Pixelate Image Online
Apply a mosaic effect to any part of an image to hide faces, text, or sensitive details.
Same local editor as the homepage. This page is a deep link for one job, not a separate upload service.
Blur
Softer cover. Raise the strength until text is unreadable.
Pixelate
Mosaic blocks for faces and photos. Larger blocks hide more.
Black Box
Solid cover for names, IDs, and anything that must not be readable.
How to use
How do you redact this image locally?
Load the image in this browser, draw over each sensitive region, and export a PNG. The canvas edit does not upload the file. Paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V or Command-V, or drop a JPG, PNG, or WebP. Undo fixes a box without changing the original on your device.
- 1
Upload your image by clicking the button or dragging it onto the page.
- 2
Pixelate is already selected. Set the block size, then drag a box over the area to hide.
- 3
Click and drag a box over the area you want to pixelate.
- 4
Repeat for any additional areas. Click Undo to remove the last selection if needed.
- 5
Click "Export redacted PNG" to download the image with the mosaic effect applied.
You can also paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V or ⌘V. Undo and Redo fix a box without changing the original file.
Why use this tool
Why does this stay in the browser?
This page is for images that already contain private material. Blur, pixelate, and black box run in your browser, so the file is not sent away to be cleaned. Use a black box for secrets that must not stay readable. Use blur or pixelate only after you have checked that the cover is enough.
Pixelation is a classic privacy technique used across journalism, video production, social media, and research. A mosaic clearly signals that content was intentionally obscured while preserving the shape and context of what lies beneath.
Unlike a solid black box, a pixelated area still communicates that a face is a face, or that text existed — without revealing the actual content. This is useful when context matters but identity or sensitive data must be protected.
This tool applies the pixelate effect directly in your browser. No upload, no server, no account. Draw over any region and download the result in seconds.
Questions
What should you know before you export?
The image is processed locally, and export writes a new PNG. Blur is not the same cover as a black box. Paste works with Ctrl+V or Command-V. If your question is about a specific leak, such as a password, a face, or a sidebar, use the guides linked below before you send the file.
What does pixelating an image do?
Pixelating replaces the selected area with large colored blocks, creating a mosaic effect. The underlying content becomes unreadable while the general shape and color remain visible.
What is the difference between pixelate and blur?
Blur creates a smooth, frosted-glass effect. Pixelate replaces the area with large square blocks. Both make content unreadable; the difference is visual style.
Can I pixelate a face in a photo?
Yes. Draw a box over any face to apply the mosaic effect. Pixelate is widely used in journalism and broadcasting for face masking.
Can I pixelate text in a screenshot?
Yes. Draw a box over any text area to make it unreadable. For maximum certainty, use Black Box mode which replaces the area with solid black.
Is my image uploaded when I pixelate it?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Nothing is sent to a server.
Can I pixelate multiple areas in one image?
Yes. Each drag adds a new pixelated region. There is no limit to how many areas you can pixelate in a single session.
What image formats are supported?
You can upload JPG, PNG, and WebP images. The result is downloaded as a PNG file.
Can I undo a pixelated area?
Yes. Click Undo to remove the last region, or Redo to restore it. The original file is never modified.
Can I change how large the pixels are?
Yes. Use the block size slider before you draw. Larger blocks hide detail more strongly, and each area keeps the size you chose when you drew it.
Does pixelate work on mobile?
Yes. The editor works in modern mobile browsers with touch-based selection.
When should I use pixelate instead of black box?
Use pixelate when you want the viewer to understand that something was obscured without fully erasing context. Use black box when you need maximum visual certainty.
Related workflows
Which related tool should you open next?
Every tool on this site is the same local editor with a different starting note. Open a related page when the job is narrower, such as faces, screenshots, or solid black text. You do not upload the image to a second service to switch jobs.
Guides
Which guide matches this job?
Read the guide that matches the mistake you are about to make. Text secrets usually need a black box, not a light blur. Faces, plates, and sidebars need their own pass. Local editing matters most when the file should not be uploaded in order to hide it.
Tool network
Where are the other free tools?
The list below is that same editor under different job names. Pick the name that matches what you need to hide. Processing stays in the browser on every page here, and none of these links is a separate upload form.