The fastest way to change what people see on your profile
To change your Facebook profile picture, name, or other details, open Facebook on your phone or computer, tap or click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Profile." From there, you can edit almost any visible detail by clicking the pencil icon next to what you want to change. Most changes take effect when ready, though some — like your name — have limits on how often you can change them.
The process is the same whether you use the Facebook app, Facebook.com on a browser, or Facebook on a tablet. The buttons and menus look slightly different depending on your device, but the steps are identical.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture, cover photo, name, bio, and contact details by going to your profile and clicking the pencil icon next to each item.
- Facebook limits how often you can change your name — usually once every 60 days — to prevent misuse.
- Profile changes are visible to whoever you set your privacy settings to allow, so check your audience before you make changes you want to keep private.
- Some changes, like removing your phone number or email, take a few minutes to process across Facebook's servers.
How to change your profile picture
Your profile picture is the small circular photo that appears next to your name everywhere on Facebook. To change it, go to your profile, hover over or tap your current profile picture, and click "Update profile picture." A menu will appear with three options: upload a photo from your computer or phone, choose a photo you have already posted, or take a new photo with your device's camera.
After you select a photo, Facebook will let you crop and position it before you save. Once you confirm, the new picture appears when ready on your profile and next to your name in comments and posts. If you want to remove your profile picture entirely, click the pencil icon on the picture itself and select "Remove."
How to change your cover photo
Your cover photo is the large banner image at the top of your profile. To change it, click the camera icon in the top right corner of your current cover photo. You will see the same three options as the profile picture: upload from your device, choose from photos you have posted, or take a new one.
Facebook will ask you to position the photo so it displays correctly on different screen sizes. Once you save, the new cover photo appears when ready. You can also click the pencil icon on the cover photo to delete it, reposition it, or make it private so only you can see it.
How to change your name on Facebook
To change the name that appears on your profile, go to your profile, click the pencil icon next to your name at the top, and select "Edit name." Type your new name in the fields provided — Facebook separates first name, middle name, and last name. Click "Review change" to see how it will appear, then confirm.
Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days. If you have changed your name recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. The name you enter must follow Facebook's name standards — it cannot contain numbers, symbols, or unusual spacing, and it should be the name you go by in everyday life. If Facebook rejects your name, try removing extra spaces or special characters.
How to change your bio and "About" information
Your bio is the short text that appears under your name on your profile. To edit it, click the pencil icon next to the bio section and type or paste your new text. You can include a job title, location, school, or anything else you want people to see when they visit your profile.
To add or change more detailed information — like your workplace, education, phone number, email, website, or relationship status — scroll down to the "About" section on your profile and click "Edit details." Each field has its own pencil icon. Click the one next to the information you want to change, update it, and click outside the field to save. You can also delete any of this information by clicking the X next to it.
How to change your profile privacy settings
Before you make changes to your profile, you may want to control who can see them. Go to your profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Click "Privacy" in the left menu. Here you can set who sees your profile, who can contact you, and who can see your posts and information.
You can also make individual changes private. When you edit your name, bio, or other details, look for a privacy icon (usually a globe, lock, or people symbol) next to the field. Click it to choose whether that specific information is visible to everyone, friends only, or only you. These settings take effect when ready.
What happens when you change your information
Most profile changes appear when ready on your profile and in your activity log. Your friends may see a notification that you changed your profile picture or name, depending on your privacy settings. If you change your email or phone number, it may take a few minutes for the change to process across all of Facebook's systems.
If you change your name, Facebook keeps a record of your previous names for security reasons. You can see this history by clicking the pencil icon next to your name and selecting "View previous names." This helps Facebook prevent fraud and allows you to prove your identity if there is ever a question about your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name more than once every 60 days?
No. Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes to prevent misuse. If you need to change your name sooner for a legal reason — such as a marriage or court order — you can contact Facebook support and provide documentation, though approval is not may provide.
What if Facebook says my name doesn't follow their standards?
Facebook's name policy requires names to be in a format people use in everyday life. Remove numbers, symbols, accents that don't belong in your language, or unusual spacing. If you use a stage name, nickname, or name from a non-Latin alphabet, try entering it exactly as you use it without extra characters. If it is still rejected, contact Facebook support with an explanation.
Can I make my profile picture private so only certain people see it?
Your profile picture is always visible to anyone who can see your profile, and you cannot restrict it to specific friends. However, you can control who sees your entire profile by adjusting your overall privacy settings. If you want to hide your picture from certain people, you would need to set your profile to private or block those individuals.
Will my friends be notified every time I change my profile picture?
Facebook may show your friends a notification that you changed your profile picture, but this depends on their notification settings and how they use Facebook. The notification is not may provide, and older changes may not generate notifications at all.
How do I remove information from my profile without deleting my account?
Go to your profile, find the information you want to remove, click the pencil icon next to it, and select the X or delete option. You can remove your phone number, email, workplace, education, bio, or any other detail individually without affecting the rest of your profile or your account.