Pixelate Image
Choose a picture, set the pixel size, and optionally draw the areas to pixelate.
Your picture is pixelated inside this page and never uploaded.
What this tool does
Choose a picture and drag the slider to set the size of the blocks: bigger blocks hide more detail. To hide just a face or a number plate, tick "Only pixelate areas I draw" and drag a box over each area. Download the result as a PNG.
Replaces each block of pixels with its average colour.
Applies the effect to the whole image or to rectangles you draw.
How to use it
- Choose an image.
- Drag the pixel size slider.
- To pixelate only part, tick the option and drag boxes on the picture.
- Press Download PNG.
Why use this tool
Pixelates the whole picture or only the rectangles you draw on it, so you can hide a face, a licence plate or text without touching the rest. Pixelation is a quick way to hide a face, an address or a number, and it is also a popular retro effect. Doing it in the page means a sensitive picture never has to be sent to a website.
Why we built it
We built the pixelate image tool to pixelate only the areas you draw, so the rest of the picture stays sharp. Soften pictures with the blur image tool and strip location data with the EXIF remover.
Who this tool is for
- People hiding faces, plates and details before sharing
- Anyone censoring part of a screenshot
- Designers wanting a retro pixel effect
When to use it
- Hiding faces, plates and personal details before sharing a photo.
- Censoring part of a screenshot.
- Making a retro pixel-art effect.
- Teaching how images are made of pixels.
How it works
The picture is divided into a grid of square blocks of the chosen size. Each block is replaced by the average colour of the pixels in it, so a larger block means less detail. In area mode, only the blocks inside each rectangle you draw are changed. The preview shows the area outlines, and the downloaded file does not.
Example: a 3,000-pixel-wide photo at a block size of 60 becomes a 50-block-wide mosaic. A 12-pixel block on a face is usually enough to hide it in a small image, but a larger block is safer.
Light pixelation can sometimes be reversed or guessed at. For anything sensitive, use large blocks, or cover the area with a solid colour instead.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Image | A JPG, PNG, WebP or other picture your browser can open. |
| Pixel size and areas | A block size in pixels, and optional rectangles drawn on the picture. |
| Output | A pixelated PNG at the original size (up to 4,000 pixels on the long edge). |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to download | In area mode no area has been drawn. | Drag a box on the picture first. |
| The effect looks too weak | The blocks are small for a large image. | Increase the pixel size. |
| A large photo is smaller than the original | Very large images are reduced to 4,000 pixels on the long edge. | Crop first if you need the full size. |
Assumptions and limitations
- Rectangular areas only.
- The long edge is limited to 4,000 pixels.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pixelate part of an image?
Tick "Only pixelate areas I draw" and drag a box over each area.
Can I pixelate a face?
Yes. Draw a box around it and use a large enough block size that the face is not recognisable.
Is pixelation secure?
Heavy pixelation hides detail, but light pixelation can be partly reversed. For sensitive details, use large blocks or a solid cover.
What format is the download?
PNG, at the size of the image you loaded.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. It is processed in your browser.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing leaves the page.