Blur the background of a photo

Portrait mode for any photo: PhotoBlur finds the people in your picture, keeps them sharp and blurs everything behind them. The example above was blurred as the page opened. Open your own photo to do the same; it never leaves your device.

How to do it

1. Open your photo. Choose a file, drag it in, or paste it.
2. Choose Blur background. PhotoBlur finds the people and blurs the rest.
3. Tidy the edges. Switch to Restore and paint over hair or a shoulder that got blurred, or use Blur on a spot that stayed sharp. Edge softness, under More options, sets how gently the blur fades in.
4. Download. Save it as a JPG or PNG at full resolution, with no watermark.

Pick the look

Blur gives a soft, camera-like background, and Blur radius sets its strength. Mosaic pixelates the background instead, and Horizontal, Vertical, Motion, Radial and Kinetic add a sense of movement. Choosing a different brush stamp redraws the background with it.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work on any photo?

It is made for photos of people: it finds people and keeps them sharp. For photos of objects, pets or landscapes, paint the background with the brush instead.

Are my photos uploaded?

No. The person detection runs in your browser, on your device. Your photo is never sent anywhere.

Can I make the blur stronger?

Yes. Raise Blur radius in the Effect section. The download applies the same look at your photo’s full resolution.

Is there a watermark?

No. PhotoBlur is free, with no sign-up and no watermark.

More tools: PhotoBlur home · Blur faces · Blur background · Pixelate