You probably know that you should care about your online privacy. After all, you probably have data-hungry apps on your phone right now, and if any of those apps are breached, that data can end up on the dark web. What’s worse, an online scammer can find information about you on the public web using AI-enhanced tools and create deepfaked videos, audio messages, texts, and emails designed to part you with your hard-earned cash. That’s why it’s more important than ever to lock down your private information, and for many people, that includes details about their living situation.
Hiding your home on Google’s Street View is one way to make it a little harder for scammers, stalkers, or other snoops to keep tabs on where you’re living, but it comes with some drawbacks. We’ll tell you how to hide your home on Google, but also give you a few reasons not to do it.
Before You Blur Your Home on Google, Read This
Blurring a location on a Google map is not reversible. This means that when you’re ready to sell your home, or if you have a change of heart, Google will not unblur the image. In a similar vein, if you are renting a house, or if you live in an apartment, a condo, a duplex, or any other shared building, don’t blur the location on Google Maps.
Anecdotally, my neighbor who blurred his home on Google Maps moved out five years ago. Since that time, two new families have come and gone from the address. In other words, you’re making a decision that affects everyone else who lives at the address after you, so choose wisely.
You should also know that removing the view of your home from Google Maps only blurs it for that platform. Other popular mapping tools, such as Apple Maps, do not allow users to request location obfuscation. Old exterior and interior home photos posted on popular real estate databases can show up in search results, making it pretty easy for anyone to scope out the layout of a home, outdated furniture and all, using just an address. That means that if someone really wants to see where you live, they still can.
Blurring your home’s image may also make it stand out on a street of unblurred houses, leading crafty criminals to believe you’re hiding something of value. Sometimes, the best way to stay private is to blend in with the crowd, so it may be a good idea to check Google Street View and see if anyone else on your street blurred their house, too.
Get Our Best Stories!
Stay Safe With the Latest Security News and Updates
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
How to Blur Your Home on Google Maps
Still want to hide your home on Google? Follow the steps below to complete the process. Google will respond to your report within a few days or weeks to confirm that your address has been blurred. Sometimes the company reaches out to confirm you actually reside at the address, presumably to keep people from blurring out private businesses or government buildings.
Step 1: Locate Your Home on Google Maps
(Credit: Google/PCMag)
Click on the three dots while in Google Street View, and choose Report a Problem.
Step 2: Report the Location to Google
(Credit: Google/PCMag)
Click on the three dots while in Google Street View, and choose Report a Problem.
Recommended by Our Editors
Step 3: Submit Your Home for Review
(Credit: Google/PCMag)
Adjust the red box’s size to tell Google what to blur in map view. Click Submit.
Other Ways to Disappear Online
There are a lot of more practical ways to protect your privacy online, and one way is to use a data removal service. Tools like Privacy Bee will blur your home on Google, for instance, while also handling your junk-mail opt-outs and removing your information from hundreds of data broker websites.
If you want to put a bit more effort into your privacy regimen, check out our story on how to completely disappear from the internet.
It’s Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online
About Kim Key
Senior Writer, Security
