The quickest way to change your cover photo
Open Facebook on your computer or phone and go to your profile. Look for your current cover photo at the top of your profile — it's the wide banner image above your profile picture. Hover your mouse over it (on computer) or tap it (on phone), and a camera icon will appear. Click or tap that icon, and Facebook will show you two options: Upload Photo or Choose from Photos.
If you want to use a photo you already have on your device, select Upload Photo. If you want to use a photo you've already posted to Facebook, select Choose from Photos and browse your albums. Once you pick your image, Facebook will let you crop and position it before you save. The change takes effect when ready.
On mobile, the process is identical — tap the cover photo, tap the camera icon, and choose your source. Facebook works the same way whether you're using the app or the mobile website.
Key Takeaways
- Tap or hover over your cover photo, click the camera icon, and choose to upload a new image or select one already on Facebook.
- You can crop and reposition your image before saving to make sure it displays the way you want.
- Cover photos update when ready and are visible to anyone who can see your profile.
- Facebook stores your old cover photos in an album called "Cover Photos" that only you can see unless you change your privacy settings.
- Cover photo dimensions work best at 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall, though Facebook will resize images that don't match.
What happens to your old cover photo
When you change your cover photo, Facebook doesn't delete the old one — it saves it automatically to an album called Cover Photos on your profile. Only you can see this album by default. If you want to make it visible to friends or the public, you can change the privacy settings on that album, but most people leave it private.
You can go back and use an old cover photo again anytime. Just tap the camera icon on your current cover, select Choose from Photos, navigate to your Cover Photos album, and pick the one you want to restore. This is useful if you rotate seasonal images or want to bring back a photo you used before.
Uploading a photo from your device
When you tap the camera icon and select Upload Photo, Facebook opens your device's photo library. On a phone, you'll see your camera roll or photo gallery. On a computer, a file browser will open so you can navigate to a folder on your hard drive.
Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. There's no strict file size limit, but very large files (over 4 MB) may take longer to upload. Once you select your image, Facebook will show you a preview and let you crop it. Use your finger or mouse to drag the corners and edges until the photo looks the way you want. The crop tool shows you exactly how the image will appear on your profile.
Using photos already on Facebook
If you choose Choose from Photos, Facebook shows you albums where you have photos — your profile pictures, photos you've uploaded, photos you're tagged in, and photos from pages you manage. This is faster than uploading if you want to reuse an image you've already posted.
You can also browse through old albums to find a photo you haven't used as a cover yet. Once you select an image, the same crop tool appears, and you can adjust it before saving. This option is especially useful if you want to use a photo from a trip or event without uploading it twice.
Privacy and who can see your cover photo
Your cover photo follows your profile's privacy settings. If your profile is public, anyone on Facebook can see your cover photo. If your profile is set to friends only, only your friends can see it. If you have a custom privacy setting, your cover photo respects that setting too.
Unlike your profile picture, you cannot set a separate privacy level just for your cover photo — it's all or nothing based on your overall profile visibility. If you want to keep your cover photo private, you'll need to set your entire profile to friends only or a custom audience. You can change your profile privacy settings in the Settings & Privacy menu under Settings, then Privacy.
Troubleshooting common cover photo problems
If the camera icon doesn't appear when you hover over or tap your cover photo, you may not have permission to edit that profile. If you're looking at someone else's profile, you won't see the camera icon — only the profile owner can change their own cover photo. If you're on your own profile and the icon still doesn't show, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app.
If your cover photo looks stretched or cut off, it's usually because the image dimensions don't match Facebook's standard size. Facebook crops images automatically, but if your photo is very tall or very wide, parts of it may get hidden. Use the crop tool to reposition the image so the important part is in the center, where it won't be cut off on different screen sizes.
If you upload a photo and it doesn't appear, check your internet connection and try again. Large files sometimes fail to upload on slow connections. If the problem persists, try a different image or a different file format (JPG instead of PNG, for example).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as my cover photo?
No, Facebook cover photos must be still images. You cannot upload a video to use as a cover photo. However, you can post a video to your timeline separately, and it will appear below your cover photo on your profile.
What's the best size for a cover photo?
Facebook recommends 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall. If your image is smaller, Facebook will stretch it. If it's larger, Facebook will crop it. Using the recommended size ensures your photo displays clearly without distortion or unwanted cropping.
Can I change my cover photo on the Facebook app?
Yes, the process is the same on the app as on the website. Open your profile, tap your cover photo, tap the camera icon, and choose to upload or select a photo. The app works identically to the desktop version.
Will my friends be notified when I change my cover photo?
No, Facebook does not send notifications when you change your cover photo. Your friends will only see the new cover if they visit your profile. It won't appear in their news feed or generate any alert.
Can I delete my cover photo?
You cannot have a profile without a cover photo — Facebook requires one. However, you can replace it with a blank or solid-color image if you want a minimal look. You can also revert to any old cover photo by selecting it from your Cover Photos album.