Step 1: preserve the best available version
Before you upload or search, save the original URL, the page where you found the image, and the largest version of the file you can access. If you only have a screenshot, keep the screenshot, but understand that it may have lost metadata and detail.
When an image is tied to a public claim, also save the caption, date, account name, and surrounding text. The claim may change later.
Step 2: run an AI image check
Use the detector to decide whether the image shows AI-generated signals. A high score should increase caution. A low score should not end the verification process. The image may still be old, edited, cropped, or used with a false caption.
Step 3: inspect metadata and file clues
Look at dimensions, file type, file size, software fields, and camera fields. A tiny file with no metadata is normal for many platforms. A camera field can support a photo story, but it can also survive editing or be removed.
Step 4: search for earlier copies
Use reverse image search, visible text, names, landmarks, logos, and unique objects. Look for the oldest version you can find, not just the top result. If an image appeared years ago with a different caption, the current post may be misleading even if the image is real.
Step 5: compare the image with the claim
Ask what the image is supposed to prove. A picture of smoke does not prove the location. A product render does not prove a seller has inventory. A portrait does not prove an account is genuine. Verification should match the actual claim.
Keep a small evidence log
For anything important, record the image URL, where you found it, the date you checked it, the detector result, metadata notes, reverse-search findings, and any source pages that support or contradict the claim. This makes the review repeatable and reduces the chance that one dramatic clue outweighs the rest of the evidence.
The goal is not to force every image into "real" or "fake." The goal is to know whether it is safe to trust, share, buy, or act on.
Fast checklist
- Best file saved?
- Original post or page saved?
- AI detector result checked?
- Metadata reviewed?
- Older copies searched?
- Claim compared with source evidence?
FAQ
What is the fastest first step?
Save the source URL and run a detector check. Then inspect metadata and search for earlier copies.
Can one tool verify an image?
No. Verification needs multiple signals because each tool answers only part of the question.
What if I cannot find the original source?
Treat the image as unresolved. Lack of a source is important information, especially for serious claims.