How to Hide a License Plate or Account Number: Mosaic and Black Box
2026-11-08
How to hide a license plate, account number or card number in a photo with mosaic or a black box, and how to make sure it cannot be read.
What to hide
License plates, account numbers, card numbers and home addresses can be misused, so it is safer to hide them before you post a photo. You can hide only the parts you choose.
Steps
1. Add the photo to the blur and mosaic tool.
2. Under "Method", choose Mosaic, Blur or Black box.
3. Drag on the image to draw a box over each area. You can draw several.
4. Check the preview for readable text. If you can read it, raise the strength or switch to Black box.
5. If you drew a box wrongly, press "Undo last" or "Clear all".
6. Choose a save format and press "Hide and save". The file downloads with a -redacted suffix.
Which method to use
- For text that matters, such as plates or account numbers, a black box is the surest choice.
- Where only the shape needs to be hidden, such as a face, mosaic or blur looks more natural.
Things to watch
- A light blur can leave text readable. Raise the strength or use a black box for numbers and letters.
- The saved file does not keep the original pixels of the hidden areas. Your original stays unchanged, so keep it separately.
- This tool does not remove location data. Use the EXIF remover as well.