filterbloomfilterbloom
Back to blog

Can You Put a Face Filter on a Video? (Yes — Here's How)

· Filterbloom Team
face filtersvideo editingtutorial

Yes, you can put a face filter on a video — but it requires a desktop app designed specifically for pre-recorded files. Most face filter apps (Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok) only apply filters to a live camera feed in real time. Applying the same kind of AR filter to a video file that already exists on your computer is a different process, and it’s only possible with software built for it.

The short answer: download Filterbloom — a free Mac and Windows app — import your video, pick a filter from 300+ AR effects, and export an MP4 with the filter baked in. The whole process takes under five minutes.

Why Most Apps Can’t Add Filters to Pre-Recorded Video

When you use a Snapchat lens or an Instagram filter, the app is processing your camera feed in real time — tracking your face 30+ times per second as new frames arrive from the camera. This works great for recording or going live, but it can’t go back and process a video file you recorded yesterday.

To apply AR face filters to a video, an app needs to:

  1. Read the video file frame by frame (not stream from a camera)
  2. Detect and track faces across every frame
  3. Render the AR effect on top of each frame
  4. Export a new video file with the filter composited in, audio intact

Very few apps do all four steps. Most video editors — Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut — don’t have AR face tracking built in. And mobile filter apps only work live.

Which Apps Can Apply Face Filters to a Video?

The cleanest option for desktop users is Filterbloom — a dedicated app for exactly this use case. Here’s why it works:

  • Built for pre-recorded video, not live camera
  • 300+ AR effects powered by Snap Camera Kit (the same engine behind Snapchat lenses)
  • Automatic face tracking — no keyframing, no manual masking
  • Side-by-side preview so you can compare original vs. filtered before exporting
  • Local processing — your video never leaves your computer
  • Available for macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel) and Windows

How to Add a Face Filter to a Video (Step-by-Step)

1. Download Filterbloom

Go to filterbloom.com and download the app for your platform. It’s free to start — no account required.

2. Import Your Video

Open Filterbloom and drag your video file into the app. Most formats are supported: MP4, MOV, WebM, and more.

3. Choose a Face Filter

Browse 300+ AR effects — beauty filters, fun overlays, color grades, background effects, and more. Click any filter to preview it on your video instantly in the side-by-side view.

4. Export

Hit Export and Filterbloom processes every frame, applies the selected filter, and outputs a new MP4 with your audio preserved. A typical 30-second clip takes about a minute.

What Kind of Face Filters Can You Apply?

Face filters that work on pre-recorded video include:

  • Beauty filters — skin smoothing, face slimming, brightness boost
  • AR overlays — animal ears, glasses, hats, 3D accessories
  • Color grades — cinematic film looks, vintage tones, high-contrast
  • Makeup effects — virtual lipstick, liner, blush, highlighter
  • Background effects — blur, replacement, stylized environments
  • Novelty / fun — aging effects, gender swap, face distortions

Does It Work on Any Video?

It works best on video where faces are clearly visible and front-lit. The face tracking engine works across:

  • Phone recordings transferred to your computer
  • Webcam clips
  • Screen recordings that include your face
  • DSLR footage
  • Multiple faces in a single clip

Very dark footage or extreme angles (face fully in profile, hands covering the face) can reduce tracking accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add face filters to a video on my phone?

Mobile apps like Snapchat and TikTok apply filters during recording, but not to video files you’ve already saved. For pre-recorded video, you’d need to transfer the file to a Mac or Windows computer and use Filterbloom.

Is it free?

Filterbloom is free to download. The free tier gives you access to a rotating selection of filters, with a watermark on exports. Upgrading to Pro removes the watermark and unlocks all 300+ filters.

Will the audio be preserved?

Yes. Filterbloom exports MP4 with the original audio track intact. The filter is applied to the video frames only.

Does my video get uploaded anywhere?

No. All processing happens locally on your computer. Your video files never leave your device.

Can it track multiple faces?

Yes — the AR engine detects and applies filters to all faces visible in the frame.

Bottom Line

Yes, you can put a face filter on a video — as long as you use an app built for pre-recorded video rather than a live-camera filter tool. Filterbloom is the most direct solution for Mac and Windows: import your clip, pick an AR effect from 300+ options, and export an MP4 in minutes.

Download Filterbloom free — no editing experience required.