The quickest way to change your cover photo
Go to your Facebook profile, hover your mouse over the cover photo at the top, and click the camera icon that appears. Select Upload Photo to choose an image from your computer, or Choose from Photos to pick something you have already posted. Once you select the image, you can drag it to position it the way you want, then click Save. The change takes effect when ready and is visible to anyone who visits your profile.
If you are on a mobile phone, tap your profile picture to open your profile, then tap the camera icon on the cover photo itself. The steps are the same — upload or choose an existing photo, position it, and save. Mobile and desktop versions work identically, though the screen layout differs.
You can change your cover photo as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you do this, and old cover photos are not deleted from your account — they stay in your photo albums if you want to use them again later.
Key Takeaways
- The camera icon appears when you hover over your current cover photo on desktop, or when you tap it on mobile.
- You can upload a new photo from your computer or reuse any photo you have already posted to Facebook.
- After selecting a photo, you can drag it up or down to frame it the way you want before saving.
- Changes appear when ready on your profile and are visible to your friends and anyone else who visits your page.
Uploading a photo from your computer
Click the camera icon on your cover photo and select Upload Photo. A file browser window opens. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored, click the file, and click Open. Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The image should be at least 400 pixels wide, though Facebook recommends 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall for the best appearance on desktop.
After you select the file, Facebook displays it on your profile. You will see a frame showing which part of the photo will be visible as your cover. If the photo is larger than the cover area, you can click and drag the image to move it left, right, up, or down until the part you want is centered. Once you are satisfied with the position, click Save.
Choosing from photos you have already posted
Click the camera icon and select Choose from Photos. Facebook shows your photo albums, starting with your most recent uploads. You can scroll through these or click on a specific album to find the photo you want. Click the photo to select it.
The same positioning frame appears. Drag the image to adjust which part shows in the cover area, then click Save. This method is faster if you already have a photo on Facebook that you want to use, because you skip the upload step.
Positioning and cropping your cover photo
When you select any photo — whether you uploaded it or chose an existing one — Facebook shows you a preview of how it will look as your cover. A rectangular frame marks the visible area. If your photo is larger than this frame, you can reposition it by clicking and dragging.
Drag the image up to show more of the top, down to show more of the bottom, left to show more of the left side, or right to show more of the right side. You cannot crop or resize the photo itself — you can only move it within the frame. Once the part you want is visible and centered, click Save.
What happens to your old cover photo
When you change your cover photo, the old one does not disappear from your account. It stays in your Cover Photos album, which is a special folder Facebook creates automatically. You can view this album by going to your profile, clicking Photos, and looking for the Cover Photos section.
If you want to use an old cover photo again, you can go to this album, click the photo, and select Make Profile Picture or Make Cover Photo from the menu. You do not have to re-upload anything — Facebook remembers all your previous covers.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your cover photo, make sure you are logged into your own account. You can only change the cover photo on your own profile, not on someone else's page. If you are the page owner and the icon still does not show, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache.
If your photo looks blurry or pixelated after you save it, the original file may be too small. Facebook recommends uploading images that are at least 820 pixels wide. If you are reusing an old photo that looks poor, try uploading a higher-quality version instead. If the photo will not upload at all, check that the file is in JPG, PNG, or GIF format and is smaller than 4 MB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other people see when I change my cover photo?
Yes. When you change your cover photo, the change appears on your profile when ready and is visible to anyone who visits your page. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends about the change, but they will see the new photo if they look at your profile.
What size should my cover photo be?
Facebook recommends 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall for desktop. Mobile displays may show a slightly different crop. The minimum width is 400 pixels, but smaller images may look stretched or blurry. If you are uploading your own photo, aim for at least 820 by 312 pixels for the best result.
Can I use a video as my cover photo?
No. Facebook cover photos must be still images in JPG, PNG, or GIF format. You cannot use video files. However, you can use an animated GIF, which will play a short loop when someone visits your profile.
What if I want to remove my cover photo entirely?
Go to your profile, hover over the cover photo, click the camera icon, and select Delete. Facebook will remove the cover photo and show a blank blue area instead. You can add a new cover photo at any time by clicking the camera icon again.
Can I change my cover photo on the Facebook app?
Yes. Open the Facebook app, go to your profile, tap the camera icon on your cover photo, and follow the same steps as on desktop. You can upload a new photo from your phone's camera roll or choose from photos already on Facebook.