How to Blur Faces, License Plates and Private Details in a Photo

Published October 11, 2026

Free tool: Blur & Pixelate Image→

Before you share a photo or a screenshot, it's worth checking what's in it: a stranger's face, a car's license plate, an address on a parcel, an email address or a bank balance in a screenshot. Blurring or covering those details protects other people's privacy and your own. This guide explains the options, which one is safest for each job, and how to do it with the free Blur & Pixelate Image tool.

What to hide before sharing

• Faces of people who didn't agree to be shown, especially children
• License plates on cars
• Addresses on envelopes, parcels, house numbers and street signs
• Personal details in screenshots: names, email addresses, phone numbers, account numbers and balances
• Documents in the background, such as letters, IDs or boarding passes
• Screens and whiteboards that show private or work information

Blur, pixelate or solid box?

• Blur softens an area smoothly. It looks the most natural, which suits faces in the background of a photo.
• Pixelate turns an area into big blocks of color, the familiar look from TV. It's clearly intentional.
• Solid box covers an area completely with a color. It's the only option that leaves nothing behind.

For text and numbers, such as passwords, addresses or account details, use a solid box or a very strong setting. Light blurs and small pixel blocks can sometimes be read by eye, or reconstructed, especially when the text is short or follows a known format.

How to blur part of an image with Graph Maker

1. Open Blur & Pixelate Image and add your photo or screenshot.
2. Drag on the image to draw a box over each area to hide. You can add as many boxes as you need; select a box to move or resize it (the arrow keys move it, Shift and the arrow keys resize it, and Delete removes it).
3. Choose the style: Blur, Pixelate or Solid box, with a box color for solid boxes.
4. Set the strength, from 1 to 100. For anything sensitive, go high.
5. Choose what to apply it to: the selected areas, everything else (to highlight one area by blurring the rest), or the whole image.
6. Choose the format, JPG, PNG or WebP, and download the result.

The photo is processed in your browser, so it never leaves your device, which matters when it contains private information.

Tips

• Cover a little more than you need. Leave a margin around faces and text so no edges show.
• Check the whole picture, including reflections in windows and mirrors, which often show screens or faces.
• Share the edited copy, not the original, and remember the original still contains everything.
• Also remove hidden location data. Photos can carry GPS coordinates; strip them with the EXIF Viewer & Remover, as explained in How to Remove EXIF Data and GPS Location from Photos.

Frequently asked questions

How do I blur a face in a photo?

Draw a box over the face, choose Blur or Pixelate, raise the strength until the face can't be recognized, and download the result.

Is pixelation safe for hiding text?

Not always. Short text, such as numbers, can sometimes be guessed from pixelated or lightly blurred images. Use a solid box for anything sensitive.

Can I blur the background of a photo instead?

Yes. Draw a box around the subject and choose to apply the effect to Everything else; the background is blurred and the subject stays sharp.