How to Remove Your Face, House or Car from Google Street View (2026)
Can you remove your face, house or car from Google Street View? Yes. Street View cameras photograph streets in more than 100 countries, and while Google automatically blurs faces and licence plates, it sometimes misses one, and your house is shown in full detail to anyone in the world. The good news is that you can ask Google to blur your face, home, car or licence plate on Google Street View, and it takes about two minutes.
Quick answer: Open the Street View image of your house in Google Maps on a computer, click the three-dot menu or “Report a problem” link, select what you want blurred (face, home, car or licence plate), position the red box over it, explain why, enter your email and submit. Google reviews the request and blurs the image permanently.
Table of Contents
What Google blurs automatically
Google uses automatic technology to blur faces and licence plates in every Street View image. But the system is not perfect. Faces in windows, plates at odd angles, and of course whole houses are not blurred unless someone asks.
How to blur your house on Google Street View
- Go to Google Maps on a computer and search for your address.
- Drag the yellow Pegman onto the street, or click the Street View thumbnail, to open the 360° view.
- Turn the view until your house, car or face is clearly visible.
- Click the three-dot menu at the top left (next to the address) and choose Report a problem. On some screens the link is at the bottom right.
- Adjust the red box so it covers the item you want blurred.
- Under “Request blurring”, choose My face, My home, My car/licence plate or A different object, and add a short explanation, such as “This is my home, please blur it for privacy”.
- Enter your email, complete the check and click Submit.
What happens next?
- Google reviews your request, which can take from a few days to a few weeks.
- You get an email when it is approved.
- Blurring is permanent. Google cannot undo it, even if you or the next owner of the house ask later.
- Check older images too. Use the “See more dates” option in Street View, because past imagery may also show your home.
Why people blur their homes
- Privacy from strangers, stalkers or online harassment.
- Security, so burglars cannot study entrances, cameras or valuables.
- Photos showing children, number plates or private gardens.
- Peace of mind if your address is easy to find online.
Other Street View problems you can report
- Inappropriate or offensive content.
- Poor image quality or wrong location.
- Photos taken inside private property. Google’s cameras are mostly on cars, but some images come from backpacks like the Street View Trekker or from users who upload their own 360° photos.
Can you remove your house completely?
No. Google blurs the house but does not delete the street image. If a user uploaded a 360° photo of your property, report that photo separately using the same “Report a problem” link.
FAQ
Is it free to blur your house on Google Street View?
Yes. The request is free and you do not need a Google account.
How long does Google take to blur a house?
Usually a few days to a few weeks, depending on how many requests Google is handling.
Can I unblur my house later?
No. Once blurred, the image stays blurred permanently.
Have you checked how your home looks on Street View? Tell us in the comments.
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Requested for my house to be removed…..we’ll see what happens…..
You life-savers – this has solved a real problem for me!!!
please do not show my house on google search. right now the gps shows my house two doors down. it is wrong anyway. I am a widow and would appreciate the privacy.
What I think is that Google pay lip service to concerns of people having their
private space i.e. home photographed around the world. Have you ever been burgled?
Google are responsible for this.
Try clicking on their “report privacy concerns’ they don’t work.
I think Google should be sued for helping criminals.
I wish to remove the image of my house from Google Street website and Google earth. I had some one say your house looks like a rubbish tip.
we have put a lot of work into the house and it looks much better then the 10 year old pic you are showing.
I would like to remove the internet from my house and my cat from the house and my house should be removed from all of google but not yahoo and remove my left hand from my computer. Left is sinister in latin and the committer of all things evil
I agree that Google shouldn’t be doing this. It gives me the creeps. They won’t do anything about it until its discovered that some wacko has been using google online to case easy home invasion targets without even being seen in the neighbourhood. blurring doesn’t do it, if you can see all the details of access to a private residence. So instead of having to ask your permission in the first place, they make YOU do all the work to remove the images! good luck with that…. Best thing you can do is move to a condo!
Has anybody asked Google nicely and used the magic word?
Take this seriously folks. Since my street first appeared on Google’s Street View, there have been a spate of break-ins of houses in the street through FRONT windows and doors. Crooks are studying the Street View images, checking for security devices, looking for neglected gardens, working out foliage blocking line of sight to windows, finding escape routes etc. And they can do this in the leisure of their own homes without drawing attention to themselves by “casing the joint” in public. Thanks a lot Google – NOT!
Please REMOVE MY HOUSE,CAR AND FAMILY IN THE STREET FROM THE GOOGLE STREET VIEW. SECOND REQUEST. PLS. CONFIRM
This website is not owned or affiliated with google earth or google maps.
You actually have to go to maps.google.com
To do what this website instructs
Please remove my property from google street map. I value my privacy.
Yes, it IS that serious. Google believes it has the god-given right violate everyone’s privacy all of the time — indeed, that is their very business model! I do not want people across the globe seeing my home. Those b*stards are in my neighborhood right now, and yes I WILL remove any and all views of my home, just as I disallow Google to track my movements on the Web. Of course, I’ll need to use a public computer to do so, since I have firewalled-off as many of Google’s netblocks as I know of from both our corporate and my personal home router…
You people are WAY to paranoid! Street view can’t see anything more than what the people driving down the street can see. What next? are you going to try to ban people from driving in front of your house? And even if it could, i don’t do anything anyone would be particularly interested in, and i SERIOUSLY doubt you do either. Street view allows you to experience a place (someplace you’re likely to never actually visit) as if you’re walking down the street, which is infinitely more interesting than simply looking at a dull street map. And it makes it much more fun looking up the places i have been! Almost as if i were there again.
What is good for the Google is good for their Gawkers. These cameras are great opportunities, well, for a lot of things. However, consider free advertising. Find these public cameras and wear a T-shirt with a message, carry a protest sign or banner ad. Go for a walk and/or meet a few friends at these camera locations. Be sure to first check out what the loiter laws are in the chosen areas and understand any imposed limits of such laws.
I was always thinking that Street View is a great addition to Google Maps and a great tool that lets me virtually explore and see a new place and even such places that too from the comfort from my home, and in fact there is nothing wrong to be captured at the street or in the other outdoor place, but I can’t even imagine the situation described by Margaret! How it is said – “My Home is My Castle”. So I do not want to turn the best place in the world into public photo gallery or some reality show…
The ‘report a problem’ does not work. I can find no other way of contacting you.
I consider this a gross invasion of privacy and request immediate response enabling me to remove this image.
I am writing to my MP
M Brooks
This tip doesn’t work simply because Google ignores repeated requests. We are now in May 2010 and I’ve tried a few times since Oct. 2009 to have the licence plate of my car blured.
Does anyone know a lawyer in San Francisco who has sued or is suing Google on these matters?
I’d like his/her name and email.
Thanks
The street level image is sending people to the wrong house!!
I run a business from home with visiting clients. my neighbour has now had several poeple knock on their door looking for me! (even though I tell them to ignore the image)
Google street image could end up loosing me business!
Yes the technology is amazing, the images are crystal clear with 360 degree views and zoom facilities. It’s fun and can be useful. But, is it worth us giving up some of our personal sovereignty for? As has been said, people are different. Some are quite happy to appear in reality tv shows, while others shy away from publicity. I bought my house partly because I liked the quiet location (end of a cul de sac).Google cameras have photographed over my 6ft back garden wall, so that even the inside handle of my conservatory is visible when you zoom in. This is not a view people can see if they are walking down the road.
I feel Google have crossed the line on this. If we let this happen, then what next. How about adding audio, it would be nice to hear birdsong and Google could always promise to drown out any overheard conversations. Or why not up date the images every 2 months instead of every 2 years. Maybe the government would like to partly fund this. I’m sure they could find some uses for watching us more. There is a very serious debate to be had on this, but unfortunately those in favour of street view just seem to be into name calling.
Well done to Google for making pictures of practically the whole of the UK accessible to the general public
It is a BRILLIANT innovation.
Trev..
While the idea in its simplest form might be a good one I deplore this innovation being used in residential specifically, but even in business sites without their expressed agreement.
It allows anyone from anywhere to view (in quite some detail) someone else’s home/property at any time for any reason without anybody’s knowledge.
That opens up a huge opportunity for misuse. Anything from annoying targeting by sales people, “We notice your double glazing needs renewing” to the serious targeting by burglars or thieves after identifying security weaknesses or desirable property ie cars. People who have fled from violent ex-partners or for other reasons to start a new life might be found or their homes identified. People live complicated lives and may have any number reasons for not wanting to have their homes/property or even businesses included. Why does google think it has a right to ignore that. What about vulnerable groups like the elderly and places like nurseries and schools how much safer is it for them being seen in close up in aerial or street view?
If it were the other way and you had to opt in to google map/street view, how many would actually sign up because they think it is a good idea?
Maybe that is why we have it thrust upon us and we have to wait for a disaster or two to happen before we get legislation to make the respect for privacy via the internet a right, and a breech of it for nothing other than financial gain a serious an offence.
Meanwhile we live in hope that a) the disaster does not happen to us or anyone we know and b) that google street view/map will wake up to the moral issue of freedom of choice and be responsible and polite enough to remove all images it does not yet have expressed permission to blast around the planet. My house being just one of them.
Global citizen
I don’t care if it is not illeagel to have a picture of my house on the web, I do not trust any of you, so I want my personal details including my house and location to remain as private as possible, remove it forthwith!!
No one knows who you are. I would have to first find out where you live. And even with that, I could just go drive by and see you. What the hell is wrong with you people? This isn’t invasion of privacy and doesn’t make anything easier for criminals. Grow up. This is the 21st century. Deal with it.
And so any steal to order criminals can sit in the warmth of their own home “strolling” up and down the country lanes looking into farm yards and up private driveways making a catalogue of cars equipment and machinery. Thanks for making so easy for them google, I hope your pleased.
What does this street view actually achieve? Or is it just another willy waving exercise for the geeks at google to prove they can do something?
Tossers!
It is quite a boon for casing out houses where I don’t want to be spotted walking around the place. With neigbourhoo watch programs you would be amazed at the number of old biddies taking pictures of you as you walk up the road!
So it lets me check out properties. Find a nice spot to park which doesn’t attract attention and not too close that some old fogey will be noting my registration number.
I can get a reasonable idea of the surrounding houses, whether they overlook the front or read garden, height and type of fences, hedges etc. Height of gates etc. Whether there are flat roofs that can be used to gain access to upper windows. What kind of doors and windows are fitted. Whether there are tools left around which can be used to gain access etc. Even if there is a dog!
That way rather than loitering around streets I can prescreen houses of interest in a road and head straight for those addresses. Much less suspicious.
Thank-you Google!
i want my house to be excluded
Today a picture of my house, garden and cars went live. OK you can’t see the registrations but you can clearly see the makes and models should you want to steal a car to order. If a person walks or drives past I have an opportunity to see them. Streetview enables someone to look at your home without risking making themselves known to you making it the perfect tool for burglars and car thieves to case areas at no initial risk to themselves. What use is it really to people with a genuine reason to look at your home that a map or actual visit didn’t satisfy. If you want directions to my house why isn’t a map sufficient? If you are looking to buy a house the photos are on the “for sale” details. There is no genuine reason for this tool – it’s for idle snoopers or those using at a disadvantage to the property owner. And google are proving very slow to remove the image.
If google is not willing to remove these photos maybe its time to remove the source. If you see the google earth car stop it and remove their camera and data. Maybe all thats needed is a baseball bat?
I like street view but if someone wants to have their privacy, I say give it to them.
I TOTALY AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS WE HAVE NO PRIVACY WITH GOOGLE STREET VIEW .I want my property removed and also have friends who want the same .I live by a lot of elederly people who do not have the internet and angry about this site as it crimminals can home in on them.Google should have the guts to knock on peoples doors before hand and ask if they want to have there property etc filmed in such away.We should have a right to say yes or no.Surley this must come under the HUMAN RIGHT ACT some were of choosing wheather or not we can be displayed in such a manner it is MY HUMAN RIGHT to say NO.
@everyone – if you don’t want your house seen by the public, build a very tall wall around it.
@mr tm – once your trash can goes to the curb, it is public domain.
@Sean – it’s way easier to stalk someone by hanging out at a grocery store and following them home. You can get a much better view and a real life analysis of their routines. You are simply wasting your time stalking people with street view.
@James – me too. After like 10 minutes, though, I find I am board because not a whole lot of people happened to be sitting in their front yard when the car drove by. And even those who were outside are just kind of standing there.
could you take my house and car of stree view asap
I saw the camera driving round my street today – evil looking thing! What an invasion of privacy – I had the patio door open in my childs bedroom and want my house removed from it. The car was driving too fast for me to close the door and curtains. How dare anyone look into my child’s room. It’s ok saying anyone can walk past and see your house but they can’t zoom in that close. It’s every criminals dream – what is the purpose of street view for normal people?
People feel invaded. It might be legal but that doesn’t make it inoffensive.The opportunity cost of someone walking down my street to “stake out” my house is so great that it will put off 99.9% of people doing it, but now google is offering free snooping for all and sundry without even leaving the comfort of their home, prison cell or desk!
And email this to all your friends so they do the same!
This tool makes it much easier for home invasion crooks to single out a house to rob…
i think everyone has the right to choose whether or not they wish for photos of their house to be available via google maps.
Some people feel uneasy while others simply dont mind. And google should accept each individual’s own decision and remove photos on request.
I personally find it a bit creepy that a photo of my house can be accessed in a few seconds on the internet. But thats just me.
Try to drive up to google’s research facility and start taking pictures…see what happens.
As someone who has to register as a S.O. I like using google street view to see which houses may or may not have children. This way I know which ones to stay away from and avoid temptation.
I like picking random neighborhoods on google street view to walk around and see if I can see people in their yard. I love GOOG.
I can not believe you people are so freaked out about this. Get a life people, no one is going to stalk your trash can using google earth. And unless you have your personal info painted in huge letters on the front of your house how could anyone steal your identity just by looking at your house?
p.s. – Angela, if you live in a non smoking building, maybe you should not smoke. How would your landlord catching you in a lie be google’s fault?
Regardless as to whether or not it is allowed, Google has chosen to make many of their users EXTREMELY uncomfortable. If they choose to update pictures of our home leads to the possibility of my 3 year old daughter being photographed and that terrifies me. Do they update photos? I am so extremely disappointed with Google that I feel as though I am going to have to resort to other search engines until this UNETHICAL act is resolved.
it should not be up to the individual to have to opt out of public surveillance– if the technology is not there to request instant removal permanently of your property — simply on line & by post for those that dont use the internet– the only way forwards is for every comunity to band together to slash tires barricade camers vehicles on sight & try to smash the cameras, then the ‘service’ would soon become unviable
I don’t mind my house/street being on Google Streetview …. but right the very moment the car passed my very quiet road I was sat outside on the step in my pyjamas and high heels, hair unbrushed, having a cigarette…. hope the landlord doesn’t see that as it’s a no smoking building and it’s obvious it’s me.
That’s the thing, if you’re photographed outside your house, it’s obvious to anybody who knows you that it’s you.
I did ask Google to remove it, but it’s still there :(
And now I can’t email a link to it to people to say “this is where I live” because they’ll see me sat in PJs and high heels having a cigarette.
what about stalkers? this makes it quite easy for them, or any criminal for that matter. or what about identity theives? makes their job a lot easier if they want to rifle through your trash to find some personal info, i bet our trash cans locations are in the pics too…….big brother didnt think this thing through to its inevitible conclusion.
Suprised to see such an invasion of privacy. Here in the UK people that use CCTV equipment must be licensed (public spaces) so how on Earth does Google escape such excemption particularly as they are zoooming into ones front garden which subsequently allows the world to do the exact same!
Big Brother is watching
I object strongly to making images of where I live available to everyone. It should be clear that Streetview allows individuals – some curious and perfectly inoffensive but others with more nefarious purpose – to easily view the geography of a location and property within it which they would otherwise have beeen unaware of.
Anyone who comes into our small hamlet is usually noticed, it is this community interaction which has helped keep our area crimefree. Street view invades privacy through allowing unregulated access to the geographical area in which we live. It pays no attention to the formal democratic framework or informal local custom which help a community manage itself successfully.
Common people!!
If I go thru a street (in real life).. am I not allowed to see your house?.. or you? your childrens?… or lets see your mammas or dogs?
your privacy is whats inside your home.. that Im not allowed to see, if u dont invite me!
Then.. what all these buzz about beeing “catched” on google street view?.. what about those who just are on the street, when a camera man are filming something?.. yes… u would been seen on TV by millions! <-- does anyone has thought about that?If everyone would like to take their faces away, I propose Google, that they can put me on every others place!!... I still up at a photo shoot!.. (and for free).I mean... grow up people!, the moment you are born, even then.. the first touching you arent your parents but some people you dont know at all.. did you let them?... heh, lets sue all of them! Cheers!,
please remove or blur out my car registration number
So far as I am aware, our house has not yet appeared on Google Street website. I wish to ensure that it NEVER appears on your website. I have no wish to make public my address and therefore request a confidential email address so that I may provide you with the full address. Alun Williams
@everyone, this is a commentary about an article, saying that you want your house removed here does nothing.
@everyone, in the United States there is something called the First Amendment. In the First Amendment it clearly states freedom of speech and expression. From a legal standpoint this is a form of speech and expression and thus protected by law. The fact that Google even offers you to remove images of structures, vehicles, and people is a courtesy because they are not legally bound to do so.
In addition this could also fall under grounds of freedom of the press and would also be considered protected by law.
@Evan, tyranny is a form of government. Google is a business not a government.
John, It is everyones right to have their
house removed from google street view if they wish.
As to their reasons, well thats none of our business.
Chuck
This really doesn’t work for removing a house. I have found over 40 unique images which contain my home. It can be seen from so many different angles that getting Google to remove all of them just isn’t practical.
Can’t believe the idiots who are asking you to remove images. I sincerely doubt they can even work Street View.
Even worse is the people who say they have no right to photograph their property. Yes, they do. So do I. I can go take a photo of any house I wish, and post it online at any time, and it’s perfectly legal.
“Even worse is the people who say they have no right to photograph their property. Yes, they do. So do I. I can go take a photo of any house I wish, and post it online at any time, and it’s perfectly legal.”
Wrong. If I say you cant do it, then you can’t and I’ll sue you if you try, for every penny you’ve got.
But since legally he doesn’t need your permission, if you don’t stop him outright, he can do it. And if you try to sue afterwards, you would have a very shaky case. I can’t believe you people. All I have to do is hop in a car and drive down these streets and I will see a lot more than street view gives. It’s perfectly legal, and isn’t an invasion of privacy, since it only shows things that any one driving by would see. Its an excellent tool and there are many uses. You people and your “Privacy”. I believe in privacy, but only where it already exists.
I have been a police officer for 30 years and i know that this problem could pose a danger for some houesholders ,especially those who may hav an expensive car on view. Criminals target house with nice cars and in some cases may use violence in order to obtain that nice porsch,bmw whatever.
Of course by using streetview they can easily identify in a short space of time which houses to target so the aforementioned comment is naive to say the least. one day someone will be attacked in their house because of this facility and then I hope that google are seriously sued.
Report a Problem doesn’t work for sure however I will be calling their HQ until my property is removed. I’m sure the problem will be resolved after a few thousand calls – don’t hesitate call them!
This isn’t good enough – there’s no way to prevent a house appearing in street view beforehand. The only remedy is to wait until you find out that your house/car/face appears and then to have it removed (maybe), and needs legislation now. Like many others, I have no problem with CCTV, but for someone to drive a high-viewpoint camera round is a step too far.
please remove my house from your streetview maps
I wish to remove the image and street immediately from your google street website. Advice about the ‘report a problem’ from your website and on television this evening does not work. Please remove my house and car from your site with immediate effect and email confirmation that you have done so. This is a violation of privacy. It should be legislated against.
Address are public knowledge anyway so anyone can find your home if they have GPS etc if they are looking for you. And if you or your kids are in the yard are you blurred out in real life should they drive by! Geez people its not that serious.
Gee, I bet bush, rockefeller, rothschild, ford, gates, and all those families will surely let someone come up to their property and photograph their assets with NO problem, right? Try hanging out at the WH taking pics of even the lawn and see if you are not removed. It is BS.
Just because we can do it doesn’t mean it MUST be done, as others have said. Why do you need to see my personal property anyway? All you need is an X to mark the spot. Communitarianism has a stronghold on this country and it is obvious. Some people are private, others are not; so, why should your opinion be more valid than a person that likes privacy?
There is marked difference between someone having to travel to your home or when 3 billion people can simply log onto google streetview. I think streetview is a wholesale breach of privacy and should be stopped. I have already spoken with my councillor and MP. They have vouwed to make this a political item.
Excuse me? Yes addresses are part of public domain but photography of private property with probably cause such as a home refinace or a pending court case is truly a violation of a person privacy. Haven’t you even thought that maybe a criminal can use that information to plan a crime?
I wish to remove the image of my house and street immediately from the Google Street website. The ‘report a problem’ does not work. I can find no other way of contacting you.
I consider this a gross invasion of privacy and request immediate response enabling me to remove this image.
I am writing to my MP
M Brooks
You have to visit Google Maps first > then locate the street view to which you have objection > then find the Report a problem link at the bottom of that page. This article is for informational purpose only.
I have tried to remove my house car etc from this site!
please remove and email confirmation that you have done so.
I have tried to remove my house,car, face from this web site and it is not working can you please remove all.
I would appreciate an email to confirm this,
kind regards.
I would like my property removed from google maps please email me thanks