The quickest way to change your Facebook profile picture

Open Facebook on your phone or computer and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left. Click the camera icon that appears over your current profile picture — it's a small circle in the bottom right corner of the image. Choose whether you want to upload a photo from your device, take a new one with your camera, or pick from photos you've already posted on Facebook. Select your image, crop it if you want, and click "Save" or "Done".

On mobile, the process is the same: tap your profile picture at the bottom of the screen, find your profile picture in the grid, and tap the camera icon. The whole change takes about 30 seconds once you've decided which photo to use.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon appears in the bottom right corner of your current profile picture and is the fastest way to start the change.
  • You can upload a new photo from your phone or computer, take a fresh picture with your device's camera, or reuse a photo you've already posted.
  • Facebook lets you crop and position the image before you save it, so you can frame your face exactly how you want it.
  • Your new profile picture appears when ready across your account and in all your comments, posts, and messages.
  • You can change your profile picture as often as you want — there's no limit on how many times per day or week.

Where to find the camera icon on different devices

On a computer, log into Facebook and click your profile picture or name in the top navigation bar. Your profile page opens. Look at your current profile picture — you'll see a small camera icon in a circle at the bottom right of the image. Click it to begin uploading or taking a new photo.

On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap your name to go to your profile. Scroll to your profile picture and tap the camera icon that appears over it. The icon looks the same on both phone types, though the menu location may vary slightly depending on your Facebook app version.

Uploading a photo from your device

After you click the camera icon, Facebook shows you three options: "Upload Photo," "Take Photo," or "Choose from Photos." Select "Upload Photo" if you have an image saved on your phone or computer that you want to use. A file browser opens — navigate to the folder where your photo is stored and select it.

Once you've chosen the image, Facebook opens a cropping tool. You can drag the image around to position your face in the center, and you can pinch or zoom to make your face larger or smaller in the frame. The circular profile picture format means the edges of your photo will be cut off, so position yourself accordingly. When you're happy with how it looks, tap or click "Save" or "Done" — the button name depends on your device.

Taking a new profile picture with your camera

Choose "Take Photo" from the three options if you want to take a fresh picture right then. Facebook opens your device's camera app. Position yourself, make sure the lighting is good, and take the shot. After you take the photo, you'll see a preview — you can retake it if you don't like how it looks, or move forward to crop it.

The cropping step works the same way as uploading: you can move the image around and zoom in or out to frame your face. This option is useful if you want to update your picture without hunting through your phone's photo library, though the lighting and background depend on where you are when you take it.

Choosing a photo you've already posted on Facebook

Select "Choose from Photos" to use an image you've already shared on Facebook. A grid of your recent photos appears — scroll through and tap the one you want. This is the fastest option if you've already posted a photo you like and want to make it your profile picture without uploading it again.

You still get the cropping tool after you choose, so you can adjust how the image appears in the circular profile picture frame. This option is especially useful if you want to use a photo from a vacation or event that you've already shared with your friends.

What happens after you save your new picture

Your new profile picture appears when ready on your profile and across Facebook. It shows up next to your name in comments, posts, messages, and anywhere else your profile picture displays. Your friends will see the change right away — Facebook doesn't notify them, but they'll notice it the next time they visit your profile or see you comment on something.

You can change your profile picture again whenever you want. There's no waiting period, no limit on how many times you can change it per day, and no penalty for changing it frequently. If you change your mind about a picture, you can always go back and pick a different one.

Keeping your old profile pictures

When you change your profile picture, Facebook saves your previous ones in a folder called "Profile Pictures." You can view this folder by going to your profile, clicking "Photos," and looking for the "Profile Pictures" album. This means you can always go back and use an old profile picture again without having to re-upload it.

You can also delete old profile pictures from this album if you don't want them stored on Facebook anymore. Click the three dots on any photo in the Profile Pictures album and select "Delete" — this removes it from the folder, though Facebook may keep a copy in its backup systems for a limited time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo that isn't of my face as my profile picture?

Yes. Facebook doesn't require your profile picture to be a photo of you — you can use a landscape, pet, logo, or any other image. However, Facebook's community standards ask that profile pictures be appropriate and not contain hate speech or graphic content. Most people use a photo of themselves because it helps friends recognize them.

What if the camera icon doesn't appear over my profile picture?

Make sure you're on your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change your own profile picture. If you're on your profile and the camera icon still doesn't show, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. On older phones or browsers, the icon sometimes takes a moment to load.

Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?

Facebook doesn't send a notification when you change your profile picture. Your friends will see the new picture when they visit your profile or see you comment on something, but they won't receive an alert about the change. Some people post about their new picture to draw attention to it.

Can I crop my profile picture differently on mobile and desktop?

Yes. You can set different crops for mobile and desktop if you want. After you upload a photo, Facebook shows you how it will look on each device and lets you adjust the crop separately. This is useful if you want your face positioned differently depending on the screen size.

What image formats does Facebook accept for profile pictures?

Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. Most photos from phones and cameras are JPG or PNG, so you typically won't run into format problems. If you're uploading a screenshot or graphic, make sure it's saved as one of these four types before you upload it.