Last updated: October 2026
Blur photo background online — the portrait-mode look for any photo
Short answer: drop your photo into the box above. On-device AI separates your subject from the scene, applies a smooth Gaussian blur to the background only, and feathers the mask edges so there is no halo. A blur intensity around 50 mimics a phone's portrait mode; push it higher for a dreamier editorial feel. Download as PNG or JPEG at your photo's original resolution — free, unlimited, no signup.
How it works
1. Drop a photo onto the box (or tap it on your phone) — JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF, any size. 2. An AI segmentation model loads once into your browser and detects the subject — people, pets, or a clear foreground object — entirely on your device. 3. Drag the divider to compare before and after. Set the blur intensity (0–100), and optionally tick sharpen the subject for a touch of extra crispness on the in-focus area. 4. Choose PNG or JPEG and click Download blurred photo — exported at full original dimensions.
The background blur is computed at your photo's full resolution, not on a shrunken copy, so the bokeh stays smooth even on 12 MP phone photos. The subject mask is feathered before compositing, which is what keeps hair and edges looking like real camera bokeh instead of a cut-out pasted on blur.
AI blur vs. the manual fallback
The AI path handles the common cases — portraits, couples, group shots, pets, products with a clear foreground. If the model can't load (offline, or a network filter blocking its CDN), the tool switches to manual mode: a soft-edged subject box you size with two sliders, with everything outside it blurred. Same bokeh look, no AI needed. And if the AI runs but can't find a clear subject (a landscape with no foreground, say), it tells you honestly in the status line and keeps the whole frame gently sharp rather than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
Is portrait background blur really free?
Yes — free and unlimited. Many online background-blur tools cap you at one free photo a day or lock full resolution behind a subscription. This tool processes as many photos as you like, at full original resolution, with no account and no watermark.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The AI subject-detection model downloads to your browser once and then runs entirely on your device — your photo is never uploaded, stored, or seen by anyone. That makes this safe for personal, family and client photos alike.
Will it work on old photos or phones without portrait mode?
Yes — that is the whole point. Portrait mode has to be switched on before you take the shot, and many phones do not have it at all. Upload any photo from your camera roll — taken on any phone, any camera, any year — and the AI rebuilds the depth-of-field effect afterwards.
Does it work on group photos?
Yes. The AI detects all people in the frame and keeps every detected person sharp while blurring everything else. Group shots at different distances can have slightly softer edges than single-subject portraits, so check the preview before downloading.
Will tricky edges like frizzy hair look natural?
Mostly, yes — the mask edges are feathered specifically to avoid the hard halo that gives away a bad cut-out. But be honest with yourself: frizzy hair against a busy, high-contrast background is the hardest case for any AI blur, and the result will be good rather than pixel-perfect. Zoom the preview and lower the blur if an edge bothers you.
What resolution will my download be?
Your photo's original pixel dimensions — nothing is downscaled. A 12 MP phone photo exports as a 12 MP photo, with the subject sharp and only the background blurred. Choose PNG for lossless quality or JPEG for a smaller file.
Does it work on pets and products, or only people?
The AI model is tuned for people, so portraits are the most reliable. Pets and products often work too — the model frequently picks up clear foreground subjects — but if it misses, the tool falls back to manual mode where you position the subject box yourself.
Why did the tool switch to manual mode?
Manual mode appears when the AI model could not load — usually because you are offline or a network filter blocks the CDN it ships from. In manual mode you position a soft-edged subject box over your subject with the sliders, and everything outside it gets blurred. Same bokeh look, no AI needed.
