TL;DR: Open your house in Google Street View, click Report a problem in the bottom corner, choose to blur your home, line up the box and submit. Google says that once a blur is published it cannot be removed, so it is permanent for that image and later images of the same spot. Faces and licence plates are blurred automatically. Do the same with Apple Maps Look Around and Bing Streetside if you want full coverage.
Why people blur their homes
Street View lets anyone see your front door, your car, your windows, sometimes your children's bikes on the lawn, without ever visiting. Burglars, stalkers and people with a grudge can use it to plan. If your address is already on people-search sites, Street View is the last piece that turns an address into a picture. Survivors of abuse, people in public-facing jobs and anyone who has been doxxed often blur their homes for this reason.
How to request a blur on Google Street View
From Google Maps help:
- Open Google Maps on a computer and go into Street View in front of your home.
- Click Report a problem in the bottom right corner.
- Adjust the red box so it covers your home (or your car, or a person).
- Choose what you're asking to blur, such as My home, and explain briefly if asked.
- Enter your email address, complete the check and click Submit.
Google reviews requests and may email you. It says faces and licence plates are already blurred automatically, so you only need to report ones that were missed.
Think before you submit: it's permanent
Google is explicit: once a photo is blurred and published, the blur can't be removed. If you sell the house, the next owner can't undo it, and you can't change your mind. Blur only what you need; a blurred house also stands out, which some people see as a downside.
Apple Maps and Bing
- Apple Maps Look Around: there's no in-app button. Popular Science reports that you email MapsImageCollection@apple.com with your address and, ideally, a screenshot marking your home.
- Bing Maps Streetside: open Streetside imagery of your home, click Report a privacy concern with this image, click your property and choose House.
Property listing sites, estate agents and county assessor pages may also show photos of your home. Ask them to remove old listing photos once a sale is complete.
What blurring doesn't do
- It doesn't remove your address from search results or people-search sites. Use Google's Results about you tool and people-search opt-outs for that.
- It doesn't affect satellite images.
- It doesn't hide your home in your own photos. Geotags and backgrounds can reveal where you live; see how geotagged photos reveal your address.
- It doesn't stop someone looking up property records; see which records about you are public.
If you're blurring because someone is targeting you, also consider an address confidentiality program and check your phone for stalkerware.
Most people find a home address by starting from an email or phone number. A free email exposure check shows which breaches your email appears in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I blur my house on Google Maps?
Open Street View in front of your home, click Report a problem in the bottom right, position the box over your house, choose to blur your home and submit.
Can a Google Street View blur be undone?
No. Google says that once a photo is blurred and published, the blur cannot be removed.
How long does a Street View blur request take?
Google does not give a fixed time. It reviews requests as quickly as it can and may contact you by email.
Does Google blur faces and licence plates automatically?
Yes. Google says street-level imagery is automatically blurred for faces and licence plates. You can report any it missed.
Does blurring my house remove my address from Google?
No. It only affects the Street View image. Use Google's Results about you tool and people-search opt-outs to remove your address from search results.
Sources
- Popular Science: How to hide your house on every map app
- Google Maps Help: Report inappropriate Street View imagery