Change Your Profile Picture in Four Steps
To change your profile picture on Facebook, tap or click your profile icon in the top left or top right corner, select "Profile," then click the camera icon over your current photo. Choose "Upload Photo" to pick a new image from your device, or "Take Photo" to use your camera right now. Once you've selected or taken the photo, crop it to frame your face, then tap "Use This Photo" to save it.
The new picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments, messages, and friend lists. Facebook keeps your old profile pictures in an album called "Profile Pictures" so you can switch back to any previous photo without re-uploading it.
Key Takeaways
- Your profile icon is in the top corner of Facebook — tap it and select "Profile" to reach the section where you can change your picture.
- The camera icon appears directly over your current profile photo and opens options to upload a new image or take one with your device camera.
- You can crop the photo before saving it, which lets you zoom in on your face or adjust the frame to show what you want.
- Facebook stores all your old profile pictures in a "Profile Pictures" album, so you can restore a previous photo anytime without uploading it again.
- Your new profile picture shows up right away across your profile, comments, messages, and anywhere your name appears on the site.
Finding Your Profile Picture on Mobile
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and look for your profile icon — it's usually a small circle with your current picture in it, located at the bottom right of the screen (iPhone) or top right (Android). Tap it once to open your profile menu.
From the menu, tap "Profile" to go to your full profile page. At the top of your profile, you'll see your cover photo and below it your profile picture. Tap the camera icon that appears over your profile picture — it's a small circle with a camera symbol inside.
Finding Your Profile Picture on a Computer
On a desktop or laptop, click the small circle with your profile picture in the top right corner of any Facebook page. A dropdown menu appears with several options. Click "Profile" to go to your profile page.
Once you're on your profile, look at the top left section where your profile picture displays. Hover your mouse over the picture until a camera icon appears in the bottom right corner of the photo. Click that camera icon to open the upload menu.
Uploading a Photo From Your Device
After you click the camera icon, Facebook shows you two main options: "Upload Photo" and "Take Photo." Click or tap "Upload Photo" to browse files on your phone or computer.
Your device's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved — usually "Photos," "Pictures," or "Downloads." Select the photo you want and tap or click "Open." Facebook then shows you the image and asks you to crop it.
Use your finger or mouse to drag the corners of the crop box to frame your face the way you want it. You can zoom in or out by pinching on a phone or scrolling on a computer. When the frame looks right, tap or click "Use This Photo" to save it as your new profile picture.
Taking a New Photo With Your Camera
If you choose "Take Photo" instead of uploading, Facebook opens your device's camera app. On a phone, you'll see a live view of what the camera sees. Position your face in the frame and tap the circle button to take the picture.
After you take the photo, Facebook shows it to you and lets you crop it the same way as an uploaded photo. Adjust the frame to show your face the way you want, then tap "Use This Photo." The picture becomes your profile photo right away.
On a computer, "Take Photo" works only if your computer has a built-in or connected camera. Most desktop computers don't have cameras, so this option may not appear for you.
Finding and Restoring Old Profile Pictures
Facebook automatically saves every profile picture you've ever used in an album called "Profile Pictures." To view them, go to your profile and look for the "Photos" section. Click or tap "Photos," then look for the album labeled "Profile Pictures."
Open that album to see all your previous profile pictures in order from newest to oldest. Hover over or tap any old photo, and a menu appears with the option "Make Profile Picture." Click or tap that option to restore the photo as your current profile picture without having to upload it again.
This is useful if you want to go back to a photo you used months or years ago, or if you want to cycle between a few favorite pictures without uploading them each time.
What Happens After You Change Your Picture
Your new profile picture shows up when ready across Facebook. It appears on your profile, in your comments on other people's posts, in your messages, in friend lists, and anywhere else your name is tagged or mentioned.
Your friends see the new picture right away — there's no delay. If you change your picture multiple times in a day, each change is visible to everyone when ready. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your profile picture, so they'll notice it only if they visit your profile or see you comment on something.
If you want to hide your profile picture from certain people, you can adjust your privacy settings. Go to your profile, click the three dots next to "Edit Profile," select "Settings," then "Privacy," and adjust who can see your profile picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that's not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to be a photo of you. Many people use photos of pets, artwork, logos, or anything else. However, Facebook's community standards say profile pictures should not contain nudity, violence, hate speech, or other prohibited content.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically resizes your photo to fit the profile picture space, so you don't need to worry about exact dimensions. Photos that are at least 400 by 400 pixels work best and will look sharp on all devices, but Facebook accepts smaller photos and enlarges them if needed.
Can I delete my profile picture?
You cannot completely remove your profile picture — Facebook requires every account to have one. However, you can replace it with a blank image, a solid color, or any other photo you want. If you want to hide your picture from certain people, adjust your privacy settings instead of deleting it.
Why does my profile picture look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens when the original photo is very small or low resolution. Try uploading a larger photo — at least 400 by 400 pixels — or taking a new photo with a better camera. Avoid cropping the photo too much, as that can reduce the quality.
Can I see when someone changed their profile picture?
Facebook does not send notifications when someone changes their profile picture, and there's no activity log showing profile picture changes to other users. You can only see the change if you visit their profile or if they appear in your feed.