The quickest way to change your 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 (on desktop) or top right (on mobile). Look for your current profile picture—it appears as a circle near the top of your profile. Click or tap on it, then select Upload Photo or Choose Photo. Pick an image from your device, adjust the frame if you want, and click Save. The change takes effect when ready.

On mobile, the process is nearly identical. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll to your name, tap your profile picture, and follow the same upload steps. Facebook stores your old profile pictures in an album called "Profile Pictures," so you can switch back to a previous one anytime without re-uploading.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking your current picture and selecting Upload Photo.
  • Facebook keeps all your old profile pictures in a dedicated album, so you can revert to a previous one without uploading again.
  • The new picture appears on your profile and in comments, messages, and friend lists within seconds.
  • You can crop or adjust the frame before saving, and you can hide your profile picture change from your timeline if you prefer privacy.

Where to find the upload option on different devices

On a desktop computer, log into Facebook and click your profile picture in the top left corner of the page. This takes you to your profile. Find your large profile picture near the top—it sits above your cover photo. Hover your mouse over it and a camera icon appears. Click that icon, then click Upload Photo. A file browser opens where you can select an image from your computer.

On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down and tap your name to go to your profile. Tap your profile picture, then tap the camera icon that appears. Choose Upload Photo and select an image from your phone's photo library. The steps are the same whether you use the Facebook app or the mobile website.

Adjusting and cropping your new picture

After you choose a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a square frame. You can move the image around inside this frame to decide what part shows. Drag the image left, right, up, or down until the part you want is centered. On mobile, you can also pinch to zoom in or out.

Once the frame looks right, tap or click Save or Next (the button name varies by device). Facebook then asks if you want to add the picture to your "Profile Pictures" album and whether you want to notify your friends. You can uncheck the notification box if you prefer to change your picture quietly.

Using photos you have already uploaded

You do not have to upload a brand new file every time. When you click the camera icon on your profile picture, Facebook shows you an option to Choose from Photos or Select Photo. This opens your photo albums. You can pick any image you have ever uploaded to Facebook—including old profile pictures, photos from albums, or pictures someone else tagged you in.

This is the fastest way to switch back to a previous profile picture. Go to your profile, click the camera icon, select Choose from Photos, find the picture you want in your "Profile Pictures" album, and click it. No re-uploading needed.

Hiding your profile picture change from your timeline

By default, when you change your profile picture, Facebook posts an update to your timeline and notifies your friends. If you want to change it without announcing it, uncheck the box that says Show on Timeline or Notify Friends before you save. The picture changes on your profile and everywhere else you appear, but no post shows up on your timeline.

This setting appears after you choose your photo and before you click the final save button. It is the same on mobile and desktop. If you forget to uncheck it and a post already appeared, you can delete the post from your timeline the same way you delete any other post.

What happens to your old profile pictures

Facebook automatically saves every profile picture you have ever used in an album called "Profile Pictures." You can view this album anytime by going to your profile, scrolling to the Photos section, and clicking Profile Pictures. The most recent picture appears first.

You can make any old picture your current profile picture again by opening the album, clicking the picture you want, and selecting Make Profile Picture. You can also delete old pictures from this album if you want to remove them, though this does not affect pictures that appear in other albums or in posts where you were tagged.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the upload button does not appear, make sure you are logged into your own account and viewing your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change your own profile picture. If you are on someone else's profile, you will not see the camera icon.

If the photo will not upload, check that the file is in a common format like JPG or PNG and is smaller than 4 MB. If the file is too large, resize it on your computer or phone before uploading. If you are on mobile and the upload keeps failing, try switching to the desktop version of Facebook or using the app instead of the mobile website.

If your new picture does not appear after you save it, refresh the page or close and reopen the app. Sometimes Facebook takes a few seconds to update across all devices. If it still does not show after a few minutes, try uploading a different image to rule out a problem with that specific file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture on someone else's account?

No. You can only change the profile picture on an account you own and are logged into. If you are a parent managing a child's account or an admin of a business page, you can change that picture, but you cannot change anyone else's personal profile picture.

What image formats does Facebook accept for profile pictures?

Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. Most photos from phones and cameras are already in JPG format. If you have an image in a different format, you can convert it using free online tools or photo editing software before uploading.

Does changing my profile picture notify all my friends?

Only if you leave the notification setting checked. Before you save your new picture, you will see an option to notify friends or show the change on your timeline. Uncheck that box and no one gets notified—the picture just changes on your profile.

Can I use a picture someone else took of me?

Yes. You can upload any image file from your device, whether you took it or someone else did. You can also choose from photos you have already uploaded or photos where you were tagged by others, without needing permission.

How do I delete a profile picture permanently?

Go to your profile, find the Photos section, click Profile Pictures, and open the picture you want to remove. Click the three dots menu and select Delete. This removes it from your Profile Pictures album, but it may still appear in other albums or in posts where you were tagged.