How to blur an image in PowerPoint

Blur a whole picture

Microsoft's steps:

1. Select the picture on your slide.
2. Go to Picture Format and select Artistic Effects.
3. Hover over the options to preview them, then select Blur.

To change how strong it is, open Artistic Effects Options at the bottom of the same menu. Blur has one setting, Radius: the larger the radius, the blurrier the picture.

A picture can only have one artistic effect at a time. Choosing another effect removes the blur.

Hide part of a picture with a shape

PowerPoint can't blur one area of a picture, but Microsoft suggests covering it with a shape:

1. Select Insert, then Shapes, and choose a shape that fits the area.
2. Drag to draw it over the part you want to hide.
3. On the Shape Format tab, select Shape Fill and choose a colour.
4. Select Shape Outline, then No Outline.
5. To blend it in, select Shape Effects, then Soft Edges. The shape may look slightly smaller afterwards, so drag its edges out a little.
6. Hold Ctrl, select the picture and then the shape, and choose Group, then Group, so they move together.

Blur just one part of a picture

For a real blur over one face or one line of text, blur the picture first:

1. Choose the picture in the tool below. It starts with Areas I pick selected.
2. Drag a box over each part to blur. Use Pixelate or Solid box for text that must not be read.
3. Download the image as PNG, which keeps slides sharp, and insert it into your slide.

Before you share the file

PowerPoint's effects don't change the picture stored in the file. The Artistic Effects pane has a Reset button that removes the effect, and a shape can be ungrouped and moved. Anyone who opens your .pptx can do the same and see what was underneath.

So for names, faces or numbers in a presentation you'll send to others, blur or cover them in the tool above first and insert the edited copy. The original never goes into the file. Blurred and pixelated text can sometimes be read back, so for numbers and addresses use the solid box. Here's why.

Using Google Slides instead? See how to blur an image in Google Slides.