How to Use Google Photos Redact Tool on Android

Sharing a screenshot of a bank app or a photo of your car can expose account numbers, license plates, or addresses. Google Photos now includes a Redact tool in its Markup editor so you can blur or pixelate those details before you send the image.

The tool rolled out globally on Android in late September 2026 as part of an upgraded Markup section. It sits next to the existing Pen, Highlighter, and Text tools. You do not need a subscription.

Why the Redact tool matters

Before this update, many people used the freeform Pen tool and hoped the scribble covered the sensitive area. That method often left edges readable and looked messy. OEM galleries from Samsung, OnePlus, and others already offered mosaic or pixelate pens. Google Photos finally added its own version so the feature works on any Android phone, not just those with a custom gallery.

Google’s help page notes that when you share a redacted photo, other people cannot undo the edit or uncover the hidden pixels. On your own device you can still revert the original if you chose “Save” instead of “Save as copy.”

Step-by-step: Redact sensitive info

1. Open the Google Photos app and select the photo or screenshot you want to edit.
2. Tap Edit at the bottom.
3. Choose Markup. (On some devices the path is Edit → Tools → Markup.)
4. Tap the Redact pen icon.
5. Pick a style: Mosaic, Mosaic Light, or Blur. Use the slider to set brush thickness.
6. Draw over the areas you want to hide (account numbers, plates, faces, addresses).
7. Tap the checkmark.
8. Choose Save as copy (recommended) to keep the original untouched, or Save to overwrite the original.
9. Share the redacted version.

Zoom in on the saved image afterward. Confirm the sensitive details are fully covered at full resolution, not just in the editor preview.

Choosing the right style

• Mosaic breaks the area into small pixel blocks. It works well for text and numbers because you can quickly see whether any characters remain readable.
• Mosaic Light uses larger blocks. It covers more area faster but looks coarser.
• Blur applies a grainy, noise-like overlay rather than a soft camera blur. It can look cleaner on faces or large background regions.

Adjust thickness so the stroke fully covers the target without swallowing nearby text you still want visible. Undo and redo buttons are available while you work, and a reset option clears every redaction at once.

Practical tips

• Prefer Save as copy so you always keep the original. Google notes that edits saved as a copy cannot be undone on the new file.
• Test on a low-stakes image first if the tool is new to your account. Rollouts can be gradual.
• The feature is Android-only as of late 2026. No iOS timeline has been confirmed.
• Redaction hides pixels in the image you share. It does not remove EXIF metadata such as location. For that, use a dedicated metadata cleaner or the device’s share options that strip data.
• After saving, open the file in a different app or gallery and zoom to verify coverage before sending.

For broader device security updates, see our guide to the October 2026 Android security patch.

Video walkthrough

Conclusion

The Redact tool in Google Photos Markup gives Android users a straightforward way to obscure sensitive details without leaving the app. Open the photo, switch to Markup, choose Redact, draw, and save a copy. Check the result at full zoom, then share only the redacted version.

Sources

• Google Photos Help: Edit your photos (Markup and Redact) — support.google.com/photos/answer/6128850
• 9to5Google: Google Photos rolling out Redact tool (24 Sep 2026)
• Android Authority and Android Police coverage of the global Android rollout and the three styles (Mosaic, Mosaic Light, Blur)