How to Blur Part of a Picture on iPhone： Step by Step Guide

Got a photo you love but need to hide a face, license plate, or cluttered background before posting on Instagram or texting a buddy? Apple’s Photos app doesn’t make blurring easy, leaving you scratching your head about how to blur part of a picture on iPhone. No worries—this guide’s like your best friend, spilling the beans on super easy ways to blur spots using iPhone’s own tools, free apps, and a cool trick to zap backgrounds for a clean, pro vibe.

Part 1: Use the Markup Tool for Basic Censorship (For Basic Censoring)

The iPhone’s Photos app has a hidden gem called the Markup tool that’s perfect for quickly covering sensitive stuff like text or faces. It’s not a true blur—it slaps a solid shape over the area—but it’s free, built-in, and great for fast censorship jobs, like hiding a phone number in a screenshot. I used it to cover a friend’s address in a pic, and it was a total breeze. Here’s how to make it work.

Steps:

Step 1: Launch Photos, open the image, and tap the Edit button at the top-right corner to get started.

Step 2: Hit that Markup icon up at the top-right corner, which looks like a small pencil, to get into Markup mode.

Step 3: Hit the + sign at the bottom-left, select Add Shape, and then pick either a square or circle shape to hide the sensitive area.

Step 4: Lay that shape over whatever you wanna cover, resizing it with those blue handles, and tap fill so it fills solidly—either black or any other contrasting color.

Step 5: Now just confirm your changes by tapping Done twice and save the pic to your gallery.

I used Markup to hide a license plate in a car photo before texting it to a friend. It’s not a fancy blur effect, but it took like 10 seconds and got the job done. It’s perfect for anyone needing a quick, no-app way to cover up private stuff before sharing on social media or messaging.

Part 2: Blur Part of Image Using Free Third-Party Apps (Like Picsart)

Wanna blur part of a photo for that soft, pro look—like smudging out a face or background? Picsart’s your best buddy. It’s free, crazy simple, and lets you tap to blur specific spots with cool effects, perfect for Instagram vibes or private shares. I used it to blur a street sign in a vacation pic, and it looked slick and natural. Here’s how to blur out part of a picture on iPhone with Picsart.

Steps:

Step 1: Search for PicsArt in the App Store to download it and launch it on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the + button on the home screen and choose the picture from the gallery.

Step 3: Under Tools, go to Selection, and then, for auto-blur, choose Face or simply draw over the part you wish to blur with your finger.

Step 4: Under Effects, select Blur and choose a blur like Motion Blur or Lens Blur. Adjust the slider accordingly to get the effect just right.

Step 5: Hit Apply, then Next, and Download to save your slick, blurred photo to the camera roll.

I used Picsart to blur a random person’s face in a beach photo, and it looked so pro, like something you’d see on Instagram. The app’s intuitive, and the blur effect was seamless in under a minute. It’s a must for anyone wanting a polished, professional blur without spending a cent.

Part 3: Another Way to Handle Image Privacy: Try a Background Remover

Sometimes, just blurring the background doesn’t cut it—you want to totally zap it for a clean, pro vibe that makes your subject pop. Toolsmart’s AI Background Remover swoops in like a champ. It’s a free, no-download tool that magically spots your subject—whether it’s you, your dog, or a random object—and ditches the background with crazy accuracy, giving you a sharp, standalone image to blur or tweak in another app. I tried it on a selfie with a messy café backdrop, and it nailed every strand of my wild hair perfectly.

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Toolsmart’s AI Background Remover makes privacy and style effortless by stripping away unwanted backgrounds, perfect for creating clean photos or prepping for blurring in apps like Picsart. It’s watermark-free, fast, and a total game-changer for photo editing.

Features:

• AI-powered background removal

• 100% free, no signup required

• Handles complex edges like hair or fur

• Browser-based, no app installation needed

Steps:

Step 1: Visit Toolsmart’s AI Background Remover website on Safari or any browser.

Step 2: Upload your photo by clicking “Upload Image” and selecting it from your iPhone’s gallery.

Step 3: Let the AI remove the background automatically, which takes just a few seconds.

Step 4: Download the image with the background gone, ready to blur or edit further in another app if you want.

I ran a selfie through Toolsmart to zap a busy street background, then blurred it in Picsart for a dreamy effect. The AI nailed my hair’s edges, and it was free, fast, and no signup needed. It’s perfect for keeping photos private or creating a pro look for Instagram or personal projects.

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FAQs

Q1: Can I blur part of an image directly using the iPhone Photos app?

Nope, the Photos app doesn’t have a real blur tool. You can use Markup to cover areas with solid shapes, but for a true blur effect, you’ll need an app like Picsart to get that soft, professional look.

Q2: Is there a way to blur only the background or subject in a photo?

Totally! Toolsmart’s Background Remover can isolate the subject or background, letting you blur just one part in an app like Picsart for a custom, polished result.

Q3: Do I need to download anything to use Toolsmart’s Background Remover?

No way! Toolsmart’s completely web-based, so you can use it right in Safari or any browser without downloading a single thing.

Q4: What’s the fastest way to hide text or private info in an iPhone photo?

Markup’s the quickest for slapping a shape over text or info, but for a smoother, pro blur, use Picsart or pair Toolsmart’s Background Remover with a blur app for a clean finish.

Q5: How does Toolsmart’s Background Remover handle complex edges like pet fur?
Toolsmart’s AI is crazy good, catching fine details like pet fur or hair with pinpoint accuracy, keeping edges natural and smooth—no manual tweaks needed.