How to Blur Faces in Vertical Video for Reels, Shorts, and TikTok

For a vertical video, make the intended crop first, blur faces in that version, and add final captions or graphics afterward. This gives Unseen the faces that will actually appear in the post and keeps large text from getting in the way of your review.

If you need both horizontal and vertical versions, treat them as separate outputs. A small background person in the wide shot can become prominent in the vertical crop.

Choose the frame before selecting faces

Finish your cuts and use your normal editor to produce the vertical working file. Unseen anonymizes faces; it does not assemble the Reel or decide where to crop it.

Look at the full height of the crop. A seated person at the bottom or a face reflected high in a mirror is easy to miss when your attention is on the presenter.

For a moving crop that follows the host, inspect the moments where the frame shifts toward a new bystander.

Keep the creator visible

In Unseen, choose your processing mode, import the vertical file, and click Select faces. Use Select all, then change the creator's confirmed entries to Keep. Leave bystanders on Hide.

If the creator has several appearances, look for each one in the face list. Confirm that a reflection belongs to the creator before revealing it.

For a clip where every face should be hidden, Blur all is easier.

Add captions to the treated file

After export, bring the anonymized version back into your editor. Add captions, stickers, and music there. This prevents an untreated source layer from accidentally appearing under a graphic or during a transition.

Captions are not face masks. They can move, animate, or disappear, leaving the person underneath visible. Do not rely on the platform's controls or text overlay to cover somebody.

If the edit changes again, review the updated output rather than assuming the previous approval still applies.

Make the cover from the same file

A carefully blurred video can still reveal someone in a separate cover image taken from the original. Select a frame from the treated export or create a cover that does not show them.

Check the start and end when the clip repeats. The last frame may contain a new face that appears for only an instant before the loop returns to the beginning.

Open the platform's draft preview and watch at normal phone size. Check text placement, crop, picture quality, and face coverage together. For platform-specific details, continue with the Reels guide or TikTok guide.