Pixelate Image Online

Add a pixelation / mosaic effect to any image. Adjust pixel size for subtle or extreme results.

Runs in your browser — images never leave your device
Drop your image here or click to upload
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP · No size limit
Pixel size: 10px
Size: —
Pixel block: 10px

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How It Works

1

Upload Your Image

Drop any image — JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, or BMP. No size limit.

2

Adjust Pixel Size

Use the slider or presets to control the pixelation intensity from subtle (2px) to extreme (100px).

3

Download

Download your pixelated image as PNG or JPG with no watermarks.

How to Pixelate an Image

Pixelation reduces image resolution by replacing groups of pixels with a single color, creating a blocky, mosaic-like appearance.

Image pixelation (also called mosaic effect) works by dividing the image into a grid of blocks. Each block is filled with the average color of all the pixels it contains. The larger the block size, the more extreme the pixelation effect. Small blocks (2-5px) create a subtle, slightly retro look. Medium blocks (10-25px) produce a clearly pixelated appearance. Large blocks (50-100px) create an abstract, heavily censored look.

Pixelation is technically different from blurring. While blur smoothly averages neighboring pixels creating a soft, out-of-focus look, pixelation replaces pixel groups with uniform color blocks creating sharp, grid-like boundaries. Both techniques can be used for privacy protection, but pixelation has a distinctive, recognizable aesthetic that's become iconic in gaming, digital art, and internet culture.

How Pixelation Works

The algorithm divides your image into a grid of squares (each square being the "pixel size" you select). For each square, it calculates the average red, green, and blue values of all the original pixels within that square. The entire square is then filled with this average color. The result is a lower-resolution version of the image made up of visible color blocks — the classic "pixelated" look.

Choosing the Right Pixel Size

The best pixel size depends on your goal. For a retro gaming aesthetic, 4-8px works well. For face or text censorship, 20-40px ensures content is unrecognizable. For abstract art or backgrounds, 50-100px creates dramatic, color-block compositions. The slider lets you preview different sizes in real time to find the perfect balance.

Image Pixelation Use Cases

Privacy & Censorship

Pixelate faces, license plates, addresses, phone numbers, or any sensitive information before sharing photos online. Pixelation is the standard method used by news media and law enforcement for identity protection.

Retro Gaming Aesthetic

Create pixel art style images from regular photos. The mosaic effect mimics the look of classic 8-bit and 16-bit video games, perfect for gaming content, retro-themed designs, and nostalgic social media posts.

Thumbnail Teasers

Create pixelated preview images that hint at content without revealing details. Commonly used for "coming soon" teasers, mystery reveals, and engagement-bait thumbnails on YouTube and social media.

Digital Art & Design

Use pixelation as an artistic effect for album covers, poster designs, profile pictures, and creative compositions. The blocky aesthetic pairs well with modern, minimalist design trends.

Screenshot Censorship

Before sharing screenshots of conversations, documents, or dashboards, pixelate personal information like names, email addresses, account numbers, or any data that should remain private.

Before/After Content

Show a pixelated "before" version alongside the full "after" reveal. This technique is popular for makeover content, design reveals, and product launches on social media.

Image Pixelator Features

Adjustable Pixel Size

Control pixelation from 2px (subtle) to 100px (extreme) with a precision slider.

Instant Presets

One-click presets for Subtle, Medium, Strong, and Extreme pixelation levels.

Live Preview

See the pixelation effect in real time as you adjust the slider. No waiting.

Full Resolution

Output maintains original image dimensions. Pixel blocks are rendered at full size.

100% Private

Everything runs in your browser. Images never leave your device.

Unlimited & Free

No limits, no sign-up, no watermarks. Pixelate as many images as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. All pixelation processing happens in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your image never leaves your device — completely private and secure.
What's the difference between pixelation and blur?
Pixelation replaces groups of pixels with uniform color blocks, creating a grid-like, blocky appearance. Blur smoothly averages neighboring pixels creating a soft, out-of-focus look. Both can hide detail, but pixelation has sharp block boundaries while blur has smooth gradients.
Can I un-pixelate an image?
Once an image is pixelated and downloaded, the original detail is lost and cannot be recovered. This is why pixelation is effective for privacy — it's a one-way process. Use the "Reset" button before downloading to revert to the original image.
What pixel size should I use for privacy?
For hiding faces, use 25-40px depending on face size in the image. For text censorship, 15-25px usually suffices. The key is that individual features (eyes, letters) should not be distinguishable. Test by viewing the result at full size.
Can I pixelate just part of an image?
This tool applies pixelation to the entire image. For selective (region-based) pixelation, you would need a more advanced editor. You can pixelate the full image here and composite it with the original elsewhere for selective effects.
How do I create pixel art from a photo?
Upload a photo and set the pixel size to 4-8px for a retro gaming look, or 8-15px for a more abstract pixel art style. The smaller the pixel size, the more detail is preserved while still achieving the blocky aesthetic.
What image formats are supported?
The tool supports JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, and any image format your browser can display. Output is available as PNG (lossless) or JPG (compressed, smaller file).
Is there a file size limit?
No enforced limit. Pixelation is a very fast operation — even large images process nearly instantly since the algorithm is computationally simple.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, fully responsive. Works on iPhone, Android, iPad, and any device with a modern browser. The pixel size slider works with touch.
Will the pixelated image be the same size?
Yes. The output image maintains the exact same pixel dimensions as the original. The pixelation effect is created by filling blocks of pixels with a uniform color, not by actually reducing the resolution.
Can I pixelate a transparent PNG?
Yes. PNG images with transparency are supported. The alpha channel is averaged along with the color channels in each pixel block. Download as PNG to keep transparency.
Is pixelation safe for hiding sensitive data?
Yes, when applied at a sufficient pixel size. Unlike blur, which can sometimes be reversed with deblurring algorithms, pixelation permanently destroys the original pixel data within each block. Use 20px+ for text and 30px+ for faces to ensure data is unrecoverable.
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