How to Blur Part of an Image
To blur part of an image, open it above, pick an effect and drag over the area you want to hide. Repeat for every face, plate or line of text, then download the result.
- Open the image. Drag it onto the box, click to choose it, or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V.
- Pick the effect and shape. Pixelate, Blur or Black box; a rectangle for text and plates, an oval for faces. Each area keeps the effect it was drawn with, so you can mix them.
- Drag over each area. On a phone, drag with one finger. Undo removes the last area.
- Download or share. Download keeps the image's format; Publish & get a link uploads the edited image and gives you a link to share.
Blur, Pixelate or Black Box?
| Effect | Looks like | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Pixelate | Large coloured squares | Faces and number plates, the classic "censored" look |
| Blur | Soft, out-of-focus area | Faces and backgrounds where you want the photo to still look natural |
| Black box | Solid black | Passwords, account numbers, addresses, names in screenshots |
For text, use the black box. Blurred or lightly pixelated text can sometimes be partly reconstructed, especially short strings such as numbers. A solid box removes the information completely. For faces, a high strength hides more; check the preview before you share.
What to Hide Before Sharing
- Faces of people who didn't agree to be shared, especially children.
- Number plates, house numbers and street signs that place the photo.
- In screenshots: names, email addresses, phone numbers, order and account numbers, QR codes and anything in the browser's address bar.
- Documents: ID numbers, signatures, barcodes and dates of birth.
Photos also carry hidden details, such as the place where they were taken. The edited image you download here has none of them; to check another photo, use the EXIF viewer and remover. To mark a picture as yours instead, add a watermark.