Change your profile picture from your phone or computer

To change your Facebook profile picture, tap or click your profile icon in the top left corner, then select "Profile." On the next screen, hover over or tap your current profile picture and choose "Upload Photo" or "Change." Select a photo from your device, crop it if you want, and tap "Save." The new picture appears across Facebook within seconds — on your timeline, in comments, in messages, and next to your name everywhere on the site.

The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer. The buttons and menu names stay consistent across all versions. If you are using the Facebook app on iPhone or Android, the steps are identical to the mobile website version.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile picture updates when ready across all of Facebook — your timeline, comments, messages, and search results all show the new image within seconds.
  • You can upload a photo from your device, take a new photo with your camera, or choose from photos you have already posted on Facebook.
  • Facebook lets you crop and position your photo before saving, so you can frame your face exactly how you want it.
  • Your old profile pictures stay in a folder called "Profile Pictures" that only you can see unless you change the privacy setting.
  • You can change your profile picture as often as you want — there is no limit to how many times per day or per week.

Step-by-step instructions for the Facebook app

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Tap your name at the top of the menu. You will see your profile with your current picture at the top.

Tap directly on your profile picture. A menu will appear with three options: "Take Photo," "Upload Photo," or "Choose Photo." Tap "Upload Photo" to pick a photo already saved on your phone, or "Take Photo" to use your camera right now. If you choose "Upload Photo," your phone's photo library opens — find the photo you want and tap it.

After you select a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a square frame around your face or the part of the image you want visible. Drag the photo to move it around inside the frame, or pinch to zoom in and out. When the framing looks right, tap "Save" or "Next" (the button name varies by phone type). Your new profile picture is live.

Step-by-step instructions on a computer

Log into Facebook and look for your profile icon in the top left corner of the page — it is usually a small circle with your current picture. Click it and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.

On your profile page, move your mouse over your profile picture in the upper left. A camera icon and the words "Update Profile Picture" or "Change Picture" will appear. Click that button. A menu opens with options to "Upload Photo," "Choose Photo," or "Take Photo" (if your computer has a camera).

Click "Upload Photo" and a file browser opens on your computer. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, click the photo, and click "Open." Facebook shows you the photo with a square crop box. Click and drag the photo to position it, or use the zoom slider to make it larger or smaller. Once the framing is correct, click "Save" or "Confirm." Your profile picture updates when ready.

Choosing a photo from your Facebook history

You do not have to upload a new photo from your device. Facebook stores every photo you have posted or been tagged in, and you can use any of them as your profile picture. When you click "Change Picture" or "Update Profile Picture," look for an option called "Choose Photo" or "Select from Photos."

A gallery of your past photos appears. Scroll through and click the one you want. Facebook will crop it to fit the profile picture frame. You can adjust the crop before saving, just as you would with a newly uploaded photo.

Understanding profile picture privacy and visibility

Your profile picture is always visible to everyone on Facebook, even if your other profile details are private. You cannot hide it from other users or make it visible only to friends. However, you can control who sees your old profile pictures in the "Profile Pictures" album.

When you change your profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically saves it in a folder called "Profile Pictures" on your profile. Only you can see this folder by default, but you can change that setting if you want friends or the public to see your picture history. To adjust this, go to your profile, find the "Profile Pictures" album, click the three dots, and select "Edit Album Privacy."

Troubleshooting common problems

If your new profile picture does not appear after you tap or click "Save," refresh the page or close and reopen the Facebook app. Sometimes the image takes a few extra seconds to load, especially on slower internet connections. If it still does not show after refreshing, try uploading a different photo to see if the problem is with that specific image file.

If you get an error message saying the photo is too small, too large, or in the wrong format, Facebook usually accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The photo should be at least 170 pixels wide and tall, though Facebook recommends at least 400 by 400 pixels for the clearest result. If your photo is very large (over 10 MB), try compressing it on your device before uploading.

If you cannot find the "Change Picture" button on your profile, make sure you are logged into your own account, not viewing someone else's profile. You can only change your own profile picture. Also check that you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed, as older versions sometimes have display issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo where I am not the main subject?

Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to be a portrait or even include your face. You can use a landscape photo, a photo of something you own, an illustration, or any image you want. The only restriction is that the image cannot violate Facebook's community standards — it cannot contain nudity, violence, hate speech, or other prohibited content.

What happens to my old profile pictures?

They stay in your "Profile Pictures" album, which is private by default. Only you can see them unless you change the album privacy setting. Old profile pictures do not appear on your timeline or anywhere else on Facebook unless you manually share them. You can delete old profile pictures from this album if you want, but you cannot delete the one you are currently using.

How often can I change my profile picture?

There is no limit. You can change your profile picture as many times as you want in a single day. Some people change it daily, weekly, or seasonally. Facebook does not restrict how often you update it, though changing it extremely frequently (like every few minutes) might trigger a spam filter.

Will my friends get a notification when I change my profile picture?

No. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your profile picture. However, if you have a very large friend list, some people may notice the change when they visit your profile or see your picture in comments or messages. The change does not appear in the news feed.

Can I change my profile picture on someone else's phone?

Only if you are logged into your own Facebook account on that phone. If you log out of your account and log into someone else's account, you can change their picture — but you would need their password. If you want to change your picture on a shared device, log out of the other person's account first, then log into yours.