The quickest way to change your Facebook profile picture
Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. Select Profile from the menu that appears. On your profile page, hover your mouse over your current profile picture and click the camera icon that shows up. Choose Upload Photo to pick a new image from your computer, or Choose Photo to use a picture you have already posted to Facebook.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Facebook will ask you to confirm the crop and position of the image before it goes live — you can adjust how much of the photo shows by dragging the corners. Once you click Save, your new profile picture appears immediately across your account.
If you are on a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture at the bottom of the screen, then tap Profile. Tap your current profile picture, then tap the camera icon in the bottom right corner of the photo. Select Take Photo to use your device camera, Choose from Photos to pick an existing image, or Choose Photo to use something already on Facebook.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking the camera icon over your current photo.
- Facebook lets you upload a new image from your computer or reuse a photo you have already posted.
- You can adjust the crop and position of your image before saving it as your profile picture.
- Your new profile picture shows up right away across your entire Facebook account, including in comments and messages.
- On mobile devices, the process is the same but uses tap instead of click.
Uploading a photo from your computer
When you click Upload Photo, a window opens showing the files on your computer. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved — usually Pictures or Downloads — and select the photo you want. Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The image can be any size, but Facebook works best with square or nearly square photos.
Once you select the file, Facebook shows you a preview with a square crop box. You can drag the image around inside the box to position it the way you want, or use the zoom slider to make the photo larger or smaller. When the crop looks right, click Save. The photo becomes your profile picture within a few seconds.
Using a photo you have already posted
If you want to use a picture that is already on your Facebook account, click Choose Photo instead of Upload Photo. Facebook shows you a grid of photos from your albums, starting with your most recent uploads. Scroll through and click the photo you want to use.
This option is useful if you have already shared a photo you like and do not want to upload the same file twice. Facebook still lets you crop and position the image before saving it, so you can use just a portion of a larger photo if you prefer.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically creates an album called Profile Pictures and stores every profile picture you have ever used there. You can view this album by going to your profile, clicking Photos, and selecting Profile Pictures from the list.
Other people cannot see this album unless you change your privacy settings. By default, only you can see your old profile pictures. If you want to make the album visible to friends or the public, go to the album, click the three dots in the top right, select Edit Album, and change the privacy setting.
Changing your profile picture on mobile
On an iPhone or Android phone, tap your profile picture at the bottom of the Facebook app — it usually shows your current profile picture in a circle. Tap Profile from the menu. Then tap your profile picture again to open the full-size version, and tap the camera icon in the bottom right corner.
You will see three options: Take Photo uses your phone camera to take a new picture right then, Choose from Photos opens your phone's photo library, and Choose Photo shows photos already on Facebook. After you pick an image, you can crop it the same way you would on a computer. Tap Save when you are done.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your profile picture, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If you are using an older version of the Facebook app on your phone, update it from the App Store or Google Play. Sometimes Facebook temporarily disables profile picture changes if it detects unusual account activity — if this happens, you will see a message explaining why and when you can try again.
If your new profile picture does not show up after you save it, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Facebook usually updates within seconds, but occasionally the change takes longer to appear across all your devices. If it still does not show after 10 minutes, try logging out and back in. If the problem continues, report it to Facebook through the Help Center by clicking the question mark icon at the top right of the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not on my computer or Facebook?
Yes. You can upload any image file from your computer, including photos from your phone if you have transferred them. You can also take a new photo with your phone camera by selecting Take Photo on mobile, which creates the image on the spot without saving it first.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook works with any size, but square images look best because your profile picture appears in a circle. A square photo between 400 and 600 pixels on each side gives you room to crop without losing quality. If your image is very small or very large, Facebook will resize it automatically.
Can I set different profile pictures for different people to see?
No. Your profile picture is the same for everyone who can see your profile. However, you can control who sees your profile itself through your privacy settings. You cannot show one picture to friends and a different one to the public.
Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?
Facebook does not send a notification when you change your profile picture, but the change appears in your friends' news feeds if they follow your activity. Your friends will see it only if they scroll through their feed — they do not receive a separate alert.
Can I temporarily hide my profile picture?
You cannot hide your profile picture completely, but you can change it to something generic or blank. Some people upload a solid color or a simple image if they want a low-profile appearance. Your profile picture must exist, but it can be anything you choose.