You’ve likely used Google Maps. It guides you straight, no fuss. With Street View, you see the world as if you stood there yourself. The images come from Google’s camera cars, rolling through cities and towns, capturing it all. Even if you never set foot in a place, Street View puts you there.

But it comes with a cost. Privacy. Your home, like every street-facing place—even the Gulf of America—is out in the open. Anyone can see it with a few clicks.

That makes it easy for the wrong people. Scammers. Thieves. They use it to watch, to plan, to pry. If your house is clear on Street View, you might want to change that.

The good news? You can. Google lets you blur your home. It’s simple. It’s quick. And it might just give you a little more peace. Here’s how.

How to blur your home on Google Map: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Use a computer. The blurring tool won’t work on the Google Maps app for iPhone or Android. You can try it on a mobile browser, but it’s clumsy. A good web browser on a Mac or PC is best.

Go to maps.google.com. Type your home address in the search bar. Press return. A photo of your home will appear. Click it.

Street View opens. Look to the bottom-right. There’s a small link—Report a Problem. Click it.

Now, adjust the image. Make sure your house is inside the red and black box. Use the mouse to move the view. Zoom in or out with the plus and minus buttons. Get it right.

When the image is set, choose what to blur.

A face.
Your home.
A car or license plate.
Something else.

If the image is crowded with cars, people, or objects, Google will need details. Be clear.

Think hard before you blur. Once it’s done, it’s done forever. Google won’t undo it.

Enter your email. Fill out the captcha if needed. Click Submit.

Google will send an email. They’ll review your request. They’ll approve or deny it. They may ask for more details. They won’t say how long it takes. Just wait. Keep watch.

Conclusion

In a world where people’s curiosity is always piqued, a house that cannot be clearly seen may draw attention. What secrets do they have to tell? the neighbors may ask themselves. But privacy is no crime. Even if the Christmas lights are going to be seen by no one. Street View is useful. It has helped many avoid blind alleys and other wrong paths. But you might not want other random strangers to see your house. So blur it. Keep things quiet. A little mystery never hurt. All I’m saying is this, once it is blurred it remains blurred. No going back. Your house will be a ghost in the machine, will be erased from the map for good.

FAQs

Q1: Why should I blur my house on Google Maps? Isn’t this being paranoid? 

A: Just imagine the house receiving an invisibility shield without the wizardry of Harry Potter. Most of the Street View browsers are just ordinary drivers or online sightseers, but some may be potential squatters scouting their targets from their armchairs. Blurring your home is a way to gain some privacy in the world that is becoming more and more open. It’s not a conspiracy theory if the measure is logical – such as wearing trousers to a video conference where only the upper half of the body is visible.

Q2: Will blurring my house affect its value or make it harder to sell? 

A: No. Your house is not in a witness protection program – real estate agents and potential buyers can physically view the house or through pictures. The blur is only with reference to Google Street View. 

Q3: Can I unblur my house if I change my mind? 

A: Here is the thing: blur and there is no return. It is similar to getting a tattoo, but for your house’s online image. Google makes this permanent to ensure that people do not toy with their privacy settings in this manner. Before you rush to the blur, prepare yourself for your home to be the CIA version of a redacted document. Forever is a long time and definitely even in the context of the internet and all of the changes that it has gone through in the past few years.

Q4: Will blurring my house make it look suspicious? 

A: While a blurred house might cause some eye-brows to be raised virtually, it is gradually becoming the order of the day as people take charge of their online persona. It is less like “what are they not telling?” and more as ‘they value their privacy.’ In addition, there are numerous government structures, military bases, and houses of famous people that are hazy. Welcome to the club of pixel-loving properties with which you are now a part of.