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Google Street View is an essential tool when you want to see a place as if you were there. You can see places around the world without having to leave the comfort of your couch.
But what about your house? Do you want the world to see the place where you live?
The good news is that you can blur the image of your house on Google Street View. That way, the world can’t see the house where you live, at least not on Street View.
But consider carefully whether you truly want to blur your house on Google Street View. Before you follow the steps to blur your house, read below to see why you may not want to blur your house on Street View.
About Blurring Your House on Google Street View
While Google Street View cars have been busy capturing images of places around the world since 2007, they probably have taken a photo of your house (if it’s visible from the street). However, you may not want an image of your house to be available on Google Street View.
If you don’t want the world to see your house on Google Street View, you can request Google to blur the image of your house. Maybe you’re famous (or infamous) and would prefer strangers not to be able to see where you live.
Or maybe you want privacy and don’t like the idea of anyone in the world seeing your house online. Perhaps you’re trying to avoid a stalker. Or maybe the image of your home on Street View was before a major renovation or before you could repair damage from a calamity. Or it could be that the image of your house includes the interior seen through a window and you’d rather not have others view the inside of your house.
Whatever the reason, you can request that Google blur the image of your house on Street View.
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How to Request That Google Blur the Image of Your House on Street View
To place a request for Google to blur your house on Google Street View, you must first get to your home on Street View. To do that, go to Google Maps and type your home address in the search bar. A map should appear with the location of your home marked.
Drag the yellow figure in the bottom right corner of the page onto the place on the map where your home is.
You should see an image of your house as you would if you were standing on the street in front of it. You may have to use your cursor to spin the view around to see your house.
Then click Report a problem in the lower right corner of the screen.
A form called Report Inappropriate Street View will appear. Your home address will be listed along with the image of your house. A list of choices below includes requesting that your house be blurred. Check that box to place your request.
You will also have to include your email address and check the CAPTCHA verification box indicating that you’re not a robot (if you are not, in fact, a robot). Then click Submit.
Check your inbox to see a verification email from Google that your request has been received. Google will review your request and may ask for additional information.
If you’re successful, your home will soon be blurred on Google Street View.
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Why You May Not Want to Blur Your House on Google Street View
Even private or reclusive people may not want to blur their houses on Google Street View. The choice is an important one and cannot be reversed.
So be aware that once you blur your house on Google View, you may not be able to unblur it. The decision to blur your house on Google Street View is permanent, so if you don’t like the results, you can’t undo your decision.
People often turn to Google Street View to see a place and make sure they’re in the correct place. By blurring your house on Google Street View, you’re taking away that tool from friends, delivery people, and others whom you may want to find you.
If you like your pizza, Amazon deliveries, plumbers, grocery deliveries, Uber drivers, visiting friends, and party guests to arrive on time, then blurring your home may not be the best choice for you.
The decision to blur your house cannot be changed, so any future owner of your house will have to live with your decision. If a prospective buyer discovers that the house is blurred on Google Street View, that factor potentially could be a deal-breaker.
If you’re renting, living in a multi-unit house, or living with other people in your house, you might make others upset with the decision to blur your house.
Choose wisely and remember the adage: just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Your Thoughts
Did you know you can blur your house on Google Street View? Will you be blurring your house on Street View? Have you ever tried to find a place that was blurred on Street View?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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*Google Maps Street View Car image courtesy of Gabriel Trujillo via Flickr and Creative Commons
*Cyclist image courtesy of iStock via PicMonkey
