Open Facebook and go to your profile
Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap your name to open your profile.
Once you're on your profile page, you'll see your current profile picture in the top left area. This is where you'll make the change. The profile picture appears as a circle, and you can tap it directly to begin the update process.
Tap your profile picture to open the menu
Press and hold on your profile picture, or tap it once. A menu will appear with several options. You're looking for the option that says "Update profile picture" or a camera icon — the exact wording depends on which version of the Facebook app you have.
If you don't see this option when ready, try tapping the small camera icon that often appears in the corner of your profile picture. This is the quickest route on most iPhone versions. The camera icon is usually white or blue and sits in the lower right corner of your current picture.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture by opening Facebook, going to your profile, and tapping your current picture or the camera icon in the corner.
- Facebook will let you choose a photo from your iPhone's camera roll, take a new photo with your camera, or upload a file from your device.
- After you select or take a photo, you can crop and position it inside the circular frame before confirming the change.
- Your new profile picture appears on your profile and in comments and messages within seconds of saving, though your friends will see the change in their activity feed.
- You cannot remove your profile picture entirely, but you can upload any image — a landscape, object, or abstract design — instead of a photo of yourself.
Choose a photo from your camera roll or take a new one
When the menu appears, you'll see options to choose an existing photo or take a new one. Tap "Choose from photos" to pick an image already on your iPhone, or tap "Take a photo" to use your camera right now.
If you choose an existing photo, your iPhone will open your photo library. Scroll through and tap the photo you want. If you take a new photo, your camera will open — take the shot and tap "Use Photo" to confirm it. Make sure you're in good lighting so the photo is clear and sharp.
Crop and position your picture
After you select or take a photo, Facebook will show you a preview with a circular frame (since profile pictures appear as circles on Facebook). You can pinch to zoom in or out, and drag the image to position it the way you want.
Make sure the part of the photo you want visible is inside the circle. Once you're happy with how it looks, tap "Next" or "Save" — the button name varies by app version. Take your time with this step, because once you confirm, the crop is set.
Confirm and save your new picture
Facebook may ask you to confirm the change or add a caption. You can leave the caption blank or type something if you want. Tap the final "Save" or "Confirm" button to complete the change.
Your new profile picture will appear on your profile when ready and will show up in your comments, messages, and anywhere else your profile picture displays across Facebook within a few seconds. Your friends will see a notification that you changed your picture in their activity feed.
What to do if the camera icon doesn't appear
On older versions of the Facebook app, the camera icon might not be visible on your profile picture. Instead, try tapping directly on the picture itself and holding for a moment. A menu should pop up with the option to update your picture.
If neither method works, make sure your Facebook app is up to date. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, scroll down to Facebook, and tap "Update" if one is available. Outdated versions sometimes have different layouts or missing features. After updating, close the app completely and reopen it to see the new interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture without posting it to my timeline?
Yes. When you change your profile picture through the method above, it updates your profile picture only — it does not automatically post to your timeline. However, your friends will see that you changed your picture in their activity feed.
How do I remove my profile picture entirely?
You cannot remove your profile picture completely on Facebook. Every account must have a profile picture. If you want to hide your face, you can upload a photo of something else — a landscape, an object, or an abstract image — instead of a photo of yourself.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically crops your photo into a circle, so the exact dimensions don't matter as much as the composition. Choose a photo where the part you want visible is centered and clear. Facebook recommends at least 400 by 400 pixels for the best quality, but the app will accept smaller images.
Why does my new profile picture look blurry?
If your photo appears blurry after you save it, the original image file may be low resolution. Try uploading a higher-quality photo instead. If you took the photo with your iPhone camera, make sure you were in good lighting and that the subject was in focus before you took the shot.
Can I use a video as my profile picture?
No. Facebook profile pictures must be still images. You can use a video as your cover photo (the large banner at the top of your profile), but your profile picture itself has to be a photograph or image file.