Pixelate a PNG
Cluster smooth pixels into retro blocks to mimic classic video games or hide detail. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Pixelate a PNG
- 1. Upload the PNG. Add the image you want blocked into a retro pixel look, or the image containing a detail you want to hide, such as a face or license plate.
- 2. Set the block size. Enter a value in pixels for Block size (px). A small block size gives a subtle mosaic, a large one such as 8 collapses detail into obvious chunky squares.
- 3. Download the pixelated PNG. Save the result once the block size hides or stylizes the image as needed. Every group of pixels is averaged into one flat color square of that size.
When to use Pixelate a PNG
Pixelate a PNG clusters smooth pixels into retro blocks, either to mimic the look of classic video games or to obscure detail you do not want visible. It works entirely client-side, so a sensitive image never has to leave your browser.
- Censoring a face or license plate. A photo posted publicly includes a bystander's face or a car's license plate that needs to be obscured. Setting a large block size over that region hides the identifying detail.
- Creating an 8-bit game art asset. A developer wants a sprite that reads as retro 8-bit art. Pixelating a detailed source photo at block size 8 produces the chunky, low-resolution look instantly.
- Building a low-detail placeholder image. A page needs a blurred-out preview thumbnail before the full-resolution photo.png loads. A pixelated version at a moderate block size makes an effective lightweight placeholder.
Examples
8-bit look
Input
photo.png + block size 8
Output
photo.png rendered as 8×8 pixel blocks
About the Pixelate a PNG tool
Pixelate a PNG does its work locally, right in the browser. Cluster smooth pixels into retro blocks to mimic classic video games or hide detail. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the PNG Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 108 small, focused PNG utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with the Block size (px) setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. The finished file is put together in browser memory and saved with the Download button, so it never touches a server on the way to your disk. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pixelate a PNG free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
Which files does Pixelate a PNG accept?
It accepts PNG images. There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I save the output?
Click the Download button once the result is ready. The file is built in your browser's memory and handed straight to your downloads folder, without passing through a server.