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 (phone) or top right (desktop). 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, crop it if you want, and click Save. The change takes effect when ready.
On mobile, the process is nearly identical. Tap your profile picture, then tap the camera icon that appears in the corner. Choose Upload Photo, select your image, adjust the crop, and confirm. Desktop and mobile both let you upload from your computer, phone storage, or use a photo you have already posted to Facebook.
Your profile picture shows up next to your name in comments, posts, and messages. When you change it, the old picture disappears from your profile but stays in your photo albums under "Profile Pictures" — you can delete it from there if you want, or leave it for your own records.
Key Takeaways
- Click or tap your current profile picture, then select Upload Photo to choose a new one from your device.
- You can crop the image before saving, and the change appears on your profile right away.
- Your old profile picture moves to a "Profile Pictures" album and stays there unless you delete it.
- The new picture shows up next to your name in all your comments, posts, and messages across Facebook.
- You can change your profile picture as often as you want with no limit.
Where to find the upload button on desktop
On a computer, go to your profile page and look at the top left area where your profile picture appears in a circle. Hover your mouse over the picture — a camera icon and the words Update Profile Picture will appear. Click anywhere on that area and a menu opens with three choices: Upload Photo, Choose from Photos, or Take a Photo.
Upload Photo lets you pick a new image from your computer's files. Choose from Photos shows pictures you have already posted to Facebook or uploaded before — this is faster if you want to use a photo that is already on your account. Take a Photo only works if your computer has a webcam and you want to take a picture right then.
After you pick your image, Facebook opens a crop tool. You can drag the circle around to frame your face or the part of the photo you want to show. When you are happy with how it looks, click Save at the bottom right. The picture updates on your profile within seconds.
How to change your profile picture on a phone
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right on Android or top right on iPhone. Tap your name to go to your profile. At the top, you will see your profile picture in a circle. Tap it, then tap the camera icon that appears in the bottom right corner of the picture.
A menu appears with options to Upload Photo, Choose from Photos, or Take Photo. Upload Photo opens your phone's photo library so you can pick any image saved on your device. Choose from Photos shows pictures already on your Facebook account. Take Photo uses your phone's camera to take a new picture on the spot.
Once you pick an image, the crop screen appears. Pinch to zoom in or out, and drag the circle to frame the part you want. Tap Save when you are done. The new picture replaces your old one when ready, and everyone on Facebook sees the change right away.
Using a photo you have already posted
If you want to use a picture that is already on your Facebook account, choose Choose from Photos instead of Upload Photo. This opens a gallery of images you have posted or uploaded before. Scroll through and tap the one you want. You can still crop it before saving.
This option is useful if you have posted a good photo before and do not want to upload the same file twice. Facebook keeps track of every photo you have ever posted, so even pictures from years ago are available here. The photo does not have to be from your own album — you can use a picture someone tagged you in, as long as you have permission to use it.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, the old one does not disappear completely. Facebook automatically moves it to an album called Profile Pictures, which only you can see unless you change the privacy settings. You can view all your past profile pictures by going to your profile, clicking Photos, and then selecting the Profile Pictures album.
You can delete an old profile picture from this album if you do not want to keep it. Right-click the picture (desktop) or tap and hold (phone), then select Delete. Once deleted, it is gone from your account. You can also read any old profile picture before deleting it if you want to save it to your computer.
Some people keep their old profile pictures for memories or to track how they have changed over time. There is no penalty for keeping them, and they do not take up your storage limit on Facebook. The choice is entirely yours.
Cropping and sizing your new picture
Facebook shows your profile picture as a circle, so the crop tool reflects that shape. When you upload an image, the crop screen lets you move and resize the circle to frame the part of the photo you want visible. Drag the circle around the image to position it, and pinch or drag the edges to make it bigger or smaller.
The picture you upload can be any size, but Facebook works best with images that are at least 400 pixels wide and 400 pixels tall. If your image is smaller, it may look blurry when enlarged. Most phone cameras and modern digital cameras produce images large enough, so this is rarely a problem in practice.
You can change your crop after you save if you are not happy with it. Go back to your profile picture, click or tap it, and select Edit or Update Profile Picture. Choose Edit Crop to adjust the frame without uploading a new image.
Privacy and who can see your profile picture
Your profile picture is public by default — anyone on Facebook or the internet can see it, even if they are not your friend. Facebook uses your profile picture in search results, next to your comments, and in other places across the platform. If you want to limit who sees it, go to your profile settings and adjust the privacy level for your profile picture.
To change this on desktop, click the three dots next to Update Profile Picture and select Edit Privacy. You can set it to Public (everyone), Friends (only your friends), or Only Me (just you). On mobile, tap the three dots on your profile picture and select Edit Privacy. Keep in mind that even if you set it to Friends Only, your friends can still screenshot it or share it elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a picture that is not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to show your face. You can use a photo of a pet, a landscape, a logo, or anything else. Some people use artwork or symbols instead of photos. The only rule is that your profile picture cannot contain nudity, violence, or hate speech — Facebook will remove it if it does.
How often can I change my profile picture?
You can change it as often as you want with no limit. Some people change it daily, others keep the same one for years. Each time you change it, the old picture moves to your Profile Pictures album and stays there unless you delete it.
What if I accidentally deleted my profile picture?
You can restore it from your Profile Pictures album. Go to your profile, click Photos, select Profile Pictures, find the picture you want, and click it. Then click the three dots and select Make Profile Picture. If you deleted it from that album too, you can upload it again from your computer if you still have the file.
Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?
No, Facebook does not send a notification when you change your profile picture. Your friends will see the new picture when they visit your profile or see you in their feed, but they are not alerted that you made a change. Some people may notice on their own, but there is no automatic notification.
Can I set different profile pictures for different audiences?
No. You have one profile picture, and everyone who can see your profile sees the same one. You can control who sees your profile picture by changing its privacy settings, but you cannot show different pictures to different groups of friends.