Google Photos Redact Pen Hits Android: Blur Private Details for Free, Rolling Out Worldwide
Google Photos is rolling out a Redact pen on Android that blurs or pixelates sensitive details in a picture, such as a license plate, an address or an account number on a screenshot. Google announced the upgraded Markup tool on Wednesday, September 24, 2026, and it is rolling out to Google Photos on Android phones worldwide, including the US. Google has not tied it to a paid plan.
- Feature: Redact pen inside Google Photos Markup, plus pen thickness sliders and new fonts
- Announced: September 24, 2026, on Google's official blog
- Platform: Google Photos for Android; Google has not given an iPhone date
- US availability: rolling out globally on Android, so US accounts are included
- Price: free; Google names no AI Pro or Ultra requirement
- Where to find it: open a photo, tap Edit, then Markup
What does the Google Photos Redact pen do?
The Google Photos Redact pen covers any part of an image you paint over. Reports on the rollout describe three styles: Mosaic, Mosaic Light and Blur. A thickness slider sets how wide the pen stroke is, so you can hide a single line of text or a whole receipt.
Until now, hiding a phone number in a screenshot on Android meant drawing a thick black line with the Pen tool or opening a separate editor. The Redact pen does the job in the app most Android owners already use for their photos. The same Markup update adds precise thickness sliders to the Pen tool and new fonts to the Text tool.
How to use the Redact pen in Google Photos
Google's help page for editing photos on Android lists the path to Markup. Once the update reaches your account, the Redact pen sits alongside Pen, Highlight and Text:
- Open Google Photos and tap the photo or screenshot you want to edit.
- At the bottom, tap Edit, then Markup. On some versions of the app the path is Edit > Tools > Markup.
- Choose the Redact pen, pick a style, set the thickness and paint over the details you want hidden.
- Tap the Checkmark, then Save as copy so the original stays untouched.
If Markup shows only Pen, Highlight and Text, the rollout has not reached your phone yet. Keep Google Photos updated from the Play Store and check again later.
One caution for Google Pixel owners: AndroidHire reported on September 25 that a Google Photos bug on Pixel 8 to Pixel 11 phones freezes the Share, Edit and Trash buttons after a photo has been cropped or rotated. If you hit that problem after redacting and cropping an image, the bug is the likely cause rather than the new tool.
What else Google Photos added on September 24
The Redact pen was one of five Google Photos changes in the same announcement. They do not share the same rules. Two are free for every Android user worldwide, and two are tied to paid plans or to specific countries. This table lines up what Google's post says against what was reported about each feature.
| Feature | What it does | Platforms | US status | Plan needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markup with Redact pen | Blurs sensitive details; adds thickness sliders and fonts | Android | Rolling out (global) | None |
| Moods | Vintage-style edits such as a 35mm film look and a 2000s digicam look | Android | Rolling out (global) | None |
| Remix templates | 15 new templates, including red carpet, birthday card and photo booth styles | Android, iOS | Select countries; Google did not list them | None stated; users over 18 only |
| Wardrobe | Catalogs clothes from your photos so you can try outfits virtually | Android, iOS | Available (US, India, Brazil) | Google AI Pro or Ultra, per reports |
| Photos in Gemini Spark | Finds, edits and shares photos from a single prompt | Not specified | Available (US) | Google AI Pro or Ultra |
One point needs care. Google's own post calls Wardrobe available to "eligible" users in the US, India and Brazil without naming a plan, while several reports on the rollout say it is limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Plan on needing one of those subscriptions for Wardrobe. Photos in Gemini Spark is the only feature where Google itself names the AI Pro and Ultra requirement.
Is the Redact pen coming to iPhone?
Google lists the upgraded Markup tool and Moods as Android features only, and it has not said when either will reach Google Photos on iPhone. Remix templates and Wardrobe are the two features from the September 24 batch that work on both platforms.
The update continues a busy month for the app. Google Photos recently cut deleted photo recovery from 60 days to 30, and Samsung began syncing Samsung Gallery to Google Photos ahead of the end of OneDrive sync on September 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I blur something in Google Photos on Android?
Open the photo in Google Photos, tap Edit, then Markup (on some versions, Edit > Tools > Markup). Choose the Redact pen, paint over the details you want hidden, then tap the Checkmark and Save as copy. The Redact pen began rolling out to Android worldwide after Google announced it on September 24, 2026.
Why don't I see the Redact pen in Google Photos?
Google is still rolling the upgraded Markup tool out to Android phones, so some accounts do not have it yet. If Markup only shows Pen, Highlight and Text, keep Google Photos updated from the Play Store and check again later. Google has not published a date for the rollout to finish.
Is the Google Photos Redact tool free?
Yes. The Redact pen is part of the upgraded Markup tool that Google is rolling out to Google Photos on Android worldwide, and Google did not tie it to a paid plan. Features such as Wardrobe and Photos in Gemini Spark are the ones that need a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription.
Does the Google Photos Redact pen work on iPhone?
Not yet. Google's September 24, 2026 announcement lists the upgraded Markup tool, including the Redact pen, as an Android feature, and Google has not said when it will reach the iPhone app.
Is Google Photos Wardrobe available in the US?
Yes. Google says Wardrobe is available to eligible Android and iOS users in the US, India and Brazil. Google's post does not name a plan, but reports on the rollout say it is limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
