Image Redactor

Upload an image to redact or drag and drop

PNG or JPG. Everything happens in your browser - nothing is uploaded. Re-saving also strips EXIF.

Runs entirely in your browser. Your image is never uploaded. The blur and pixelate are applied to the actual pixels, so the hidden content is not recoverable from the exported file.

Need to hide a face, a licence plate, a home address, or a card number before you share a photo or screenshot? Drag a box over anything sensitive and blur it, pixelate it, or cover it with a solid black bar, then download the result. The redaction is baked into the actual pixels, so the hidden content cannot be recovered from the exported file, and re-saving also strips the original EXIF metadata. Everything happens in your browser, so the image is never uploaded.

No signupRuns in your browserWorks offlineFormula explained belowGeneral information only

How to use this tool

  1. 1Upload an image or screenshot (PNG or JPG).
  2. 2Pick a style: Blur, Pixelate, or a solid Black box.
  3. 3Drag a box over each thing you want to hide - add as many regions as you need.
  4. 4Adjust the strength slider for blur and pixelate.
  5. 5Use Undo or Clear all to fix mistakes, then Download the redacted image.

Example

Redact a screenshot before sharing

Upload a screenshot of an invoice, choose Black box, and drag over the account number and customer address. Download the flattened PNG - the covered text is gone from the pixels, not just hidden by an overlay.

Blur a face in a photo

Upload a group photo, choose Blur, set a high strength, and drag a box over the face you need to hide. The blur is applied to the real pixels so it cannot be reversed.

Common use cases

  • Blurring faces or children before posting a photo publicly
  • Hiding a licence plate, house number, or street sign in an image
  • Covering card numbers, account details, or a signature in a screenshot
  • Redacting names, emails, or addresses in a screenshot of a document or chat
  • Pixelating sensitive parts of a photo shared in a report or support ticket

Common mistakes

  • Using a low blur strength on small text - if the shape is still readable, increase the strength or switch to a black box.
  • Placing a coloured shape over text in a design app instead of redacting pixels - that can often be undone; this tool bakes the change in.
  • Forgetting that a semi-transparent overlay is not redaction - always use blur, pixelate, or black box here, which alter the underlying pixels.
  • Missing a reflection or a second copy of the sensitive info elsewhere in the image - scan the whole picture before downloading.

Frequently asked questions

Is the hidden content really gone?

Yes. Blur, pixelate, and black box all rewrite the actual pixels in the exported image, and the export is a flattened PNG or JPEG. There is no hidden layer to peel back, so the original content cannot be recovered from the downloaded file.

Is my image uploaded to a server?

No. The image is loaded and edited entirely in your browser using the HTML canvas, and the export is generated on your device. Nothing is uploaded, which makes it safe for sensitive documents and private photos.

What is the difference between blur, pixelate, and black box?

Blur softens the region so it reads as obscured but keeps a sense of the image. Pixelate replaces it with large blocks. Black box covers it completely with a solid bar - the strongest option for text and numbers you must not reveal.

Can I redact more than one area?

Yes. Draw as many boxes as you need; each one is redacted independently. Use Undo to remove the last box or Clear all to start over, then download when everything sensitive is covered.

Does it also remove metadata?

Re-saving the image drops the original EXIF metadata as a side effect, so GPS and camera data go too. If you only want to strip metadata without editing the picture, use the Image Metadata Remover instead.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The drawing works with touch, so you can drag redaction boxes directly on a phone or tablet screen. Everything still runs locally in the mobile browser.

Related tools

Related guides

Last updated