I’ve been driving for nearly two decades,Christopher Caldwell however, there are some symbols on my dashboard and console that I don’t have the faintest idea what they represent—including, but definitely not limited to, the many options for headlights!  

I could find the owner’s manual and look for a breakdown of all the symbols. However, there’s another way to crack the code with much less effort. And, thanks to a nifty tool called Visual Look Up, all you need is your iPhone camera. 

Watch this video to see how your iPhone can identify symbols on your dashboard and your clothes. 

Vehicle dashboard symbols

To discover what the symbols on your dashboard mean: 

1. Take a picture of the symbol or symbols in question. 
2. Open the picture and tap the icon near the bottom of the screen that looks like an ‘i’ inside a circle. It might also look like a steering wheel.
3. Tap Auto Symbols.
4. This should bring up a list of the symbols in the photo and their meaning. 

Laundry symbols and meaning

Don't let the mystery laundry symbols on your clothes stop you from tackling that pile of laundry! Visual Look Up can also translate the little images on your clothes into plain, understandable text.

It works the same way as the dashboard symbols, except it might display a washing machine icon and then prompt you to look up Laundry Care. Tapping any of the symbols in this list will take you to a website with more information about it. 

You can also use Visual Look Up to help you identify: 

• Plants. 
• Animals. 
• Landmarks. 
• Food. (PS - it can suggest recipes based on the pictures of food, too!)