What pixelating an image does
Pixelation replaces the fine detail of a picture with a grid of flat squares. Each square takes the average color of the area it covers, so shapes and colors survive while edges, textures and small features disappear. The larger the block, the more abstract the picture becomes.
The same effect serves two very different purposes. At small block sizes it gives photos and illustrations a retro, pixel-art look; at large sizes it hides what is underneath, which is why it has long been used to obscure faces and number plates.
How to use the image pixelator
Drop a JPG, PNG, WebP or AVIF file onto the tool. The preview appears immediately, pixelated at a block size of 16 pixels. Drag the slider to change the size of the squares; the preview redraws as you move it, so you can stop exactly where the picture looks right.
Choose PNG or JPG and press download. The full-size image is pixelated in your browser with the same block size as the preview, so the file matches what you saw, just at the original dimensions.
Choosing a block size
Block size is measured in pixels of the original image. On a photo 1,000 pixels wide, 8 pixel blocks leave the scene easy to read with a clear mosaic texture, while 32 pixel blocks reduce it to broad patches of color. On a much larger photo, the same block size looks finer, so try a bigger value there.
For a pixel-art look, aim for roughly 40 to 120 blocks across the width of the picture. For hiding detail, go large enough that nothing recognisable remains, then check the result at full size before you share it.
Pixelating to hide private details
Pixelation is a quick way to blur out information before posting a screenshot or a photo, but it is not always enough. Researchers have shown that text pixelated with small blocks can sometimes be reconstructed, especially when the font and size are known. For passwords, account numbers and anything truly sensitive, cover the area with a solid box instead.
This pixelator treats the whole picture. To hide one part of an image, crop that area into a separate copy, or use an editor that can pixelate a selection, and keep the original out of any shared folder.
Pixel art from photos
Pixelating a photo is a fast way to sketch a pixel-art scene. Portraits, landscapes and pets all translate well when the subject is simple and the background is uncluttered. Bold colors and strong contrast survive the reduction best.
For a cleaner result, reduce the number of colors afterwards in an image editor, or trace over the pixelated picture on a separate layer. Game artists often use this as a starting point and then refine each block by hand.
PNG or JPG for pixelated images
PNG is the better choice for pixelated pictures. Its lossless compression keeps the edges of every square crisp, and large flat areas compress efficiently, so the file is often smaller than you expect. JPG can blur the boundaries between blocks and add faint noise inside them.
JPG is still fine for pixelated photos you only want to share quickly. If the source has transparency, PNG keeps it; JPG fills transparent areas with white.
Image pixelator settings and the live preview
The preview is drawn at a reduced size so it stays fast, but the block size is measured on the full image, so the preview and the download always match. On pictures several thousand pixels wide, the image pixelator needs larger blocks for the same visual effect.
There is no need to press apply: every movement of the slider redraws the preview, and the download uses whatever value is showing at that moment.
Image pixelator or blur tool?
Blurring softens detail into a smooth haze, while pixelation replaces it with visible squares. Blur looks natural for backgrounds and depth effects; pixelation looks deliberate and graphic, which is why it is the classic choice for censoring and for retro styles.
For hiding information, neither is as safe as a solid shape. Reach for the image pixelator when you want the look, and cover truly private details completely.
Mosaics for thumbnails, games and backgrounds
A heavily pixelated photo makes an intriguing thumbnail or teaser, revealing colors and composition while keeping the subject a surprise. Game designers use the same trick for level previews and unlockable content.
Pixelated pictures also make good abstract backgrounds for slides and websites, because the large flat blocks stay calm behind text. Pick a block size of 40 pixels or more and the picture turns into a soft color field.
Getting clean results from an image pixelator
Pictures with a clear subject and strong contrast pixelate best, because the blocks keep the silhouette recognisable even when the detail is gone. Busy scenes full of small objects dissolve into noise at the same block size, so try a smaller setting for them.
If the image will be shown small, such as a profile picture or an icon, preview it at that size before downloading. An image pixelator result that looks coarse at full size can look just right once it is scaled down.
Private and free to use
The pixelator runs entirely in your browser. The image is never uploaded, so it is safe to use on screenshots you have not published yet, and there is no account, watermark or limit on how many pictures you pixelate.
If you want the opposite effect, a sharper and larger image, the AI image upscaler on this site can enlarge photos 2x or 4x.