Google Maps and especially Street View are as self-evident as the weather on your phone these days – free, universally accessible and almost addictive. In two clicks you can travel to your elementary school, check if the new restaurant is really "on the corner", and gaze nostalgically at your old childhood home. But just as easily, your current home can find itself under the scrutiny of people you didn't invite there – stalkers, thieves or just curious (too curious) neighbours. How to "blur" your house on Google Maps?
Why is the question of how to “blur” your house on Google Maps so important? Thanks to Street View, anyone can see if you have high hedge, car in the driveway, cameras on the facade or poorly lit back garden – all those things that we usually hide behind a fence. And although “blurring” the house seems like the action of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, it is actually a simple and sensible step towards greater digital privacyAnd no, you don't have to be a celebrity to want this.
How to “blur” your house on Google Maps?
How to “blur” your house on Google Maps? You can do the entire process yourself in 10 to 15 minutes, but exclusively in the web version of Google Maps – this option is not yet available in the app. For the optimal experience, we recommend doing this on a computer, as the larger screen allows for more accurate positioning.
To get started, visit Google Maps and enter your address into the search engine. When the location appears, click on the photo in the upper left corner - this will take you to Street View, where you can virtually stand in front of your house as if you were on the sidewalk.
Look for the link or icon there “Report a problem”, located in the lower right corner (sometimes also under the three dots in the upper left). When you click, a special page for reporting problems opens, where you can precisely mark a part of the image, which you want to blur. Use the red frame and zoom function to capture your home.
Google will ask youwhat exactly you want to blur: you can choose the whole house, vehicle, license plate, face, or specify a specific subject, such as an annoying billboard in front of the door. It is important to indicate reason, why you want blurring – the more specific you are, the more likely your request will be approved quickly.
Before submitting a claim, you will need to confirm that you are the owner (or tenant) of the facility, enter your e-mail address and fulfill Captcha (yes, Google needs to know you're not a robot, even if the robot wants to blur your home from other robots).
What happens after submitting a request?
After successful submission, you will receive an email stating that your request is being processed. Google is does not make time commitments, which means it could take a few days or several weeks. In some cases, you may be contacted for additional information.
But be careful: when something once blurred, there's no going backSo if you decide in a few years that you still want to see your beautiful new facade on Street View, unfortunately it won't work. So think twice before you press submit – same as a tattoo with the name of an ex-lover.
How to check if your home is still foggy?
Google Street View is updated every 1–3 years, which means that a new image of your home may become visible again – and therefore vulnerable again. Photos usually have the date of creation listed (bottom left in Street View mode), so it is recommended to check regularly, is your house still “invisible”.
If the new image is visible again, repeat the process. Yes, it's not the most fun, but neither is the dentist, but here we go anyway.
Is this really necessary? It depends.
For most people, blurring your home on Google Maps doesn't make a drastic change to your security profile, as the images are often old and not detailed enough to be seriously abused. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't make sense to take the step—especially if you've had a bad experience or want to preserve as much of your privacy as possible. digital privacyAccording to Redmond, it is even more important to focus on basic safety measures: good lighting, a secure lock, a functional alarm system and a neighbor who watches everything (sometimes this is your best alarm).
Conclusion: Digital privacy does not begin (and does not end) with Google
Why is it important to ask how to “blur” your house on Google Maps? Blurring your home is a simple and free step towards greater privacy – something that anyone can afford in a digital world where we are more exposed than ever before. It’s not a miracle solution, but it’s a good start.
