The quickest way to change your cover photo
Go to your Facebook profile and hover your mouse over the cover photo at the top. A pencil icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the image. Click it, then select Upload Photo to choose a new image from your computer, or Choose from Photos to pick one you've already posted to Facebook. Once you select your image, you can drag it to position it the way you want, then click Save.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your new cover photo appears when ready on your profile and in your friends' feeds if they visit your page.
Key Takeaways
- Hover over your current cover photo and click the pencil icon to open the upload menu.
- You can upload a new photo from your computer or reuse a photo already on Facebook.
- Facebook cover photos work best at 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall, though the site will resize them automatically.
- Your cover photo is visible to anyone who visits your profile, unless you've restricted who can see your profile.
- You can change your cover photo as often as you want with no limit.
Uploading a photo from your computer
Click the pencil icon on your cover photo and select Upload Photo. A file browser will open on your computer. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved, click the file, and click Open. Facebook will load the image and show you a preview.
You'll see a rectangular frame over your photo with handles on the sides and corners. Drag the frame to show the part of the image you want visible as your cover. You can also drag the photo itself behind the frame to reposition it. When it looks right, click Save at the bottom right.
Choosing a photo you've already posted
Click the pencil icon and select Choose from Photos. Facebook will show you a grid of every photo you've uploaded to your profile. Scroll through and click the one you want. The same positioning frame will appear—drag it to frame the photo the way you like, then click Save.
This option is useful if you want to reuse a photo without uploading it twice. It also lets you preview how different photos will look as your cover before you commit to one.
Positioning and sizing your cover photo
Facebook displays cover photos at different sizes depending on whether someone is viewing your profile on a computer, tablet, or phone. The safe dimensions are 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall—if your photo is smaller, Facebook will stretch it; if it's larger, Facebook will crop it.
When you upload, the positioning frame shows you what will be visible on a computer screen. Mobile phones show a narrower view, so important details (like faces or text) should be toward the center of the image. The frame handles let you zoom in and out—drag outward to zoom out and see more of the photo, or drag inward to zoom in and focus on one area.
Who can see your cover photo
Your cover photo is visible to anyone who visits your profile, with one exception: if your profile is set to private, only your friends can see it. Your cover photo appears in your friends' feeds when you change it, and it shows up in search results if your profile is public.
You cannot hide your cover photo from specific people or groups. If you want to restrict who sees your profile entirely, you'll need to change your overall privacy settings, not just the cover photo.
Removing or replacing your cover photo
You cannot delete your cover photo entirely—Facebook requires every profile to have one. If you want a blank or minimal cover, you can upload a solid-color image or a very straightforward design. Some people use a white or light gray image as a neutral option.
To replace your cover photo with a different one, use the same pencil icon and upload process. There's no limit to how many times you can change it, and old cover photos remain in your photo library even after you replace them.
Troubleshooting common cover photo problems
If the pencil icon doesn't appear when you hover over your cover photo, make sure you're logged into your own account and viewing your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change the cover photo on your own profile. If you're on someone else's profile, you'll see their cover photo but no editing options.
If your photo looks blurry or stretched after you upload it, the original file may be too small. Try uploading a larger version of the same image—Facebook works best with photos at least 820 pixels wide. If the colors look different after upload, Facebook may have compressed the file; this is normal and doesn't affect how others see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as my cover photo?
No, Facebook cover photos must be still images. You can post videos to your timeline, but the cover photo slot only accepts JPG, PNG, or GIF files. Some people create a short video clip, take a screenshot of it, and use that screenshot as their cover photo instead.
What happens to my old cover photos?
Every cover photo you've ever uploaded stays in your photo library under the "Cover Photos" album. You can view them anytime by going to your photos and scrolling to that album. You can also reuse an old cover photo by clicking the pencil icon and selecting Choose from Photos.
Does changing my cover photo notify my friends?
Yes, when you change your cover photo, it shows up in your friends' feeds as an activity update. The notification says something like "[Your Name] updated their cover photo." Your friends can click it to view your profile.
Can I add text or graphics to my cover photo?
Facebook doesn't have a built-in editor for cover photos. You'll need to edit your image before uploading it using a photo editor like Photoshop, Canva, or free tools like Pixlr or Photopea. Once you've added text or graphics, save the edited image and upload it to Facebook.
Why does my cover photo look different on mobile than on my computer?
Mobile screens are narrower, so Facebook crops the sides of your cover photo on phones and tablets. The center of your image will always be visible, but the left and right edges may be cut off. When positioning your photo, keep important details in the middle to may support they show on all devices.