Change Your Profile Picture on Facebook
To change your Facebook profile picture, open Facebook on your phone or computer, tap or click your profile icon in the top left or top right corner, select "Profile," then tap or click the camera icon that appears over your current picture. Choose a photo from your phone or computer, crop it if you want, and tap or click "Save." The new picture appears when ready on your profile and in your comments and posts.
The process takes about one minute. Your old profile picture stays in your photo archive, and you can switch back to it anytime without uploading it again. Facebook also lets you set a temporary profile picture that disappears after a set number of days, which is useful if you want to test a new look without committing to it.
Key Takeaways
- Tap or click your profile icon, go to your profile, and select the camera icon over your current picture to start the upload.
- You can upload a photo from your phone or computer, or choose one you have already posted to Facebook.
- Crop your photo before saving it so your face fills most of the frame and the picture looks good at small sizes.
- Your old profile pictures stay saved in a folder called "Profile Pictures" that only you can see unless you change your privacy settings.
- You can set a temporary profile picture that automatically changes back to your previous one after 1, 7, or 30 days.
Upload a Photo From Your Phone or Computer
When you tap or click the camera icon over your current profile picture, Facebook shows you three options: "Upload Photo," "Choose Photo," and "Take Photo." "Upload Photo" lets you pick a new image from your phone's camera roll or your computer's files. "Choose Photo" shows pictures you have already posted to Facebook. "Take Photo" opens your phone's camera so you can snap a new picture right then.
Select "Upload Photo" if you have a photo saved on your device that you want to use. Your phone or computer will open a file browser. Find the photo, tap or click it, and it will appear on your screen. You can then crop it before you save.
Crop Your Profile Picture
After you choose a photo, Facebook shows you a cropping tool. A square frame appears over your image with handles on the corners and sides. Drag these handles to zoom in or out, and drag the frame itself to move the image around inside the square. Your goal is to get your face centered and large enough that people can see your expression clearly, even when the picture appears as a tiny circle next to your name in comments.
Profile pictures appear in many sizes across Facebook—as a large square on your profile, as a small circle next to your posts, and as a thumbnail in search results. Cropping so your face takes up most of the frame ensures you look recognizable in all of these sizes. Once you are happy with how it looks, tap or click "Save" or "Confirm," depending on whether you are on a phone or computer.
Set a Temporary Profile Picture
If you want to try a new profile picture without making it permanent, you can set it to expire. After you choose and crop your photo, look for an option that says "Make Temporary" or "Set as Temporary Profile Picture." Tap or click it, and Facebook will ask you how long you want to keep it: 1 day, 7 days, or 30 days.
When the time runs out, Facebook automatically switches your profile picture back to whatever you had before. This is useful if you want to test a new photo, celebrate a holiday with a special picture, or change your look for a limited time. You can change your mind and remove the temporary picture anytime by going back to your profile and selecting a new one.
Find and Restore Old Profile Pictures
Every profile picture you have ever set stays saved in a folder called "Profile Pictures." To see them, go to your profile, tap or click your profile picture, and look for a link or button that says "See All Photos" or "View Profile Pictures." This folder is private by default—only you can see it unless you change your privacy settings.
If you want to use an old profile picture again, you can tap or click it and select "Set as Profile Picture." You do not have to upload it again. This is faster than finding the original file on your phone or computer. If you want to delete an old profile picture so it no longer appears in this folder, you can tap or click it and select "Delete Photo," though this removes it from your entire Facebook account, not just from the profile pictures folder.
Troubleshoot Common Problems
If the camera icon does not appear over your profile picture, make sure you are logged into your own account and viewing your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change your own profile picture. If you are on a computer and the icon is hard to see, hover your mouse over your profile picture and it should appear.
If your photo will not upload, check that the file is in a format Facebook accepts—JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP. If the file is very large (over 4 MB), try compressing it before you upload. If you are on a phone and the upload keeps failing, try closing the Facebook app completely and opening it again. If you are on a computer, try a different web browser. Make sure you have a stable internet connection before you start.
If your new profile picture appears blurry or pixelated, the original photo may be too small or low quality. Profile pictures work best when they are at least 400 pixels wide and 400 pixels tall. If you cropped too much and cut off important parts of your face, you can always tap or click the camera icon again and choose the same photo to crop it differently.
Understand Privacy and Visibility
Your profile picture is public by default. Anyone on Facebook can see it, even if they are not your friend. This is true whether your profile is public or private, because Facebook uses your profile picture to identify you in comments, posts, and search results. You cannot make your profile picture private or visible only to friends.
If you do not want people to see your face on Facebook, you can use a photo of something else—a pet, a landscape, an object, or an illustration. Some people use a cartoon version of themselves or a symbol that represents them. There is no rule against this. Just keep in mind that a clear photo of your face makes it easier for friends to recognize you and find your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not of me as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to be a photo of your face. You can use a photo of a pet, a landscape, an illustration, a cartoon character, or anything else. Keep in mind that a clear photo of your face makes it easier for friends to recognize you, but the choice is yours.
What happens to my old profile picture when I change it?
Your old profile picture stays saved in your "Profile Pictures" folder, which only you can see. You can restore it anytime by going to that folder and selecting "Set as Profile Picture." It does not disappear from Facebook unless you delete it.
Can other people see when I change my profile picture?
Yes. When you change your profile picture, a notification appears in your friends' news feeds that says you updated your profile picture. They can tap or click the notification to see the new photo. You cannot hide this notification, but you can limit who sees your profile updates by changing your privacy settings.
How big should my profile picture be?
Profile pictures work best when they are at least 400 pixels wide and 400 pixels tall. Most phones and cameras take photos larger than this, so you usually do not need to worry. Facebook will resize your photo automatically to fit different places on the site, so a larger original file gives you more flexibility when cropping.
Can I change my profile picture on the Facebook app and on the website?
Yes. The steps are the same on both. On your phone, tap your profile icon at the bottom of the screen, tap your profile picture, and tap the camera icon. On a computer, click your profile icon in the top right, click your profile picture, and click the camera icon. The changes sync across all devices when ready.