Redact with a black bar, mosaic or blur
Censor Image
Black out text, pixelate faces or blur anything you don't want to share. Mix effects in one image, check the result and save a clean copy. The whole process happens on your device.
Drop an image here, paste it, or open a file
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP or AVIF. The image stays on your device.
What is an image censor tool?
An image censor tool hides part of a picture so that viewers can't see the sensitive details. The three classic methods are the black bar (a solid box), pixelation (a mosaic) and blur. Each has a different balance between security and appearance.
This tool lets you combine all three in one image. For example, you can black out an account number, pixelate a face and blur a busy background. The redaction is burned into a new image file, and the original pixels and metadata are not included.
How to censor an image online
- 1
Open your image
Choose Open image, drop a file on the editor or paste a screenshot with Ctrl/⌘ + V. JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP and AVIF are supported.
- 2
Choose the effect
Solid box is selected for the strongest redaction. Choose a colour, or switch any area to Pixelate or Blur.
- 3
Draw over the areas
Drag a rectangle or ellipse, or paint with the brush. Add as many areas as you need. Click an area to change or delete it.
- 4
Check and download
Press and hold “Hold to see original” to compare, then download as PNG, JPG or WebP at full resolution, or copy the result to the clipboard.
Benefits of blurring images in your browser
- Private by design
- Your photo is decoded, edited and exported locally. It is never uploaded, so screenshots of bank statements or ID cards stay on your device.
- Precise, flexible selections
- Draw rectangles for text, ellipses for faces and brush strokes for irregular shapes. Each area keeps its own effect and strength.
- Full-resolution output
- Export at the original size as PNG, JPG or WebP, with quality control for lossy formats. There is no watermark.
- Fast on phones and laptops
- Effects are GPU-accelerated canvas filters. Nothing needs to be installed, and it works with touch.
Censoring images vs redacting PDFs
When you censor an image here, the result is flattened: the hidden pixels are gone from the downloaded file. PDF redaction is different. A black rectangle drawn in a PDF viewer can leave the text underneath selectable. If you need to share a document, take a screenshot or export the page as an image, censor it here, then share the image.
Common uses
- Screenshots for support tickets
- Hide email addresses, API keys, order numbers and customer names before you post a screenshot.
- Social media and marketplaces
- Blur faces of bystanders, children or house numbers before you publish a photo or listing.
- Documents and IDs
- Redact passport numbers, dates of birth and signatures in photos of documents you need to share.
- Vehicles and dashcam footage
- Pixelate licence plates in car photos, accident reports and street scenes.
- Portraits and product shots
- Use Outside shapes mode to blur a busy background and keep the subject in focus.
- Spoilers and puzzles
- Pixelate an answer or a spoiler so people can reveal it later by opening the original.
How to hide sensitive information safely
Light blur and small pixel blocks can sometimes be reversed or guessed, especially for short, predictable text such as card numbers, dates and licence plates. Research has shown that low-strength mosaics can be matched against candidate text.
- For passwords, account numbers, addresses and ID numbers, use Solid box. It replaces the pixels completely.
- If you prefer a softer look, use Pixelate with a pixel size of 60 or more, so each block covers several characters.
- Cover the whole value, including the edges of the characters. Partial redaction can still reveal the number of digits.
- Check the downloaded file, not just the preview, before you share it. This tool saves a new image, so the original pixels and EXIF metadata are not included.
How this tool compares with other online blur tools
We tested the image blur and pixelate tools that rank on Google's first page. Most are good at one job: blurring a whole photo, pixelating a rectangle or selling a larger editor. Several upload your photo to a server for processing. This tool puts the privacy-focused features in one place.
| Feature | This tool | Typical online tools |
|---|---|---|
| Image stays on your device | Yes, processed in your browser | Often processed on a server |
| Blur, pixelate and solid box in one image | Yes, set per area | Usually one effect at a time |
| Rectangle, ellipse and freehand brush | All three | Usually rectangle only |
| Blur the background, keep the subject sharp | Yes (Outside shapes mode) | Sometimes, in a separate tool |
| Undo, redo and before/after view | Yes | Varies |
| Account, watermark or size limit | None | Some cap file size or add a watermark |
| EXIF location data removed on export | Yes | Rarely mentioned |
5 frequently asked questions about censoring images
What is the safest way to censor text in a picture?
Use Solid box. It replaces every pixel in the area with a flat colour, so nothing of the original text remains in the exported file. Cover the full height of the characters.
Can I censor a face and black out text in the same image?
Yes. Each area remembers its own effect. Draw an ellipse with Pixelate over the face, then switch to Solid box and draw over the text.
Does the censored image keep the original data underneath?
No. The download is a newly encoded image, so there are no hidden layers, the original pixels are gone, and EXIF metadata such as GPS location is not copied.
Is my photo uploaded when I censor it?
No. The tool runs in your browser. Your image is never sent to a server, which matters when you are redacting IDs, bank details or private conversations.
Can I change the colour of the censor bar?
Yes. With Solid box selected, pick any colour. Black is traditional for redaction, but white or a brand colour can look cleaner in screenshots.