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 (on desktop) or top right (on mobile). 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 Change. Choose a photo from your device, crop it if you want, and click Save. The new picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments and messages.
If you are on mobile, the steps are the same but the buttons are slightly smaller. Tap your profile picture, then tap the camera icon that appears in the bottom right corner of the circle. This opens your phone's photo library so you can pick an image.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking your current picture and selecting Upload Photo.
- Facebook lets you crop and position the photo before you save it, so you can frame your face the way you want.
- Your new profile picture shows up right away across your entire Facebook account — in your profile, comments, messages, and friend lists.
- You can also upload a temporary profile picture that disappears after 24 hours if you want to test a new look without committing.
- If you delete your profile picture, Facebook shows a blank silhouette instead until you upload a new one.
Using the camera icon for a faster upload
Most phones and computers show a small camera icon overlaid on your profile picture. On desktop, hover over your profile picture and the camera icon appears in the bottom right corner. Click it to open your photo library without navigating through menus.
On mobile, the camera icon is usually visible at all times on your profile picture. Tap it and your phone opens directly to your photo library. This method saves you a step if you already know which photo you want to use.
Cropping and positioning your new picture
After you pick a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a square frame over it. You can drag the frame around to choose which part of the photo appears in your profile picture. You can also pinch to zoom in or out on the image to get the framing exactly right.
Take your time with this step — your profile picture is what people see first when they visit your profile or read your comments. Make sure your face or the main subject is centered and clearly visible. Once you are happy with the crop, click or tap Save to finish.
Uploading a temporary profile picture
Facebook lets you set a profile picture that disappears after 24 hours. This is useful if you want to try a new picture without making a permanent change, or if you want to mark a special occasion without keeping the picture forever.
When you upload a photo, look for an option that says Set as temporary profile picture or Make this temporary. Select it before you save. The picture will automatically revert to your previous profile picture after 24 hours. You can also manually change it back sooner if you change your mind.
What happens when you change your picture
Your new profile picture appears when ready across Facebook. Friends see it in their news feed, it shows up next to your name in comments and messages, and it updates on your profile page right away. People who have you as a friend will see the change, and the old picture disappears from your profile.
Your previous profile pictures are not deleted — they stay in a folder called Profile Pictures in your photos section. You can view them, read them, or set any old picture as your current profile picture again by going to that folder and clicking the picture you want.
Removing your profile picture entirely
If you want to delete your profile picture instead of replacing it, click on your profile picture, then look for a Delete or Remove option. Facebook will show a blank silhouette in place of your picture until you upload a new one.
Removing your picture does not affect your account or any other part of your profile. You can add a new picture back at any time using the same steps as above.
Troubleshooting common picture upload problems
If your new picture does not appear after you save it, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening Facebook. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to show up, especially on mobile.
If the upload button does not work, make sure the photo file is in a common format like JPG or PNG, and that the file size is not too large. Most phones and computers handle this automatically, but very old or very large files can cause problems. If you are still having trouble, try uploading from a different device or browser.
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. However, Facebook's community standards do prohibit certain types of images, such as nudity or graphic violence, so keep that in mind when choosing.
Will my old profile picture stay visible anywhere after I change it?
Your old picture disappears from your profile and from next to your name in comments and messages. However, it stays in your Profile Pictures album in your photos section, and people who took screenshots of it will still have those screenshots. Facebook does not remove old pictures from other people's devices.
How often can I change my profile picture?
You can change your profile picture as many times as you want with no limit. There is no waiting period between changes. If you change it multiple times in a day, each new picture replaces the last one when ready.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically resizes your photo to fit the profile picture space, so you do not need to resize it yourself. The platform works with photos of any size or shape. Just make sure the part you want visible is centered in the frame before you save.
Can I change my profile picture on Facebook Messenger?
No. You have to change your profile picture through the main Facebook app or website. Messenger uses the same profile picture as your Facebook account, but you cannot edit it directly in Messenger. Open Facebook, go to your profile, and change it there.