retrace↩ /guides
[ guides ]

Guides.Where a video came from.

Step-by-step methods for finding a video's source, checking whether it is real, recent or AI, and getting your own videos back. They work with free tools; Retrace appears where it saves you time.

  1. [ 01 ]

    What is reverse video search? And how it actually works

    Reverse video search uses the footage itself as the query. How it works, what it can and can't find, and which tools to use.

  2. [ 02 ]

    Reverse search a video on Google The frame method, on any device

    Google can't search with a video file, but Google Lens can search its frames. How to do it on desktop, Android and iPhone.

  3. [ 03 ]

    Who posted this video first? A method you can actually follow

    Collect every copy of a video, then compare dates, quality, watermarks and the creator's other posts to find the original uploader.

  4. [ 04 ]

    Is this video AI? A practical checklist

    Visual tells, source checks, AI labels, Content Credentials and tracing the footage: what each one proves and what it does not.

  5. [ 05 ]

    Is this video old? How to spot recycled footage

    Old footage keeps resurfacing as breaking news. Find earlier copies, read the clues in the frame and check fact-checkers.

  6. [ 06 ]

    Someone reposted your video. Here is how to report it.

    Find every repost, prove the footage is yours, and file copyright reports on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

  7. [ 07 ]

    Extract frames from a video on any phone or computer

    Pause and screenshot on any device, or use QuickTime, VLC and ffmpeg for full-resolution stills and batches of frames.

  8. [ 08 ]

    Reverse video search on iPhone and Android.

    Search a video from your phone in three ways: paste its link, upload the file from your camera roll, or search a single screenshot.

  9. [ 09 ]

    Is this viral video real? A 5-minute check before you share

    A quick checklist before you share a viral video: the account, the original source, the date, the place and the context.

  10. [ 10 ]

    Is the person in the videos real? How to check before you trust

    Red flags of romance scams that use stolen or fake videos, how to check if the person is real, and what to do if they are not.

  11. [ 11 ]

    Find a deleted TikTok Where copies survive, and where they don't

    TikTok won't show a deleted video, but copies often survive. Where to look for reuploads, and how to search from a screenshot.

  12. [ 12 ]

    Found a clip and want the movie? Work through it in this order

    Identify the movie or show behind a short clip: comments, dialogue search, reverse image search, communities and IMDb filters.

  13. [ 13 ]

    Who made this meme? Peel back the reposts one layer at a time

    Trace a video meme back through its reposts to the original clip and its creator, then credit them properly.

  14. [ 14 ]

    What song is in this video? Six ways to find out

    Identify the music in any video with Shazam, Google, the platform's own sound credits, lyrics or a Reddit thread.

  15. [ 15 ]

    How to save a video to check it Without shady downloader sites

    Save a video from TikTok, Instagram, X or a chat with built-in tools and screen recording, to search it or keep it as evidence.

  16. [ 16 ]

    How to protect your videos from being stolen and reposted

    You can't prevent copying, but you can make reposts unprofitable and easy to prove: watermarks, kept originals, posting order and checks.