How to hide card numbers before sharing a screenshot
The safest way to hide a card number in a screenshot is to crop it out, or to cover it with a fully solid box using your phone's markup tool. Avoid blur, pixelation and see-through highlighters, because they can leave enough detail to guess the digits. Then save the edited image as a new copy and share that, not the original.
What counts as card details?
A payment card has several pieces of information. Some are far more sensitive than others.
- The full card number, usually 16 digits on the front. This is the main thing to hide.
- The expiry date.
- The security code, the three or four digits often on the back. Never share this in any form.
- The cardholder name, which helps fraudsters when combined with other details.
- The billing address, which some checkout pages display.
Many apps and receipts already show only the last four digits, such as "•••• 4821". On its own, that is generally safe to show and is often useful to prove which card you used. Hide everything else.
Why would a card number be in a screenshot?
People rarely set out to share a card number. It sneaks in.
- A checkout page shows the card details just before you pay.
- A banking app shows the card's full number on a "card details" screen.
- An email confirmation includes a billing summary.
- A photo of a physical card was taken "just to remember it".
- A screenshot of a chat includes a message where someone typed their number.
How to hide card numbers in a screenshot
Follow these steps before you send anything.
- Open the screenshot and zoom in on every corner, not just the middle.
- Find the card number, expiry date, security code, name and address.
- If the details sit at the edge, crop them out. Cropping removes them completely.
- If they sit in the middle, open your phone's built-in editor or markup tool.
- Choose a pen or shape tool, set it to a solid, fully opaque colour, and cover each detail completely.
- Save the result as a copy, so you can check it against the original.
- Zoom in on the copy and make sure no digit edges are visible around the box.
- Share the copy. Delete the original if you do not need it.
Mistakes to avoid
These are the slips that most often leave card details readable when people try to hide a card number in a screenshot.
- Using blur or pixelation. Light blur can sometimes be reversed or guessed, especially for numbers, because there are only ten possible digits.
- Using the highlighter. On many phones the highlighter is semi-transparent. The digits can still be read through it, especially if someone adjusts the brightness.
- Covering only some digits. Hiding the middle eight digits but leaving the first and last four shows more than you think.
- Forgetting the second copy. Some editors save over the original. Others create a new file and keep the old one in your gallery.
- Missing a repeat. A checkout page may show the number twice, once in a form and once in a summary.
Should you ever share a full card number?
Almost never by screenshot. A legitimate business does not need a photo of your card. If someone asks for a picture of the front and back of your card, treat it as a warning sign, and contact your bank through its official app or the number on the back of the card if you are unsure.
If you have already sent a full card number by mistake, contact your bank straight away. Most banks can freeze or replace a card quickly.
Check the rest of the screenshot too
Card numbers are one risk among many. Order numbers, delivery addresses, phone numbers and other people's names may also be on the screen. Our checklist on what to check before you share a screenshot takes about thirty seconds, and bank details in screenshots covers account and sort code numbers. For the bigger picture of what your saved images reveal, read the hidden privacy risks in your screenshots.
How Screenshot Brain helps you hide card numbers
Screenshot Brain has a hide-private-details tool that finds and covers card numbers, bank numbers, phone numbers and emails before you share a screenshot. It reads the text on your phone to spot them, so it is worth a quick look over the result before you press send, in case something unusual slipped past.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to show the last four digits of my card?
Generally yes. Many receipts and apps show only the last four digits, and that alone is not enough to make a payment. Hide the rest of the number, the expiry date and the security code.
Is blurring a card number enough?
No. Blur and pixelation can sometimes be reversed or guessed. Use a solid, opaque box or crop the number out.
What should I do if I already shared my card number?
Contact your bank as soon as possible through its official app or phone number. It can usually block the card and send a replacement.
Do I need to hide the card number on a delivery receipt?
Most receipts already mask the number. Check anyway, and hide the billing address if the person you are sending it to does not need it.