The quickest way to change your profile photo
Open Facebook on your phone or computer and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture. Click or tap the camera icon that appears over your current profile photo — it sits in the bottom right corner of the image. Select Upload Photo to choose a file from your device, or Take Photo if you want to use your camera right now. Once you pick or take the photo, you can crop it, adjust the frame, and then click Save.
The whole process takes under a minute. Your new photo appears on your profile when ready, and everyone on your friends list will see it has changed — though they won't get a notification unless they happen to visit your profile.
Key Takeaways
- Click the camera icon over your current profile photo to start the change process on both phone and desktop.
- You can upload a photo from your device, take a new one with your camera, or choose from photos you have already posted.
- Facebook lets you crop and reposition the photo before you save it, so you can frame your face the way you want.
- Your profile photo changes when ready, and the old one moves to your photo albums so you can restore it later if you change your mind.
Uploading a photo from your phone or computer
When you tap or click the camera icon, Facebook shows you three options: Upload Photo, Take Photo, and Choose from Photos. If you already have a photo saved on your device that you want to use, select Upload Photo. Your phone or computer will open your file browser, and you can navigate to the folder where the photo is stored.
Once you select the photo, Facebook opens an editing screen. You can pinch to zoom in or out on your phone, or use your mouse wheel on a computer, to frame your face the way you want it. The app shows you a circle or square outline depending on your device — that outline is what other people will see as your profile photo. Drag the photo around inside the frame until you are happy with how it looks, then tap or click Save.
Taking a new photo with your camera
If you want to take a fresh photo instead of uploading an old one, tap or click Take Photo from the camera menu. Facebook will ask permission to use your device's camera — you may need to allow this in your phone or computer settings if you have not done so before. Once you give permission, the camera app opens and you can frame yourself in the viewfinder.
Take the photo, and Facebook will show it to you for approval. If you like it, proceed to the cropping screen where you can adjust the frame just as you would with an uploaded photo. If you do not like it, go back and take another one. You can take as many as you need before you save.
Choosing from photos you have already posted
Facebook stores every photo you have ever posted in your photo albums. If you want to use one of those as your profile photo without uploading it again, select Choose from Photos from the camera menu. Facebook shows you your most recent albums first, usually starting with photos you posted in the last few months.
Scroll through your albums to find the photo you want. Once you select it, you go through the same cropping and framing screen as with any other photo. This option is useful if you have a photo you posted years ago that you want to bring back as your profile picture — you do not have to hunt through your device's files to find it.
What happens to your old profile photo
When you save a new profile photo, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically moves it to a special album called Profile Pictures, which only you can see unless you change your privacy settings. You can visit this album anytime to see all the profile photos you have used over the years.
If you change your mind about your new photo and want to go back to an old one, open your Profile Pictures album, click or tap the photo you want to restore, and select Make Profile Picture. This puts it back as your main profile photo without deleting the one you just changed from. You can switch between old photos as many times as you want.
Privacy and who can see your profile photo
Your profile photo is visible to everyone on Facebook by default — even people who are not your friends can see it. If you want to limit who sees your profile photo, go to your profile, click the three dots next to your name, and select Edit Profile. Scroll down to the profile photo section and look for privacy settings. You can change it to Friends Only or Only Me if you prefer.
Keep in mind that your profile photo appears next to your name whenever you comment on a post or join a group, so some visibility is unavoidable. If you want complete privacy, you can use a generic image or a photo that does not show your face, but Facebook does not require you to use your real photo at all.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the camera icon does not appear over your profile photo, make sure you are logged into your own account — you can only change your own profile photo, not someone else's. If you are on your profile and the icon still does not show, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app.
If your photo uploads but looks blurry or pixelated, the original file may be too small or low quality. Facebook works best with photos that are at least 400 pixels wide. If you took the photo with an older phone or a low-resolution camera, consider taking a new one with a better device. If you are uploading from your computer, check that the file is not compressed or reduced in size before you upload it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile photo on the Facebook app and the website?
Yes. The process is the same on both. Open your profile, tap or click the camera icon, and follow the same steps. Changes you make on your phone appear on the website when ready, and vice versa.
How often can I change my profile photo?
You can change it as many times as you want, as often as you want. There is no limit. Facebook keeps all your old profile photos in your Profile Pictures album so you can switch back to them anytime.
What file types does Facebook accept for profile photos?
Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. Most photos from phones and cameras are already in one of these formats. If you have a photo in a different format, you can convert it using free online tools before you upload it.
Will my friends get notified when I change my profile photo?
No, Facebook does not send notifications when you change your profile photo. Your friends will only see the change if they visit your profile or if the new photo appears in their feed through other activity.
Can I use a photo that is not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. You can use any photo you want — a landscape, an object, a pet, or anything else. Facebook does not require you to use a photo of yourself, though many people do.