The fastest way to change your Facebook cover photo

Open Facebook on your computer or phone, go to your profile, and click or tap the camera icon that appears in the bottom right corner of your current cover photo. Select Upload Photo from the menu, choose an image from your device, position it the way you want, and click Save. The whole process takes about a minute.

On a phone, the steps are identical — the camera icon appears in the same spot whether you use iPhone or Android. On a computer, you can also drag and drop a photo directly onto your cover image if your browser supports it, though the menu method works on every device and browser.

Your cover photo is public by default. Anyone who visits your profile will see it, even if they are not your friend. You can change this in your privacy settings if you want to limit who sees it.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon in the bottom right corner of your cover photo is the fastest way to upload a new one on any device.
  • Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files, and recommends a minimum width of 820 pixels for the best appearance.
  • You can reposition your photo after uploading to show the part of the image you want centered on your profile.
  • Your cover photo is visible to everyone by default, but you can restrict visibility to friends only in your privacy settings.

Step-by-step instructions for computer

Log into Facebook and navigate to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll to the top of your profile page where your cover photo appears. Hover your mouse over the cover image until a camera icon with a plus sign appears in the bottom right corner — this usually takes a second or two.

Click the camera icon. A dropdown menu will show two options: Upload Photo and Choose from Photos. Click Upload Photo to select a new image from your computer. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved, select it, and click Open.

After you select your photo, Facebook will show you a preview with a rectangular frame overlaid on the image. You can drag the image around inside this frame to position it — for example, if the top of your photo is cut off and you want to center a face instead, drag the image down. Once you are satisfied with the position, click Save in the bottom right corner.

Step-by-step instructions for phone

Open the Facebook app and tap your profile icon in the bottom navigation bar (on iPhone) or the menu icon in the bottom right (on Android). Scroll to the top of your profile where your cover photo appears. Tap the camera icon in the bottom right corner of the cover image.

A menu will appear with options including Upload Photo and Choose from Photos. Tap Upload Photo to browse photos on your phone. Your phone's photo library will open. Select the photo you want to use as your cover. Facebook will show you a preview with a frame overlay so you can reposition the image if needed.

Drag the image to position it the way you want, then tap Save at the bottom of the screen. Your new cover photo will appear on your profile when ready. If you change your mind, you can repeat these steps at any time to upload a different photo.

Photo size and format requirements

Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files for cover photos. The platform recommends an image that is at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall, though larger images will display better on desktop computers and tablets. If your image is smaller than these dimensions, Facebook will still accept it, but it may appear blurry or stretched.

The cover photo area displays differently depending on the device. On a desktop computer, the cover spans the full width of your profile and shows more of the image vertically. On a phone, the cover is narrower and taller, so the top and bottom of your image may be cut off. When you upload a photo, you can reposition it to show the part that matters most.

File size is not usually a problem — Facebook compresses images automatically. A photo that is several megabytes will upload without issue. If you are uploading a very large file and the upload stalls, try a smaller version of the same image.

Repositioning your cover photo after upload

After you upload a new cover photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a rectangular frame. This frame represents the area that will actually display on your profile. Anything outside the frame will be hidden. You can drag the image up, down, left, or right to choose which part shows.

This is useful if your photo has important details — a face, a landmark, text — that are positioned near the edges. For example, if you upload a landscape photo and the best part is on the left side, drag the image to the right so the left side moves into the visible frame. You can reposition the photo as many times as you want before clicking Save.

If you save the photo and later decide you want to reposition it without uploading a new image, click the camera icon again and select Edit instead of Upload Photo. This lets you adjust the position of your current cover without replacing it.

Changing your cover photo privacy settings

By default, your cover photo is visible to everyone on Facebook, including people who are not your friends. If you want to limit who can see it, go to your profile and click the three dots in the top right corner of your cover photo. Select Edit Privacy from the menu.

A dropdown will appear with privacy options: Public (everyone can see it), Friends (only your friends can see it), or Only Me (only you can see it). Select the option you prefer and click outside the menu to save. Your choice applies only to the cover photo — your other profile information may have different privacy settings.

Keep in mind that changing your cover photo privacy does not affect who can see your profile itself. If your profile is public, people can still visit it and see your name, profile picture, and other public information — they just will not see your cover photo if you restrict it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as my Facebook cover photo?

No, Facebook cover photos must be still images. You can upload a JPG, PNG, or GIF file, but not a video file. If you want to use a video on your profile, you can post it to your timeline instead, where it will appear as a regular post that people can play and share.

What happens to my old cover photo when I upload a new one?

Your old cover photo is replaced when ready. Facebook does not keep a history of your previous cover photos on your profile. However, if you posted the image to your timeline at some point, it will still appear there. You can always re-upload an old cover photo if you remember what it looked like.

Why does my cover photo look blurry or stretched?

This usually means your image is smaller than Facebook's recommended size of 820 by 312 pixels. Facebook will stretch a smaller image to fit the cover area, which makes it look pixelated. Upload a larger version of the same photo, or use a different image that is at least 820 pixels wide.

Can I add text or graphics to my cover photo before uploading?

Facebook does not have a built-in editor for cover photos. You can edit your image using any photo app on your phone or computer — add text, filters, or graphics — and then upload the edited version to Facebook. Many free apps like Canva or Pixlr let you add text and designs to photos before saving them.

Does changing my cover photo notify my friends?

No, changing your cover photo does not send a notification to your friends. However, if your profile is public or visible to friends, they may see the change if they visit your profile. It will not appear in their news feed or generate any alert.