How to add a face filter to a video
Quick answer: To add a face filter to a video, choose a video or use your webcam, pick a filter, preview it, export and download.
- Choose a video or use your webcam. MP4, WebM or MOV from your phone or computer. Or switch on the webcam to record with a filter live.
- Pick a filter. Masks, avatars, privacy, colour, beauty and background. Mix one from each group, say an alien avatar with the comic look.
- Preview it. Press play: the filter follows every face in the video. The first time, the face detector (about 4 MB) loads from this site.
- Export. Pick MP4 or WebM and press Export. The video plays through once at normal speed while it's recorded with the filter, so a 1-minute video takes about a minute. Keep the tab open and in front.
- Download. Watch the result on the page and download it. The original sound is kept.
Why export takes as long as the video
The page plays your video at normal speed, draws every frame with the filter and records the result with your browser's built-in video recorder, sound included. That avoids uploading anything or downloading a big video editor, but it means a 5-minute video takes about 5 minutes. If the tab is in the background, browsers slow it down and frames can be dropped, so leave it in front.
Avatars that copy your face
The avatars follow 478 points on the face and 52 expression scores from Google's MediaPipe face model, running on your device. Turn your head and the avatar turns, blink and it blinks, open your mouth to talk and its mouth moves. They're drawn as simple shapes, so they work at any size and there are no image licences to worry about.
Hiding faces for privacy
Blur faces and Pixelate faces cover every face the model finds, including small ones in the background, frame by frame. Check the result before you post it: a face that is turned away, very small or partly hidden can be missed for a few frames.
What this tool doesn't do
It doesn't swap your face for another real person's face. Filters and avatars only.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded?
No. The video is opened, tracked, filtered and recorded in your browser. The face model is downloaded from this site once, and nothing is sent back.
Does it keep the sound?
Yes. The original audio is routed into the new recording. It's muted on your speakers while the export runs.
MP4 or WebM?
MP4 if your browser offers it (recent Chrome, Edge and Safari do): it opens everywhere. Firefox records WebM, which plays in browsers and VLC and uploads fine to YouTube and TikTok.
Can it handle several people?
Yes, up to 4 faces in each frame get the mask, avatar, blur or pixelation.
Why is the export slow on a long video?
It runs at playback speed: every frame is drawn while the video plays once. Videos up to 15 minutes are supported. For a long video, trim it first with the Video Trimmer.
Can I use a filter in a screen recording?
Yes. In the Screen Recorder, turn on the webcam bubble and pick a face filter, or add one to a finished recording with Add a face filter.