The quickest way to change your Facebook photo

Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. Click the camera icon that appears over your current profile picture, then select Upload Photo to choose a new image from your device, or Take a Photo if you want to use your camera right now. Facebook will let you crop and position the image before you confirm. Once you click Save, the change appears on your profile and in your friends' feeds when ready.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds on a phone or computer. You can change your profile picture as often as you want, and Facebook keeps a record of your past pictures in case you want to revert to an older one.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the camera icon over your current profile picture to open the photo upload menu.
  • 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 image before you save it.
  • Your new profile picture shows up on your profile and in your friends' feeds right away.
  • You can view and restore any of your past profile pictures from the same menu.

Uploading a photo from your phone or computer

On a phone, tap your profile picture or name at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or top left (Android). Tap the camera icon over your current picture, then tap Upload Photo. Your phone will open your photo library. Select the image you want and tap Next. Facebook will show you a preview where you can pinch to zoom, drag to reposition, and rotate if needed. Tap Save when you are happy with how it looks.

On a computer, click your profile picture in the top left, then click the camera icon over your current photo. Click Upload Photo and select a file from your computer. A preview window will open where you can drag the image to center it and adjust the zoom. Click Save to finish.

Taking a new photo with your camera

If you want to take a fresh picture instead of uploading an old one, tap or click the camera icon over your profile picture and select Take a Photo. Your device will open the camera app. Take your picture, review it, and confirm. Facebook will then let you crop and position it the same way it does with uploaded photos.

On some phones, you may need to give Facebook permission to use your camera the first time you do this. If a permission prompt appears, tap Allow or OK.

Choosing from photos you have already posted

You do not have to upload or take a new picture. When you click the camera icon, you will see an option to Choose from Photos or Select Photo. This opens your photo albums and lets you pick any image you have posted before. This is useful if you want to go back to an old profile picture or use a photo that is already on your timeline.

Scroll through your albums, tap or click the photo you want, and Facebook will let you crop it before you save.

Cropping and positioning your new picture

After you select or take a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a circular or square frame (depending on your device). You can pinch your screen to zoom in or out, or drag the image to move it around inside the frame. The goal is to center your face or the part of the photo you want people to see.

Take your time with this step — a well-positioned picture looks much better on your profile. Once you are satisfied, tap or click Save and the picture goes live.

Viewing and restoring old profile pictures

Facebook keeps a history of every profile picture you have used. To see them, click the camera icon over your current picture and look for See All Photos or View Profile Pictures. A gallery will open showing your past pictures in reverse order, with the most recent first.

If you want to use an old picture again, click or tap it and select Set as Profile Picture. You can restore any picture from your history without uploading it again. This is handy if you change your mind or want to cycle back to a photo your friends liked.

What happens when you change your picture

When you save a new profile picture, it appears on your profile when ready and shows up in your friends' feeds as a notification. The change is public by default, meaning anyone who visits your profile will see the new picture. If you have limited who can see your profile, only those people will see the update.

Your old profile picture does not disappear — it stays in your photo history and on any posts where it was tagged or mentioned. Only your current profile picture changes across your profile and in search results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture on the Facebook app and the website?

Yes, the process is the same on both. Changes you make on your phone will show up on the website and vice versa, because they are linked to the same account. You only need to change it once.

What image formats does Facebook accept?

Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. Most photos from phones and cameras are already in one of these formats. If you have an unusual file type, your device or computer will usually let you convert it before you upload.

Can I undo a profile picture change?

Yes. Click the camera icon over your current picture, select See All Photos or View Profile Pictures, find the picture you want, and tap or click Set as Profile Picture. You can restore any picture from your history at any time.

Will my old profile picture still appear in my posts and comments?

No. Your profile picture updates everywhere automatically. Old posts and comments will show your new picture, not the one you used when you posted them. The old picture only stays visible in your profile picture history.

Can I make my profile picture private so only certain people see it?

Your profile picture is always public and cannot be hidden from specific people. However, if you have limited who can see your profile overall, only those people will see your picture when they visit your profile page.