Adjustable block size
Choose a block size from 2 (barely blocky) to 100 (large, abstract squares) with a slider and matching number input.
Pixelate Image Online
Turn a photo into a blocky, retro pixel-art look right in your browser. Set the pixel block size from 2 to 100, preview the effect live, then download the full-resolution result.
Upload an image to pixelate
Choose one image, then apply an adjustable pixel-block effect across the whole image.
Drop an image here
JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIC, and HEIF · up to 50 MiB
Why use this tool?
Alpha-aware averaging
Each block's color is averaged with transparency taken into account, so pixelating a photo with soft or transparent edges doesn't produce a muddy halo.
Full-resolution download
The live preview runs on a downscaled copy for speed, but the file you export is pixelated at the original image dimensions.
How it works
- 1
Upload your photo
Choose or drop an image. JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, and HEIC/HEIF files all work.
- 2
Set the pixel block size
Drag the block size slider or type a value from 2 to 100 and watch the preview update.
- 3
Download the pixelated image
Pick an output format, then pixelate and save the full-size result.
This pixelates the whole photo, not a region
The block-size slider applies across the entire image, not to a selected area. This tool isn't a way to pixelate just a face or a license plate while leaving the rest sharp.
If you only need to obscure part of a photo, crop that part out first, pixelate the cropped piece here, and recombine it with the original in an image editor. For turning a whole picture into pixel art or retro-style blocks, this tool works directly.
How block size changes the effect
A small block size, such as 2 to 8 pixels, keeps most detail readable while giving edges a slightly blocky texture, closer to a retro video-game look. A large block size, 40 and above, averages big squares of color together until individual objects turn into abstract shapes. Pick the size by watching the live preview rather than guessing a number, since the right size depends heavily on your photo's resolution.
A high-resolution photo needs a larger block size than a small thumbnail to produce the same visual chunkiness, because each block is measured in source pixels, not as a percentage of the image. If the preview still looks sharp at block size 20 on a large photo, try doubling it before judging the effect.
Privacy note
Pixelation runs locally in your browser, using your device's own processing power. The photo is never uploaded, and the downloaded file doesn't carry over the original's EXIF or GPS metadata.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool keeps working even if you lose your internet connection partway through adjusting the block size, as long as the page itself has already loaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pixelate only part of an image, like a face?
Not directly. The effect covers the whole photo. Crop out the section you want pixelated first, then run it through this tool.
What does the block size number control?
It's the width and height, in pixels, of each averaged color block. Smaller numbers keep more detail; larger numbers produce bigger, more abstract squares.
Does pixelating lower the image resolution?
No. The output stays the same width and height as the original; only the color detail inside each block is simplified.
Can I use this to censor something in a photo?
You can, if you crop out the specific area first and pixelate that crop, since this tool pixelates the entire image it's given rather than one region in place.
Is an account required?
No. The pixelate tool is free, with no sign-up.
Does the file get uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens in your browser, and the image stays on your device.
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