Safe Screenshot Redactor
Cover private details with solid boxes that cannot be un-blurred.
Pixelation can sometimes be reversed for text. Use it for faces or backgrounds, and solid boxes for names, numbers and addresses.
Boxes are burned into the pixels and the file is created fresh, with no metadata or hidden layers.
How to use the Safe Screenshot Redactor
- Drop, choose or paste (Ctrl/⌘ + V) a screenshot.
- Drag over anything private to cover it with a solid box.
- Undo or delete boxes from the list. Change the colour for new boxes if you like.
- Download the PNG. The boxes are burned into the pixels and the file carries no metadata.
About this tool
Before posting a screenshot of a bug report, a bank message or a group chat, you usually need to hide a name, an email, an account number or a face. The safe way is a solid, fully opaque box. This tool paints those boxes directly into the image pixels and saves a brand-new PNG, so there is no hidden layer to remove and nothing of the original text left under the box.
Blur and pixelation look safe but often are not. Both keep a scrambled version of the original pixels, and because screenshots use known fonts on plain backgrounds, text can be recovered by comparing candidate words against the blurred result. Researchers and hobbyists have repeatedly rebuilt blurred account numbers and pixelated text this way. A pixelate style is available for faces or backgrounds where looks matter more, but it is clearly marked as less safe.
Tip: cover a little more than you think you need, including the edges of letters, and redact every occurrence, such as a name in both the header and the message. The editor runs in your browser and the image is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can the black boxes be removed later?
No. The exported PNG is a new image in which those pixels are simply the box colour. There are no layers, edit history or original data inside the file.
Why not just blur sensitive text?
Blur and pixelation are mathematical transformations that keep information about the original. With a known font, text can often be guessed back. A solid box keeps no information at all.
Is my screenshot uploaded?
No. Loading, drawing and exporting all happen in your browser. The image never leaves your device.
Does the exported image keep metadata?
No. The PNG is generated fresh from the canvas, so camera data, location, timestamps and editing software tags from the original are not carried over.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes. Drag with your finger on the image to draw a box. Scrolling works as usual outside the image.