Pixelate Image Online

What pixelating does

Pixelation splits the picture into a grid of equal blocks and paints each block with the average colour of the pixels inside it. Detail smaller than a block disappears, while overall shapes and colours survive — which is why a pixelated face is unrecognisable but you can still tell it is a face. This tool averages with transparency taken into account, so a PNG with a transparent background stays transparent instead of turning the edges dark.

Pixelate only part of a picture

To hide a face, a number plate or a name while keeping the rest of the photo sharp, use Blur Image: draw a box over each area and choose pixelate, blur or a solid bar. For anything truly sensitive — passwords, card numbers, home addresses — a solid bar is the safe choice, because lightly pixelated text can sometimes be reconstructed.

Pixelate, blur or pixel art?

• Pixelate — hard-edged blocks of true average colour. The classic TV censor look.
• Blur — soft, smeared detail with no visible grid; looks more natural on a photo background.
• Pixel art — blocks plus a reduced palette and boosted colour, for a video-game look.

Going the other way? Pixelation cannot be undone, but a small, blocky image can be enlarged cleanly with the image upscaler — its Pixel art mode keeps every block perfectly square.