2050753 - Google Lens doesn't provide any results in private mode

Status: VERIFIED FIXED

(Firefox for Android :: Search, defect)

Description

[Mira Lobontiu (Android QA)]

Attachment: NoResults.jpg

Steps to reproduce

1. In Secret Settings, make sure "Enable Google Lens Integration" is ON.
2. Go to homepage, and make sure Google is the search engine used.
3. Go to private homepage.
4. Tap on the search bar.
5. Tap on the Google Lens icon from toolbar.
6. Take a photo or point the camera to an object.
7. Observe the displayed results.

Expected behavior

When you take a photo of an object or point your camera at it using Google Lens, the app doesn't just "see" the object—it analyzes its visual features and queries Google's massive database.

Actual behavior

"Images not found" message is displayed.
If Google Lens is not supported in private mode, then the bug is that Google Lens icon is available in private mode.

Device information

• Firefox version: Nightly 154.0a1
• Android devices: all

Any additional information?

• Gemini says:
  "In Chrome for Mobile (Android/iOS) On mobile devices, Google Lens is tied directly into the Google operating system and app ecosystem. If you are inside an Incognito tab in Chrome and try to tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar, it will usually push the request outside of the private browsing session. It either uses your phone's native Google/Camera app or forces the results to open in a standard, non-private tab where you are signed into your Google Account. Why Google Limits Lens in Private Mode Google Lens relies entirely on cloud-based AI servers to process what is inside your images. When you use Lens normally, Google logs that data into your account's Web & App Activity. Because Incognito/Private mode is strictly designed not to save browsing data, cookies, or account activity to your session, Google disables or bypasses Lens in private tabs to prevent a conflict between the cloud-based tracking required for Lens and the local privacy required by Incognito mode."

Comment 1

[[:harrisono]]

Per sync meeting discussion:

Will move forward with removing the Google Lens icon in the toolbar when in private mode. Private mode users will retain the long-press context menu entry.
Private mode gating needs to move from the uploader level to the UI level.

Comment 2

[[:harrisono]]

Attachment: Bug 2050753 - Disable Google Lens toolbar entry in PBM

Comment 3

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://github.com/mozilla-firefox/firefox/commit/1fc3e7a10158
https://hg.mozilla.org/integration/autoland/rev/bb0063c7d12b
Disable Google Lens toolbar entry in PBM r=android-reviewers,petru

Comment 4

[amarc]

https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/bb0063c7d12b

Comment 5

[BMO Github Automation]

Authored by https://github.com/HarrisonOg
https://github.com/mozilla/enterprise-firefox/commit/1fc3e7a10158b682af21001aa8b069171006f187
[enterprise-main] Bug 2050753 - Disable Google Lens toolbar entry in PBM r=android-reviewers,petru

Comment 7

[Mira Lobontiu (Android QA)]

Verified as fixed on the Firefox for Android Nightly 154.0a1 from 7/12 using a Motorola Moto G30 (Android 12), and a Pixel 6 (Android 17).