How to find an anime from a screenshot on your phone
Most anime clips are discovered on a phone — TikTok, Reels, Shorts, Reddit. You do not need to install anything: here is how to find the anime straight from your mobile browser.
By Tahir Nazir · Updated
On iPhone (Safari or Chrome)
- Pause the video on a clear frame and press Side button + Volume Up to take a screenshot.
- Open anitrace.its-tahir.com/search in Safari or Chrome.
- Tap Choose an image, then Photo Library, and pick the screenshot.
- Wait a few seconds for the title, episode, and timestamp.
TipIn Safari, tap Share → Add to Home Screen to get AniTrace as an app-like icon for next time.
On Android (Chrome)
- Pause on a clear frame and press Power + Volume Down to take a screenshot.
- Open anitrace.its-tahir.com/search in Chrome.
- Tap Choose an image and select the screenshot from your gallery or Files.
- Read the result — tap the AniList link for the synopsis and where to watch.
TipIn Chrome, tap ⋮ → Add to Home screen (or Install app) for one-tap access.
Getting a clean screenshot from TikTok, Reels, and Shorts
- Pause first, then wait a moment — on-screen buttons often fade out.
- Pick a frame with no captions across the middle of the picture.
- Avoid moments with zoom, flashes, or transitions common in edits.
- If the video is mirrored (text looks backwards), flip the screenshot in your photo editor before searching.
Searching an image you found on Reddit or Discord
You do not always need a screenshot. Long-press the image, choose Copy link or Copy image address, then paste the link into the image-URL box on the search page and tap Trace.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app to find anime from a screenshot?
You do not need a separate app — AniTrace works in your phone's browser and can be added to your home screen so it opens like an app.
Does it use a lot of mobile data?
No. Large screenshots are shrunk on your phone before upload, so each search sends a small image.
Are my screenshots saved?
AniTrace does not store your uploads. The image is sent to the trace.moe search engine to find a match; your recent-search list stays only in your own browser.