The quickest way to change your cover photo

Open Facebook on your computer or phone, go to your profile, and hover over your current cover photo. A camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the image. Click or tap it, then choose Upload Photo to pick a new image from your device, or Choose from Photos to use something already on Facebook. Once you select the image, you can drag it to position it the way you want, then click Save.

On a phone, the process is identical — the camera icon appears when you tap your cover photo, and the positioning step works the same way. The whole thing takes about 30 seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon appears when you hover over (on computer) or tap (on phone) your current cover photo.
  • You can upload a new photo from your device or reuse an image already posted to your Facebook account.
  • Facebook lets you reposition the image before you save it, so you can control what part shows in the frame.
  • Cover photos must be at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall, though Facebook recommends 820 by 312 pixels for the clearest result.

Uploading a photo from your computer or phone

When you click the camera icon and select Upload Photo, your device's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored — usually Pictures, Downloads, or Camera Roll — and select the file. Facebook will show you a preview and let you crop or reposition it before you confirm.

If the image is too small (less than 400 by 150 pixels), Facebook will warn you that it may look blurry. You can still use it, but the result will not be sharp. If you have the original file, resizing it in a free tool like Canva or Pixlr before uploading will give you a clearer cover photo.

Choosing a photo you have already posted

Select Choose from Photos instead of Upload Photo, and Facebook shows you every image in your account — your own posts, photos you are tagged in, and anything you have saved. This is useful if you want to reuse a photo without uploading it twice, or if you want to pull an old picture from your timeline without hunting through your device.

You can search by date or scroll through the list. Once you pick one, the same positioning tools appear, and you can adjust how it sits in the frame before saving.

Positioning and cropping your cover photo

After you choose an image, Facebook shows you how it will look on your profile. A white rectangle appears over the photo — that is the area people will see. You can drag the image up, down, left, or right to move what part of the photo sits inside the rectangle. This is especially useful if your image has a subject off to one side that you want centered.

You cannot crop the image itself — you can only reposition it within the frame. If you need to remove part of the photo or change its dimensions, do that in an image editor before uploading. Once you are happy with the position, click Save and the new cover photo goes live when ready.

What happens to your old cover photo

Your previous cover photo does not disappear. It stays in your photo albums under Cover Photos, and you can switch back to it anytime by clicking the camera icon and selecting Choose from Photos. This means you can rotate between a few different cover photos without losing them.

If you want to delete an old cover photo entirely, go to your Photos section, find the Cover Photos album, and delete it from there. Removing it from the album does not affect your current cover photo.

Cover photo size and best practices

Facebook displays cover photos at different sizes depending on whether someone is viewing your profile on a computer, tablet, or phone. The minimum size is 400 by 150 pixels, but Facebook recommends uploading at 820 by 312 pixels to avoid blurriness on larger screens. If your image is wider or taller than that ratio, Facebook will crop it automatically to fit.

Avoid putting important text or faces near the edges of your photo — they may get cut off on smaller screens. Test your cover photo by viewing your profile on both a phone and a computer to see how it looks in both places. You can always reposition it if part of the image is hidden.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your cover photo, you may not be logged into your own account — you can only change your own cover photo, not someone else's. Make sure you are viewing your own profile and that you are logged in.

If the image looks blurry after you upload it, the file is probably too small. read a larger version of the photo or resize it before uploading again. If Facebook rejects the file entirely, it may be in a format Facebook does not support — try converting it to JPG or PNG using an online converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my cover photo on the Facebook app?

Yes. Open the app, go to your profile, tap your cover photo, and tap the camera icon. The process is the same as on a computer — you can upload a new photo or choose one you have already posted.

What if I want to remove my cover photo entirely?

Go to your cover photo, click the camera icon, and select Remove. Your profile will show a blank cover area instead. You can add a new one anytime by clicking in that blank space.

Can other people see when I change my cover photo?

Yes, if your profile is public or visible to your friends. The change appears in your friends' feeds and on your profile when ready. If you want to change it privately, adjust your profile privacy settings before making the change.

Why does my cover photo look different on my phone than on my computer?

Facebook crops cover photos differently depending on screen size. What you see on a computer may be positioned differently on a phone. Check both devices and reposition the image if needed to make sure the important part is visible on all screen sizes.

Can I use a video as my cover photo?

No. Facebook cover photos must be still images — JPG, PNG, or GIF. You cannot upload a video file as a cover photo, though you can post videos to your timeline separately.