SOP: Verify an Image with SynthID Fresh

Date: February 2026 | Estimated Time: 5 minutes

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Purpose

Verify whether an image was created or edited by a Google AI model by checking for embedded SynthID watermarks using the Gemini App.

Prerequisites Checklist

• [ ] Personal Google account or Google Workspace account
• [ ] Latest Gemini App (web at gemini.google.com or mobile app)
• [ ] Signed in to your Google account
• [ ] Image file under 100 MB
• [ ] Daily quota not exceeded (~20 image checks per day)

Process Flowchart

Procedure

Step 1: Open the Gemini App

::: tabs

=== Computer

1. Navigate to gemini.google.com in your browser
2. Sign in with your Google account if not already signed in
3. You should see the Gemini chat interface

=== Android

1. Open the Gemini app on your Android device
2. If prompted, sign in with your Google account
3. The chat interface will appear

=== iPhone / iPad

1. Open the Gemini app from your home screen
2. Sign in with your Google account if needed
3. The chat interface will load

:::

Step 2: Upload the Image

On Computer:

1. Click the Add files button (attachment/paperclip icon) in the chat input area
2. Select your upload source:
   • Upload from device — Browse your local files
   • Photo library — Select from Google Photos
   • Google Drive — Select from Drive files
3. Choose the image file you want to verify
4. Wait for the upload to complete — you will see a thumbnail preview

On Android:

1. Tap the Add file button
2. Select your upload source
3. Choose the image from your device or cloud storage
4. Confirm the upload

On iPhone / iPad:

1. Tap the Add file button
2. Select the image from your device, camera roll, or Drive
3. Wait for the upload confirmation

Step 3: Ask the Verification Question

Type one of the following prompts in the chat:

• Was this image created by AI?
• Check this image for SynthID watermarks
• @synthid verify this image
• Is this AI generated?

Press Enter or tap Send.

Step 4: Interpret the Results

Result	Meaning	Next Steps
SynthID watermark detected	The image was created or edited by a Google AI model	Verification complete — image is confirmed Google AI
No SynthID watermark detected	The image was NOT created by Google AI	Does not rule out other AI — use alternative detection methods
Unclear / Not enough details	Cannot determine definitively	See "If Results Are Unclear" section below

Step 5: If Results Are Unclear

If SynthID cannot make a determination:

1. Check for visual artifacts — Look for distorted hands, garbled text, inconsistent shadows, repeating background patterns, or overly smooth skin textures
2. Reverse image search — Upload to Google Images or TinEye to find original sources
3. Analyze EXIF metadata — Real photos contain camera data (model, aperture, GPS). AI images typically lack this data
4. Check file properties — Right-click the file and inspect properties for editing software traces

WARNING

A "no watermark" result means the image was not made by Google AI specifically. The image could still have been created by Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, or other non-Google AI systems that do not use SynthID.

Best Practices

• Upload original files whenever possible rather than screenshots or re-saved copies
• Crop tightly to the subject area — avoid uploading collages or composite images
• Higher resolution images yield more reliable verification results
• Avoid heavy compression before uploading — compression degrades watermark signal
• One file at a time — SynthID cannot verify multiple files simultaneously

Verification Checklist

• [ ] Image is under 100 MB
• [ ] Image is in a supported format (JPEG, PNG, WebP)
• [ ] Uploaded to Gemini App successfully
• [ ] Verification question asked
• [ ] Result reviewed and documented
• [ ] If unclear: alternative detection methods applied
• [ ] Findings recorded for reference