To blur sensitive information in a screenshot, cover it before you share: names, emails, tokens, account numbers. In FastCapture, the blur tool is a Pro feature, and on the free tier you can draw a solid box over the data instead. For truly sensitive data, a solid block is actually safer than blur, which can sometimes be reversed. Here is how to redact a screenshot properly.

What to hide before sharing a screenshot

Before a screenshot leaves your screen, scan it for anything you would not post publicly:

  • Personal data: names, emails, phone numbers, addresses.
  • Credentials and secrets: passwords, API keys, tokens, session cookies.
  • Financial and account numbers, license keys.
  • Anything internal or private in the background.

How to blur sensitive info with FastCapture (Pro)

  1. Capture the screenshot.
  2. Use the blur tool (part of Pro) to brush over the sensitive area.
  3. Save or copy the redacted image.

A safer free option: cover it with a solid shape

On the free tier, annotation is free, so after capturing you can draw a solid filled rectangle in an opaque color over the sensitive area, then save. A solid block cannot be undone, unlike a light blur, which makes it a great free way to redact.

Blur vs solid box vs pixelate: which is safest?

  • Solid box or fill: safest. The underlying data is simply gone.
  • Pixelate: usually fine when heavy, but light pixelation over short, predictable text can sometimes be reversed.
  • Blur: clean-looking and convenient, but a weak blur can occasionally be reversed, especially over short text like a code or a number. For truly sensitive values, prefer a solid block.

Redaction tips

  • Redact on the image itself, not with a page overlay or CSS that still ships the data underneath.
  • Check the whole screenshot: tabs, bookmarks, notifications, autofill and sidebars, not just the main area.
  • Export a flattened image so the redaction is baked in; do not share an editable layered file.
  • When in doubt, use a solid block. See our screen capture guides for more.

The bottom line

Hiding sensitive information in a screenshot is about covering it before you share, and exporting so the cover is permanent. FastCapture's blur tool (Pro) is quick and tidy, while a free solid filled box is the safest choice for passwords, keys and account numbers, because it cannot be reversed.