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Google Photos’ New Redact Pen Hides Private Info in Seconds

Google Photos for Android adds a Redact pen and seven vintage Moods filters. Here's how they work.

By Sidharth Shankar · Sep 26, 2026
01 / 05

Meet the Redact pen

A new Markup tool in Google Photos for Android that hides addresses, card numbers and faces in screenshots.

02 / 05

Three ways to hide it

Choose Mosaic, Mosaic Light or Blur, then adjust the thickness to cover a line or a whole block.

03 / 05

How to use it

Open a photo, tap Edit, go to Markup, pick Redact and swipe over the details. Save a copy to keep the original.

04 / 05

Plus seven Moods

Vintage looks like Crisp 35mm and 2000's night that adapt to each photo, free on Android worldwide.

05 / 05

The best part is free

Redact solves a real everyday privacy problem with no learning curve, and every Android user gets it.

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Google Photos’ New Redact Pen Is the Screenshot Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed

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