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Google now lets you star images and add them to collections

Save images to collections on your desktop in Google search

Have you ever needed to revisit a photo you searched for, but you didn’t want to download it or save the link? Well, Google has fixed that. The search giant launched a Pinterest-like feature for its Image Search, making it incredibly easy to save searched images to collections.

Updated on 03/28/2016 by Julian Chokkattu: Added news of the feature coming to desktop.

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The feature was unveiled for all major browsers on iOS and Android last December, and now three months later it’s finally coming to your desktop.

It works like this: Say you search for something like “bob hairstyles.” After finding a picture you like, all you have to do is click on it, and hit save on desktop or mobile, and the photo will be added to your collections. The next time you need it, head over to google.com/save (mobile works too) and you’ll find all your saved images there for quick access.

google image desktop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You can also tag each photo, allowing you to categorize your saved images easily.

You need to be logged into a Google account to save images so that you can access them in your collections. This requirement may also lead the company to pair this feature with Collections, which launched for Google+ earlier this year, at a later date. Collections let users dedicate a Google+ page to the topic of their choosing, and allows people to follow it.


“For example, if your yard is in need of some spring re-planting, just go to your desktop, search for an image and tap the star to save your potential new flowers, bushes, or even swimming pools, said Mark Colbert, software engineer at Google Search, in the blog post announcement. “When you’re at the store ready to start buying, you’ll be able to pull up your saved images on your phone and start building your perfect yard.”

The feature is only available in the United States, and it’s unclear when the search giant will make it available worldwide.

Julian Chokkattu
Former Mobile and Wearables Editor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
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