Pixelate Photo
Drop a photo, drag rectangles or ellipses over what you want to censor, tune block size 4-60 px. Multi-region, instant preview, 100% browser-side.
Drop a photo to start
JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC up to 40 MB · stays in your browser
Never uploaded · 100% browser-side
How it works
- 1
Drop your photo
Drag & drop or browse to upload. JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC up to 40 MB. We auto-place a default region in the centre.
- 2
Draw pixelate regions
Drag on the photo to add rectangles or ellipses over what you want hidden. Add as many as you need - drag to reposition, corner handles to resize.
- 3
Tune block size, save
4 px = subtle mosaic, 60 px = heavily blocky censorship. 16-30 px is the classic 'TV blur' look. Save in any format.
Why use this online tool
Multi-region
Cover several faces, plates, or sensitive zones in one photo with separate regions. Each can be a rectangle or ellipse.
Strong privacy guarantee
Each block becomes one solid colour averaged from the source - spatial detail is genuinely lost. Unlike heavy blur, pixelate at 20+ block size cannot be reversed by sharpening tools.
Adjustable block size
Slider from 4 to 60 px. Subtle mosaic for stylised effects, chunky blocks for full censorship.
Free, browser-side
Photo never leaves your device. No upload, no signup, no per-region cost.
When to use it
- Hiding faces in group photos before posting on social media or news sites
- Censoring license plates in marketplace listings or insurance evidence
- Redacting ID numbers, addresses, names in document scans
- Obscuring screen content (passwords, tokens) in screenshots before sharing
- Stylised mosaic effects for editorial / artistic posts
Frequently asked questions
- Pixelate vs blur - which is better for privacy?
- Pixelate is more secure. A heavy Gaussian blur (40+ px) is irreversible in practice but theoretically retains some spatial information. Pixelate at 20+ px block size collapses each block into one solid colour - no reconstruction is possible regardless of source resolution.
- What block size should I use for face hiding?
- 20-30 px on a 12 MP photo gives unmistakeable censorship while keeping the face area clearly identifiable as 'a face'. 40+ px is overkill for most cases. 8-12 px gives a subtle stylised mosaic that's still readable as a face.
- Does this upload my photo to a server?
- No. Pixelation runs entirely in your browser using the canvas downscale-then-upscale technique. Your image never leaves your device.
- Why does the rectangle have a soft edge?
- It doesn't - the rectangle clip is sharp. If you see a soft edge, you've probably picked the ellipse shape - the elliptical clip blurs the boundary into a pixelated oval. Switch to Rectangle for hard edges.
- Can I pixelate multiple faces in a group photo?
- Yes - drag a separate region over each face. Performance stays smooth even with 10+ regions on a 12 MP photo.
Related free tools
Censor Photo Online
Block out faces, plates, IDs, NSFW areas, or screen content with hard mosaic censorship. Drag rectangles or ellipses, tune block size, save - 100% browser-side, no upload.
Blur Region of Photo
Drag a rectangle or ellipse over any part of a photo and blur it - hide faces, license plates, IDs, sensitive text. Multi-region, drag-to-resize, browser-side.
Hide License Plate in Photo
Drag a rectangle over the plate and blur it instantly - safe for marketplace ads, insurance evidence, social posts, and used-car listings. Multi-plate support for shots with several vehicles.
Frosted Glass Effect on Photo
Blur the whole photo except a sharp cutout zone - the magazine-style viewfinder effect. Drag a rectangle or circle to define the sharp area, optional corner brackets for the cinematic frame.
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