The quickest way to change your profile picture
Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top left corner (on desktop) or tap the menu icon and select your name (on mobile). Click or tap the profile picture itself, then select "Upload Photo" or "Change" from the menu that appears. Choose a photo from your device, crop it if you want, and click "Save" or "Confirm". Your new picture goes live when ready.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your old profile picture stays in your photo archive, so you can switch back to it later without re-uploading.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking the current picture and selecting "Upload Photo".
- Facebook lets you crop the photo before saving, so you can frame your face the way you want it to appear.
- Your previous profile pictures are saved in a folder called "Profile Pictures" that only you can see unless you change privacy settings.
- You can set a profile picture from any photo already on Facebook, or upload a new one from your device.
- Changes appear when ready to everyone who can see your profile.
Where to find the upload button on desktop
Log into Facebook on a computer and look at the top left corner. Click your profile picture—the small circular image next to your name. This takes you to your profile page. Once you're there, hover your mouse over your large profile picture at the top of the page. A camera icon and the word "Update" or a pencil icon will appear.
Click that icon. A menu will pop up with options including "Upload Photo", "Choose from Photos", or "Remove". Select "Upload Photo" to pick a new image from your computer, or "Choose from Photos" if you want to use a picture already on Facebook.
How to change it on mobile (iPhone or Android)
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap your name at the top of the menu. Your profile page opens. Tap your profile picture at the top. A menu appears with options to upload a new photo or choose from existing ones.
If you choose "Upload Photo", your phone's camera roll or file browser opens. Select the image you want. Facebook will show you a preview and let you crop it before you save. Tap "Use This Photo" or "Save" to confirm.
Cropping and positioning your new picture
After you select a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a square or circle frame (depending on your settings). You can drag the image around inside this frame to position your face where you want it. Some versions of Facebook also let you pinch to zoom in or out.
Take your time with this step. The frame shows exactly how much of the photo will be visible as your profile picture. Once you're happy with the position, click or tap the button to save. You cannot adjust the crop after you save, but you can always upload a different photo and try again.
Using a photo that's already on Facebook
If you have already uploaded photos to Facebook—in albums, posts, or your cover photo—you can use one of those as your profile picture without uploading again. Click or tap your profile picture, then select "Choose from Photos" instead of "Upload Photo".
Facebook shows you your recent photos first. You can scroll through albums or use the search to find a specific image. Click the photo you want, crop it if needed, and save. This is faster than uploading if you already have the right image on Facebook.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, Facebook does not delete the old one. Instead, it moves to a folder called "Profile Pictures" on your profile. Only you can see this folder by default, unless you change your privacy settings. You can view all your past profile pictures by going to your profile, clicking "Photos", and selecting the "Profile Pictures" album.
If you want to switch back to an old profile picture, go to that album, click the photo, and select "Make Profile Picture". You do not have to re-upload it. You can also delete old profile pictures from this album if you do not want them saved anymore, though this does not affect anyone's memories or screenshots of the old picture.
Privacy and who can see your new picture
Your profile picture is public by default on Facebook. Anyone who visits your profile can see it, and it appears next to your name in comments, posts, and messages. You cannot make your profile picture private, but you can control who sees your entire profile.
If you want to limit who sees your profile picture, go to your profile settings and adjust who can see your profile overall. You can set it to "Friends Only", "Custom" (to pick specific people), or "Public". Your profile picture visibility follows these same rules. Keep in mind that your profile picture also appears in search results and in the Facebook directory if your settings allow it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to be a photo of you. You can use a pet, landscape, logo, or any other image. Some people use cartoon characters or artwork. The only restriction is that the image cannot violate Facebook's community standards—it cannot be sexually explicit, violent, or hateful.
Why does my new profile picture look blurry or low quality?
Facebook compresses images to save space on its servers. If your original photo is very large or high resolution, Facebook shrinks it down. Upload a photo that is at least 400 pixels wide for the best quality. If the image still looks blurry after you save, try uploading a different photo or a higher-resolution version of the same image.
How long does it take for my new profile picture to show up everywhere?
Your profile picture updates when ready on your profile page and in your profile menu. It may take a few minutes to appear next to your name in comments, posts, and messages across Facebook, but usually it shows up within seconds. If you do not see it after a few minutes, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app.
Can I schedule a profile picture change for a future date?
Facebook does not have a built-in scheduling feature for profile pictures. Your new picture goes live as soon as you save it. If you want to change it on a specific date, you will need to do it manually at that time.
What if I accidentally deleted my profile picture?
Go to your "Profile Pictures" album and select any old profile picture. Click "Make Profile Picture" to restore it. If you have no old pictures saved, upload a new one. You always need at least one profile picture on Facebook.