Guide

How to hide the Aadhaar number in a photo

Open Blur Image, add the photo of your card, drag a box over the number and choose Black box, Pixelate or Blur. Then press Save the image. The detail under the box is destroyed, not just softened, and nothing is uploaded.

By PlumPDF · · Updated

Open Blur Image

Step by step

  1. Open Blur Image. Go to the Blur Image page on PlumPDF and press Select an image, or drop your photo on the page.
  2. Drag a box. Drag a box over the Aadhaar number. Do the same for a PAN, a bank account number, an address or a date of birth if you need to hide them too.
  3. Choose the style. Pick Black box, Pixelate or Blur. Black box is the safest. If you make a mistake, press Undo the last box.
  4. Save the image. Press Save the image. Zoom in on the saved photo and check that nothing can be read before you share it.

Why hide the number before sharing a photo?

A clear photo of an ID card gives away more than you think. Anyone who has your full number, name, date of birth and address can misuse them. Many requests only need to see the card, or only the last digits, so there is no reason to share the rest.

Is a blurred number really hidden?

It is, when the detail is really removed. Blur Image does not lay a soft layer over the picture. It changes the pixels under the box, so the original digits are gone from the file you save. That is why Black box is the safest choice, and Pixelate and Blur at their strong settings are fine too.

A light blur over big, clear digits can still be guessable, so look at the result at full size. If you can read anything, add another box or switch to Black box.

What about hidden data in the photo?

Phone photos often carry hidden details such as the place where it was taken and the camera used. The photo you save from Blur Image does not carry that GPS or camera data. If you need to clean a file that you do not edit, Remove Hidden Data can do that.

What is a masked Aadhaar?

A masked Aadhaar shows only the last 4 digits of the number, and the first digits are replaced with Xs. UIDAI offers a masked Aadhaar download, so for an official copy that is an option, and many places accept it. This guide is for the photos you already have, such as a picture of your card on your phone.

If you cover the first 8 digits of the number yourself, the photo works like a masked copy, but it is not an official one. Ask the person who needs it whether it is accepted.

Honest limits

The tool hides what you cover and nothing else. It does not find numbers for you, so check the whole card, front and back, including the QR code, which can hold details too. A photo that is cropped or edited is not an official document, so some offices will want the original card or a masked download.

Questions

Which part of the Aadhaar number should I hide?

Usually the first 8 digits, leaving the last 4 visible, like a masked Aadhaar. Hide all of it if the person asking does not need any digits.

Can I hide a PAN, a bank account number or an address?

Yes. Drag a box over each one. You can add as many boxes as you need and remove the last one with Undo the last box.

Can someone undo the blur and read the number?

No. The pixels under the box are changed in the saved photo, so the original detail is not kept. Black box is the safest option.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

No. The photo is edited inside your browser tab, nothing is stored, and closing the tab discards everything.

Where do I get an official masked Aadhaar?

UIDAI offers a masked Aadhaar download. Use that when you need an official copy, and use this guide for a photo you already have.

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