How to Blur Everyone Except You in a Video (Selective Face Blur)

2/21/2026
Updated on 3/29/2026
FaceBlurify selective workflow showing track analysis stage
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Keep yourself visible and blur everyone else

Run the selective workflow, review identities, and export a clean version with optional original audio.

Best setup for this workflow

Mode
Choose faces individually
Trim
Analyze only the section you actually need
Audio
Leave it enabled when speech matters in the final export
Effect
Start with pixelized for stronger public-sharing privacy

Selective blur is the workflow you need when one person should stay visible while everyone else is anonymized. Typical cases: creator videos, home footage, training clips, and interview content where the speaker stays clear but bystanders do not.

What selective blur does

Instead of blurring all faces, selective mode analyzes the clip first, groups detections into identities, and lets you decide who to keep and who to blur.

Use the tool here: /en/tools/blur-faces-videos/

Step-by-step workflow

  1. Upload your video.

  2. Choose Choose faces individually.

  3. Set trim range if you only need part of the clip.

  4. Click Analyze selected clip. Selective analysis step

  5. Review detected identities and keep the person who should remain visible.

  6. Choose your anonymization effect for everyone else.

  7. Apply and review the final output.

Selective analysis step

Best settings to start with

  • Effect: Pixelized for strong privacy.
  • Keep audio: enabled if dialogue matters.
  • Trim first: analyze only the range you need for faster runs.

When selective mode is better than blur-all

Choose selective mode when:

  • You need one presenter visible.
  • You must keep known participants while hiding bystanders.
  • You want fine control per person or per segment.

Common pitfalls

  • Running without trim on long clips when only a short segment is needed.
  • Using too soft an effect for public social distribution.
  • Skipping final review after output compression.

Related guides

FAQ

Can I keep more than one person visible?

Yes. Selective mode supports multiple keep decisions.

Can I blur only a time range?

Yes. Trim first, then analyze the selected segment.

Is selective mode slower than blur-all?

Usually yes, because it runs an analysis stage first.

Can I still use manual zones?

Yes. Zones are useful for non-face elements like badges, screens, logos, or reflections. For readable license plates, the dedicated plate tool is usually the better choice.

Continue reading

Explore more guides to choose the right anonymization workflow for your content.

FaceBlurify lets you quickly and easily anonymize faces, license plates, and people in images and videos. Protect your privacy, comply with data regulations, and maintain anonymity with just a few clicks.


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