How to use it
- Click Choose a file or drop a picture on the box. You can also paste one with Ctrl+V.
- Drag over the face, number plate or detail you want to hide. Repeat for each area; drag a box to move it, or its corner to resize it.
- Choose the Method. Pixelate hides detail most strongly. Set the Strength until the area cannot be recognised in the preview.
- Choose an Output format and click Download image. Check the saved file before you share it.
Pixelate or blur
Pixelate replaces each square block of a box with its average colour, so the shapes inside the box are lost. Blur spreads each pixel over its neighbours with a soft, Gaussian-style blur. Both change the pixels of the picture itself, so the hidden detail is not kept behind the effect.
Why the strength has a minimum
A light blur can keep the outline of a face, and AI tools can estimate what lies underneath it. To keep the hidden detail hidden, the tool sets a minimum for both methods: a pixel block is at least 4 pixels across, and a blur always spreads over at least 6 pixels, whatever the strength. Choose a larger strength for a larger box.
What the saved file contains
The saved file is written again from the picture's pixels, so camera, date and location details are not carried over. Areas you did not box stay as they are, so check the whole picture before you share it.
Example: a street photo with a number plate
Draw a box over the number plate in a 3000 × 2000 pixel street photo. The plate is about 400 × 120 pixels. With the Pixelate method at a strength of 30 %, the shorter side of 120 pixels gives blocks of 36 pixels, so the letters cannot be read.
Frequently asked questions
Is the photo uploaded when I blur it?
No. The picture is opened, blurred and saved on your device. You can check by turning off your internet connection after the page has loaded and blurring a picture.
Can someone undo the blur?
A strong pixelate or blur removes the detail inside the box. The tool does not allow a light blur, because AI tools can sometimes guess the detail behind a light one. For private information, use a large strength.
Why are only the boxes changed in the saved picture?
Only the boxes change. The rest of the picture is saved from its own pixels at full size, so everything you did not box stays sharp.
Does the saved file lose the camera and location details?
Yes. The saved file is drawn again from the picture's pixels, so camera, date and GPS information are not carried over. The original file on your device is not changed.
Should I choose pixelate or blur?
Pixelate hides the most and looks like a mosaic, which suits faces and number plates. Blur looks softer and more natural, and at the strength you choose it still removes the detail.
Can I hide several faces or plates in one picture?
Yes. Draw as many boxes as you need, and all of them are applied together when you download the picture. Select a box to move it, resize it or remove it with the Delete key.
Sources
- MDN: CanvasRenderingContext2D.getImageData(), reading the pixels of a picture
- MDN: Pointer events, drawing and moving boxes with a mouse, pen or touch
- W3C Filter Effects Module Level 1: the Gaussian blur that this blur approximates
Figures and text last checked on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.