The quickest way to change your Instagram profile picture
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top right, then select Settings and privacy. Go to Account, then Edit profile. Tap your current profile picture at the top of the screen. You'll see two options: Take photo (to use your phone's camera) or Upload photo (to choose from your phone's photo library). Pick one, select or take your image, crop it if you want, and tap Save.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your new picture appears when ready on your profile and in your comments, messages, and search results.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture by going to your profile, tapping the menu, selecting Settings and privacy, then Account, then Edit profile, and tapping your current picture.
- Instagram lets you take a new photo with your phone's camera or upload one from your photo library.
- You can crop and adjust your picture before saving it.
- Your new profile picture shows up everywhere on Instagram within seconds.
- You can remove your profile picture entirely by selecting the delete option instead of uploading a new one.
Using your phone's camera to take a new profile picture
If you want to take a fresh photo instead of uploading an old one, tap Take photo after you reach the profile picture screen. Instagram will open your phone's camera in selfie mode (facing you). Take your shot, and the photo will appear in a preview window.
You can retake the photo as many times as you want before saving. Once you're happy with it, tap the checkmark or confirm button. Instagram will then let you crop the image—drag the corners to frame it the way you want—and tap Save when you're done.
Uploading a picture from your phone's photo library
Tap Upload photo to browse pictures you've already saved on your phone. Your photo library will open, showing all your photos and videos organized by date or album. Scroll through and tap the photo you want to use.
Once you select it, you'll see a preview with a square frame overlay. Drag the image around inside the frame to position it the way you want—Instagram crops profile pictures to a square, so make sure the part you want to show is centered. Tap Save when you're ready.
Cropping and positioning your profile picture
After you choose or take a photo, Instagram shows you a cropping screen with a square frame. This frame represents what your profile picture will look like—Instagram always displays profile pictures as squares, so anything outside this frame won't show.
Pinch your fingers together or apart on the image to zoom in or out. Drag the image to move it around inside the frame. The goal is to get your face or the main subject centered and visible. Once the framing looks right, tap Save. You can always change it again later if you're not happy with it.
Removing your profile picture
If you want to remove your profile picture entirely instead of replacing it, follow the same steps to reach the profile picture screen. Instead of taking or uploading a new photo, look for a Delete or trash icon option. Tap it, and Instagram will remove your current picture. Your profile will show a blank or default avatar until you add a new one.
Removing your picture doesn't affect your account or any of your posts—it just changes what appears next to your name and comments.
Why your new picture might not show up right away
In most cases, your new profile picture appears when ready. However, if you're not seeing it after a few seconds, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to display the change on your own profile view.
If you're checking on another person's profile to see if they can see your new picture, remember that Instagram sometimes takes a few minutes to sync the image across all servers. Wait a few minutes and refresh their view of your profile. If it still hasn't appeared after 10 minutes, close and reopen the app.
Changing your profile picture on a computer or web browser
You can also change your profile picture using Instagram's website on a computer. Go to Instagram.com, log in, and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Edit profile. Click your current profile picture, and a menu will appear with options to upload a photo or delete your current one. Choose Upload photo, select an image from your computer, crop it if needed, and click Save.
The process is nearly identical to the phone app, and your new picture will sync across all your devices within seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a picture that's not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Instagram doesn't require your profile picture to be a photo of you. You can use a logo, artwork, a photo of something else, or any image from your phone's library. The only limits are Instagram's community guidelines—the image can't contain hate speech, violence, or other prohibited content.
What size should my profile picture be?
Instagram automatically crops your picture to a square and resizes it to fit the profile picture space. You don't need to worry about exact dimensions—just make sure the part you want to show is centered in the frame when you're cropping.
Will changing my profile picture delete my old one?
Your old profile picture is replaced by the new one, but Instagram doesn't save a history of your past profile pictures. Once you upload a new one, the old picture is no longer visible on your profile. However, if you posted it as a regular photo on your feed, that post will still be there.
Can I change my profile picture if my account is private?
Yes. Whether your account is public or private doesn't affect your ability to change your profile picture. The steps are exactly the same.
Why does my profile picture look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens if the original image is very small or low resolution. Try uploading a larger, higher-quality photo. If you're taking a new photo with your camera, make sure you have good lighting and that your phone's camera is clean.