Where to find and change your Outlook picture

Your Outlook profile picture appears in the top right corner of Outlook on the web and in the Outlook desktop app. To change it, click that picture or your initials, then select View account or Change picture depending on which version you use. You can upload a new photo from your computer, take one with your webcam, or remove the picture entirely.

The exact steps differ slightly between Outlook on the web (the browser version) and the Outlook desktop app (the program you install on Windows or Mac). Both let you use the same photo — your change syncs across all devices where you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your current picture or initials in the top right corner to open the menu where you can change your photo.
  • Outlook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files, and automatically crops square photos to fit the circular profile frame.
  • Your new picture appears within seconds on Outlook on the web, but may take a few minutes to update in the desktop app.
  • You can delete your picture at any time by selecting the remove option, which returns your profile to showing your initials instead.

Changing your picture in Outlook on the web

Open Outlook in your web browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. In the top right corner, you will see either a circular photo or a circle with your initials. Click it to open a small menu.

Select View account from that menu. This opens your Microsoft account settings page in a new tab. Look for the profile section at the top of the page — you will see your current picture or initials displayed in a large circle. Click directly on that circle to open the photo upload window.

You can now choose to upload a photo from your computer, take a new photo with your webcam, or remove your current picture. If you upload a file, Outlook will let you crop and position it before saving. Once you confirm, the change appears immediately in Outlook on the web.

Changing your picture in the Outlook desktop app

Open Outlook on your computer and look for your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the window. Click it to open a dropdown menu. Select Change picture from the options shown.

A window will open where you can browse your computer for a photo file. Select the image you want to use, and Outlook will show you a preview with a crop box. You can adjust the crop area to frame your face or the part of the image you prefer. Click Save when you are satisfied with how it looks.

The new picture will appear in your Outlook desktop app within a few minutes. If you use Outlook on multiple devices, the picture will update on all of them once the sync completes — this usually happens within five to ten minutes but can occasionally take longer depending on your internet connection.

What file types and sizes work best

Outlook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP image files. There is no strict file size limit, but Outlook will compress very large files automatically. For the clearest result, use a photo that is at least 200 by 200 pixels, though Outlook will resize smaller images to fit.

Your picture will always display as a circle, so square photos work best — they fill the entire circle without awkward cropping. If you upload a rectangular photo, Outlook's crop tool lets you select which part becomes visible. The tool shows you exactly how the final circle will look before you save.

Removing or replacing your picture

If you want to remove your picture and return to showing just your initials, click your profile picture and select View account (on the web) or Change picture (in the desktop app). Look for a Remove or Delete option and confirm. Your profile will revert to displaying your first and last initials in a colored circle.

To replace a picture you already have, simply follow the upload steps again. You do not need to remove the old one first — uploading a new photo automatically replaces the previous one.

Why your picture might not be updating

If you changed your picture but it is still showing the old one, try signing out of Outlook completely and signing back in. This forces your device to refresh your account information. On the desktop app, you can also try restarting the program.

If you use Outlook on multiple devices, remember that changes can take several minutes to sync across all of them. Your picture on the web version usually updates instantly, but the desktop app and mobile versions may lag behind. If a picture has not updated after fifteen minutes, try signing out and back in on that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my Outlook profile picture?

Yes. Your picture is visible to anyone in your organization who views your contact card or sees you in a meeting invite or email. People outside your organization can see it if you share your calendar or collaborate with them in Microsoft Teams or other Microsoft services.

What happens if I use a picture that is not a photo of me?

Outlook does not require your picture to be a photo of yourself. You can use any image — a logo, a cartoon, a landscape, or anything else. Your organization may have guidelines about profile pictures, so check with your IT department or manager if you are unsure what is appropriate for your workplace.

Can I change my picture on my phone?

You can change your picture through the Outlook mobile app by tapping your profile icon and selecting the option to change your photo. The steps are similar to the desktop version. You can take a new photo with your phone's camera or choose one from your photo library.

Does changing my Outlook picture affect my Microsoft account picture elsewhere?

Your Outlook picture and your overall Microsoft account picture are the same thing. Changing it in Outlook changes it everywhere you use that Microsoft account — including OneDrive, Teams, and other Microsoft services. If you want a different picture just for Outlook, you cannot do that.

What should I do if the upload button is not working?

Try using a different web browser if you are on Outlook on the web, or restart the Outlook desktop app. Make sure your image file is in a supported format (JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP) and is not corrupted. If the problem continues, sign out completely, clear your browser cache, and sign back in.