Where to find the photo change option on Facebook
To change your profile picture or cover photo on Facebook, go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on the site. Once you're on your profile page, you'll see your current profile picture in the top left area and your cover photo stretched across the top of the page. Hover your mouse over either image, and a camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner of that photo. Click the camera icon to open the menu for changing that specific image.
On mobile, the process is nearly identical. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap your name to go to your profile, then tap the camera icon that appears over your current profile picture or cover photo.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture or cover photo by clicking the camera icon that appears when you hover over either image on your profile.
- Facebook lets you upload a new photo from your device, take a photo with your camera, or choose from photos you've already posted.
- Your profile picture appears as a small circle next to your name everywhere on Facebook, while your cover photo is the large banner at the top of your profile.
- You can delete a profile picture or cover photo without uploading a replacement, which will return it to Facebook's default blank image.
- Changes to your profile picture or cover photo are visible to other people based on your privacy settings for those images.
Uploading a photo from your device
After you click the camera icon, Facebook shows you three options: "Upload Photo," "Take Photo," or "Choose from Photos." If you want to use a photo already saved on your computer or phone, click "Upload Photo." A file browser will open where you can navigate to the image you want. Select the photo and click "Open" (or "Choose" on mobile).
Facebook will then show you a preview of how the photo will look as your profile picture or cover photo. For profile pictures, you can drag the image around and use the zoom slider to position it exactly how you want it to appear in the circle. For cover photos, you can adjust the vertical position to choose which part of the image is most visible. Once you're satisfied, click "Save" or "Confirm" to explore the change.
Taking a new photo with your camera
If you want to take a fresh photo instead of uploading an existing one, click the camera icon and select "Take Photo." On a computer, this opens your webcam so you can take a picture right then. On a mobile device, it opens your phone's camera app so you can snap a photo or record a short video.
After you take the photo, Facebook lets you preview it and make adjustments the same way as an uploaded image—positioning it in the circle for a profile picture or choosing which part shows for a cover photo. You can retake the photo as many times as you want before saving.
Choosing from photos you've already posted
The "Choose from Photos" option lets you pick any photo you've already uploaded to Facebook. This is useful if you want to use an old profile picture again or set a photo from one of your albums as your new cover photo without downloading it first. Click this option and Facebook shows you thumbnails of your recent photos. You can scroll through or search by album to find the image you want.
Once you select a photo, you'll get the same preview and adjustment tools. This is often the fastest route if you already have a good photo on Facebook and just want to make it your profile picture or cover photo.
Removing a profile picture or cover photo
If you want to delete your current profile picture or cover photo without uploading a new one, click the camera icon and look for a "Remove" or "Delete" option at the bottom of the menu. Clicking this removes the image and replaces it with Facebook's default blank image—a gray circle for profile pictures or a plain background for cover photos.
You can remove and re-upload photos as many times as you want. There's no limit to how often you change these images, so you can update them whenever you feel like it.
Privacy and visibility of your photo changes
Your profile picture and cover photo are visible to people based on the privacy settings you've chosen for those specific images. By default, your profile picture is visible to everyone on Facebook, but you can change this. After uploading a new profile picture, Facebook asks who should be able to see it—you can choose "Public," "Friends," "Friends Except," or "Only Me."
Cover photos follow the same privacy rules. If you set your cover photo to "Only Me," other people will see a blank cover area when they visit your profile. You can change the privacy of an existing profile picture or cover photo anytime by clicking the audience icon (usually a globe or people icon) that appears on the image itself.
Troubleshooting common issues
If the camera icon doesn't appear when you hover over your profile picture or cover photo, make sure you're logged into your own account—you can only change photos on your own profile, not on other people's profiles. If you're on your own profile and still don't see the camera icon, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache.
If you upload a photo and it looks blurry or stretched, the image file may be too small or in an unusual aspect ratio. Facebook recommends using at least 400 by 400 pixels for profile pictures and 820 by 312 pixels for cover photos. If your photo isn't showing up after you save it, wait a few minutes—sometimes Facebook takes a moment to process and display the change across all devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same photo as both my profile picture and cover photo?
Yes, you can use the same image for both, though they'll be cropped differently since a profile picture is circular and a cover photo is a wide rectangle. Facebook lets you adjust the positioning for each one separately, so you can make the same photo work in both places.
What happens to my old profile picture after I change it?
Your old profile picture stays in your photo albums under "Profile Pictures" so you can see your history of profile photos. Other people can't see this album unless you've made it public, but you can always go back and look at or re-use old profile pictures if you want.
Can I change my profile picture or cover photo on mobile the same way as on a computer?
Yes, the steps are essentially the same on both. Open the Facebook app, go to your profile, tap the camera icon over the photo you want to change, and choose to upload, take, or select a photo. The main difference is that on mobile you'll use your phone's file browser or camera instead of your computer's.
Is there a size limit for profile pictures or cover photos?
Facebook doesn't have a strict file size limit, but very large files may take longer to upload. For best results, use images under 4 MB. Facebook will automatically compress and optimize your photos, so you don't need to do that yourself before uploading.
Can I schedule a profile picture or cover photo change for a future date?
No, Facebook doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature for profile pictures or cover photos. Your changes take effect when ready when you save them. If you want to change your photo on a specific date, you'll need to do it manually at that time.