The quickest way to change your profile picture

Open Facebook on your phone or computer and tap or click your profile picture in the top left corner. Select Change profile picture from the menu that appears. Choose whether you want to upload a photo from your device, take a new one with your camera, or pick from photos you have already posted. Once you select an image, crop it to frame your face, then tap or click Set as profile picture. The change takes effect when ready.

On a computer, you can also click the camera icon that appears when you hover over your current profile picture. This opens the same upload menu and skips a step. Either method takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking your current picture and selecting the change option from the menu.
  • Facebook lets you upload a new photo, use your camera to take one, or select from photos you have already posted to the platform.
  • You can crop the image before confirming, which helps you frame your face the way you want it to appear.
  • The new profile picture appears on your account right away and shows up in your friends' feeds and on your profile.

Uploading a photo from your device

If you have a photo saved on your phone or computer that you want to use, select Upload photo from the profile picture menu. Your device's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where the photo is stored and tap or click the image you want. Facebook then shows you a preview with a square frame overlaid on the photo.

Use your finger or mouse to drag the frame around the photo until your face is positioned the way you want it. You can also pinch to zoom in or out on the image to adjust what gets included. Once the framing looks right, tap or click Set as profile picture to finish.

Taking a new photo with your camera

Choose Take a photo from the profile picture menu if you want to take a fresh picture right then. Facebook requests permission to use your device's camera — tap or click Allow when the permission prompt appears. The camera opens and shows a live preview of what it sees.

Position yourself in the frame and tap or click the camera button to take the shot. Review the photo in the preview. If you like it, tap or click Use this photo. If not, tap or click the back arrow to take another one. After you confirm, the same cropping screen appears so you can frame your face before setting it as your profile picture.

Choosing from photos you have already posted

Select Choose from photos to pick a profile picture from images you have posted to Facebook before. A gallery of your photos appears, organized by the albums or posts they came from. Scroll through and tap or click the photo you want to use. The cropping screen opens so you can adjust the frame before confirming.

This option is useful if you want to use a photo that already exists on your account without uploading it again. It also means the photo is already public on your profile, so there are no surprises about who can see it.

What happens after you change your profile picture

Your new profile picture appears on your profile page when ready. It also shows up in the top left corner of your screen where your current picture displays. When you post, comment, or react to something, your new picture appears next to that activity in your friends' feeds.

Facebook keeps your old profile pictures in an album called Profile Pictures on your profile. You can view this album anytime, and you can change back to an old picture by opening that album, clicking the photo you want, and selecting Set as profile picture from the menu. This is useful if you want to switch between a few different photos without uploading them each time.

Changing your profile picture on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on a phone and a computer, but the exact buttons and menus look slightly different. On a phone, you tap your profile picture and see a menu with text options. On a computer, you can either click your profile picture to see the same menu, or hover over it and click the camera icon that appears.

The upload, camera, and photo selection options work the same way on both. The cropping tool is also the same — you drag or pinch to adjust the frame. If you start on one device and want to finish on another, you can close the menu and come back later; Facebook does not save a partial change.

Troubleshooting common issues

If the camera option does not work, check that you have given Facebook permission to use your device's camera. On a phone, go to your device settings, find the Facebook app, and make sure the camera permission is turned on. On a computer, your browser may ask for permission the first time you try to use the camera — click Allow when prompted.

If you cannot find the profile picture menu, make sure you are clicking or tapping your own profile picture, not someone else's. You can only change your own profile picture. If you are on someone else's profile, you will see options to message them or add them as a friend instead. Also check that you are logged into the correct account if you have more than one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture without uploading a new photo?

Yes. Facebook stores all your old profile pictures in your Profile Pictures album. You can open that album, click any old photo, and select Set as profile picture to use it again without uploading anything new.

Will my old profile picture stay visible somewhere?

Yes. Facebook keeps all your profile pictures in the Profile Pictures album on your profile. Only you and people you have allowed to see your profile can view this album. The pictures do not disappear when you change to a new one.

Can I crop my profile picture after I set it?

No. Once you set a profile picture, the crop is final. If you want to change the crop, you have to set a different picture or upload the same image again and crop it differently the second time.

What size should my profile picture be?

Facebook automatically resizes your photo to fit the profile picture frame, so the exact size does not matter. A photo that is at least 400 by 400 pixels will look sharp, but Facebook accepts smaller images too. The platform crops it to a square and displays it at different sizes depending on where it appears.

Can I set a video as my profile picture?

No. Facebook profile pictures must be still images. You can set a video as your cover photo instead, which is the large banner image at the top of your profile.