you want to search for on Facebook.

Select Open in New Tab in Google Chrome. If you are using a different web browser, select View Photo, View Image, or a similar option.

Look for three sets of numbers separated by underscores in the address bar or file name of the image, such as those highlighted in this example.

Locate the middle string of numbers. In this example, that is 10161570371170223. This is the ID number you will use on Facebook to find the image.

Type (or copy and paste) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= into your browser’s address bar.

Paste the ID number of the image directly after the = in the address bar. This example would appear as https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10161570371170223 with no spaces.

Press Enter to go directly to the photo on Facebook and find the profile on which it was posted.

Privacy settings might prevent you from accessing the image on a Facebook page. If the photo is not public or the owner has blocked you, the photo might not be viewable.

You can use this method to search for any image, whether it is online or saved to your own device.

  • Right-click the image and select Search Google for Image.
  • A new tab will open displaying possible matches for the photo.
  • Alternatively, you can search for an image you have downloaded by uploading it or dragging and dropping it onto the Google Images search page to use the Google Reverse Image search.
  • Remove the text from the search box, replace it with site:facebook.com, and press Enter. This tells Google that you only want to reverse image search Facebook and not other sites.
  • Check the results to see if any is the profile of the person you are looking for.

If neither approach lets you find someone by picture, there are other tools you can use to perform a reverse image search, Facebook or otherwise. For instance, you can upload an image to TinEye and find out where it has appeared online.

Right-click the image and select Search Google for Image.

A new tab will open displaying possible matches for the photo.

Alternatively, you can search for an image you have downloaded by uploading it or dragging and dropping it onto the Google Images search page to use the Google Reverse Image search.

Remove the text from the search box, replace it with site:facebook.com, and press Enter. This tells Google that you only want to reverse image search Facebook and not other sites.

Check the results to see if any is the profile of the person you are looking for.

  • How do I clear my Facebook search history?
  • To clear your Facebook search history, select the search bar, then choose Edit > Clear Searches. You can also remove individual searches.
  • How do I search Facebook posts?
  • To search for Facebook posts, enter a word or group of words into the search bar and select Posts. Select Posts From to filter results by posts from your friends, your groups and pages, or public posts.
  • How do I block searches for my Facebook profile?
  • To block searches for your Facebook profile, select the down-arrow > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy. Find the How People Find and Contact You section to customize your profile search settings.

To clear your Facebook search history, select the search bar, then choose Edit > Clear Searches. You can also remove individual searches.

To search for Facebook posts, enter a word or group of words into the search bar and select Posts. Select Posts From to filter results by posts from your friends, your groups and pages, or public posts. 

To block searches for your Facebook profile, select the down-arrow > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy. Find the How People Find and Contact You section to customize your profile search settings.

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