The quickest way to change your cover photo

Open Facebook on your computer or phone and go to your profile. Look for your current cover photo at the top of your profile — it's the wide banner image above your profile picture. Hover your mouse over the cover photo (on computer) or tap it (on phone), and a camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner. Click or tap that icon, then choose whether you want to upload a new photo from your device, select one you've already posted, or use a photo from Facebook's library. Once you pick your image, you can adjust the position by dragging it around, then click "Save" or "Done."

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need special permissions or admin access — anyone can change their own cover photo at any time.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon appears when you hover over or tap your current cover photo, located at the top of your profile above your picture.
  • You can upload a new photo from your computer or phone, pick one from your past posts, or choose from Facebook's stock images.
  • After selecting an image, you can reposition it by dragging before you save — this is useful if the photo crops in a way you don't like.
  • Cover photos can be changed as often as you want, and only you control who sees it based on your privacy settings.

Uploading a photo from your device

When you click the camera icon and select "Upload Photo," your device's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved — usually Pictures, Downloads, or a folder you created. Select the photo you want and click "Open." Facebook will upload it and show you a preview.

Before you save, you'll see the image positioned on your profile. If it's cropped in a way you don't like — for example, if an important part of the photo is cut off at the top or bottom — drag the image up or down to reposition it. The cover photo area is wide and short (about 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on computer), so tall photos often need adjustment. Once the positioning looks right, click "Save."

Choosing a photo you've already posted

If you want to use a photo that's already on your Facebook profile, click the camera icon and select "Choose from Photos." This opens a gallery of images you've posted. Scroll through and click the one you want. Facebook will show you how it looks as a cover photo, and you can reposition it the same way as an uploaded image.

This option is useful if you want to feature a photo that's already gotten comments or reactions, or if you want to use an old photo without uploading it again. You can also browse photos from your albums by clicking the album name on the left side of the gallery.

Using Facebook's stock images

Facebook offers a library of free stock photos you can use as a cover. Click the camera icon and select "Choose from Stock Images." You'll see categories like Nature, Textures, Patterns, and Seasonal. Browse through the options and click any image to preview it on your profile.

These images are generic and professional-looking, which can be useful if you want a clean, straightforward cover without personal photos. You can still reposition them before saving. Stock images don't require you to own the copyright, so there's no risk of using someone else's photo by mistake.

Adjusting privacy for your cover photo

Your cover photo is visible to anyone who visits your profile, based on your overall profile privacy settings. If your profile is public, your cover photo is public. If your profile is set to friends-only, only your friends see the cover photo. You cannot set privacy for the cover photo separately from your profile — it follows the same rules.

To check your profile privacy, click the three-line menu at the top right of Facebook, select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." Look for "Privacy" on the left side. You'll see options like "Public," "Friends," or "Friends Except." Choose the level that matches what you want people to see. Your cover photo will follow that setting automatically.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is uploading a photo that's too tall or too narrow. Facebook's cover photo area is much wider than it is tall, so portrait-oriented photos (taller than they are wide) will be heavily cropped. Landscape photos (wider than they are tall) work much better. If you're taking a new photo specifically for your cover, hold your phone or camera horizontally.

Another mistake is not checking how the photo looks before saving. Always look at the preview and reposition the image if needed — you can't adjust it after you save without uploading the photo again. If you save a photo and realize it's cropped wrong, just click the camera icon again, select the same photo, and reposition it.

On mobile phones, the process is the same but the screen is smaller. Make sure you can see the full preview before tapping "Done," because it's straightforward to miss that part of your image is cut off when you're looking at a small screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my cover photo on my phone?

Yes. Tap your cover photo, tap the camera icon, and follow the same steps as on a computer. The process is identical — you can upload, choose from your posts, or pick a stock image. The only difference is the screen size, so make sure you check the preview carefully before saving.

What size should my cover photo be?

Facebook recommends 820 by 312 pixels for the best quality on computer. On mobile, the dimensions are slightly different but Facebook automatically adjusts. If your photo is smaller than 400 by 150 pixels, Facebook may blur it. Larger photos work fine — Facebook will resize them automatically.

Can I delete my cover photo without uploading a new one?

No. Facebook requires a cover photo on your profile. You can replace it with a blank or solid-color image if you want a minimal look, but you cannot remove the cover photo area entirely. You can upload a plain white or black image as a workaround.

Will my old cover photos be saved somewhere?

Yes. When you change your cover photo, the old one is saved in a "Cover Photos" album on your profile. You can view this album by going to your Photos section and looking for "Cover Photos" in the list. You can reuse any old cover photo by selecting it from this album instead of uploading a new image.

Does changing my cover photo notify my friends?

No. Changing your cover photo does not send a notification to your friends or post anything to their feed. Only people who visit your profile will see the new cover photo. It's a silent change that doesn't create activity on your timeline.