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 pencil icon or menu will appear. Click or tap that icon, then select "Upload Photo" or "Choose from Photos." Pick your new image, position it how you want, and click "Save."

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. You can change your cover photo as often as you want, and only you and your friends will see the change happen — it won't clutter anyone's news feed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your cover photo is the wide banner at the top of your profile, above your profile picture.
  • On a computer, hover over the cover photo to see the pencil icon; on a phone, tap the cover photo directly.
  • You can upload a new photo from your device or choose one you've already posted to Facebook.
  • Facebook recommends cover photos that are at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall to avoid blurry stretching.
  • You can change your cover photo as many times as you want, and the change is when ready.

Uploading a photo from your device

When you click the pencil icon and choose "Upload Photo," Facebook opens a file browser. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved — usually Pictures, Downloads, or a camera roll folder. Select the photo you want and click "Open." Facebook will load the image and show you a preview.

You'll see a frame overlay on the photo showing what will actually appear as your cover. You can drag the image around inside that frame to position it exactly how you want it. Once you're happy with the position, click "Save" at the bottom right. The new cover photo goes live when ready.

Choosing a photo you've already posted

Instead of uploading a new file, you can use any photo you've already shared on Facebook. Click the pencil icon and select "Choose from Photos." Facebook shows you a grid of photos you've posted. Scroll through and click the one you want to use as your cover.

This is useful if you want to feature a photo that's already part of your Facebook history without uploading it twice. You can still reposition it in the frame before saving, just like with a new upload.

Getting the right photo size and dimensions

Facebook works best with cover photos that are at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall. If your photo is smaller than that, Facebook will stretch it to fit, which can make it look blurry or pixelated. Most modern phone cameras and digital cameras take photos that are large enough, so this is rarely a problem.

The cover photo area is much wider than it is tall — roughly 2.6 times wider. If you use a portrait-oriented photo (taller than it is wide), Facebook will crop it heavily and you'll lose most of the image. Landscape photos work much better. If you're unsure whether a photo will work, upload it and look at the preview before you save.

Changing your cover on a mobile phone

On iPhone or Android, open the Facebook app and go to your profile by tapping your name at the bottom of the screen. Tap your cover photo directly — not the pencil icon, just the photo itself. A menu will pop up with options to "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo."

If you choose "Upload Photo," your phone's camera roll or file browser opens. Select the image and position it in the frame. If you choose "Choose Photo," Facebook shows you photos you've already posted. Either way, tap "Save" when you're done. The process is the same as on a computer, just with touch controls instead of a mouse.

Removing or hiding your cover photo

If you want to remove your cover photo entirely, click the pencil icon and look for a "Delete" or "Remove" option. Not all versions of Facebook show this option — some only let you replace it with a new one. If you can't find a delete option, you can upload a solid-color image instead, or straightforward leave your current cover in place.

Your cover photo is always visible to anyone who visits your profile, including people who aren't your friends. If you want to hide it from certain people, you'll need to adjust your profile privacy settings, but that's a separate process from changing the photo itself.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the pencil icon doesn't appear when you hover over your cover photo, make sure you're on your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change your own cover photo. If you're on your profile and still don't see the icon, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.

If your photo looks blurry or stretched after you save it, the image was probably too small. Delete it and try again with a larger photo — aim for at least 820 pixels wide. If the photo is cropped in a way you don't like, click the pencil icon again, select "Edit," and reposition the image in the frame before saving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see when I change my cover photo?

No. Unlike profile picture changes, cover photo changes don't show up in your friends' news feeds or activity logs. Only people who visit your profile directly will see the new cover photo.

What file types can I use for a cover photo?

Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. Most photos from your phone or camera are already in one of these formats. If you're unsure, JPG is the safest choice — it's the most common format and works on every device.

Can I use a video as my cover photo?

No. Facebook cover photos must be still images. However, you can upload a video to your profile separately, and some profile themes include video backgrounds, but the cover photo itself is always a static image.

Will changing my cover photo affect my privacy settings?

No. Your cover photo visibility is controlled by your overall profile privacy settings, not by the photo itself. If your profile is public, your cover photo is public. If your profile is private, only your friends see it. Changing the photo doesn't change who can see it.

Can I schedule a cover photo change for a specific time?

No. Facebook doesn't have a scheduling feature for cover photos. The change happens when ready when you click save. If you want to change it at a specific time, you'll need to do it manually at that moment.