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Blur Faces in a Photo

To blur faces in a photo, drag a box over each face, number plate or name badge, adjust the strength until nothing is recognisable, and apply. The marked pixels are replaced, not covered, so the detail cannot be recovered from the saved picture. You mark the areas yourself, so nothing is analysed or uploaded.

Files never leave your device

Updated

How to use Blur Faces in a Photo

  1. 1Add the photo.
  2. 2Drag a box across each face or detail that must be hidden.
  3. 3Adjust the blur strength until nothing is recognisable.
  4. 4Apply and download the result.

How it works

Each marked area is redrawn from the original pixels through a blur filter, and that blurred result becomes part of the saved picture. The detail inside it is destroyed rather than covered, so there is nothing underneath for anyone to recover by moving a shape aside.

That distinction matters more than it sounds. Pasting a black rectangle over a face in a document editor leaves the face in the file, which is how a number of people have accidentally published exactly what they meant to hide.

Strength is worth checking rather than guessing. A light blur on a small face can still be readable when the picture is enlarged; if you can make out the feature at full size, increase the strength and apply again.

Images are decoded by the browser, redrawn on a canvas and re-encoded on your own machine. Nothing is uploaded, so there is no waiting on a queue and no copy of your photos anywhere else.

Tips and common mistakes

  • Cover the whole head and hair, not just the face; hairstyles and ears are recognisable too.
  • Check the result at full size. If you can still make out the feature, increase the strength and apply again.
  • Look for faces and number plates in reflections, windows and screens in the background.
  • Remove location data as well before posting, with the EXIF Viewer and Remover.

Frequently asked questions

Can the blur be undone?
Not from the saved picture. The pixels in the marked areas are replaced, so the detail is not present in the file.
Does it find faces automatically?
No. You mark the areas yourself, which means nothing is analysed and no face data is created or sent anywhere.
How strong should the blur be?
Strong enough that you cannot recognise the feature when viewing the result at full size. When in doubt, go further.
Does this remove location data too?
Re-saving drops camera metadata, but use the EXIF Remover if stripping location is the main goal.
Is blurring as safe as a black box?
In a saved picture, yes — both replace the pixels. Blur keeps the photo looking natural. What is not safe is a box drawn on top in a document editor, where the picture underneath is still there.
Can I blur text, such as a name badge or a screen?
Yes. Drag a box over any area — text, a number plate, a badge — and it is blurred the same way.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The blur is applied in your browser.
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Guides

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EXIF Viewer and RemoverSee the hidden camera and GPS data in a photo, then strip it out.Add Watermark to ImageStamp your name across a photo before sharing it.Crop ImageDrag out a crop area or snap to a preset aspect ratio.Image ConverterConvert between JPG, PNG and WebP in a single batch.