Where to find your profile settings on Facebook

Your profile settings live in one place on Facebook: the menu at the top right of your screen. Click the downward arrow next to your name (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines called the menu icon (on mobile), then select "Settings and privacy" followed by "Settings." From there, you'll see a left sidebar with options like "Personal information," "Password and security," and "Notifications." Each section controls a different part of your profile.

On mobile, the layout is the same but the buttons are smaller. If you're on the Facebook app, tap the menu icon at the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings." You'll see the same sidebar options, just stacked vertically instead of side by side.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile picture, cover photo, and name are changed from the "Personal information" section in Settings, not from your profile page itself.
  • To change your profile picture, go to Settings > Personal information > Profile picture, then upload a new photo or choose one from your existing photos.
  • Your name can be changed once every 60 days from Settings > Personal information > Name, and Facebook will show your old name to people for a short time.
  • Cover photos are changed by clicking the camera icon on your existing cover photo, not through Settings.
  • Changes to your profile take effect when ready, but some changes (like name changes) may be visible to others with a slight delay.

Changing your profile picture

To change your profile picture, go to Settings > Personal information > Profile picture. You'll see a button that says "Upload photo" or "Change." Click it, and Facebook will let you either take a new photo (if you're on mobile), upload one from your computer, or choose from photos you've already posted. Once you select the photo, you can crop it to show only the part you want, then click "Save."

Your new profile picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments you make. Other people will see it right away too. If you want to remove your profile picture entirely, go back to the same section and select "Remove photo."

Changing your cover photo

Your cover photo is the large banner image at the top of your profile. To change it, go directly to your profile page and hover over the existing cover photo. A camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the image. Click it, then choose "Upload photo," "Choose from photos," or "Reposition" if you want to adjust how the current photo is framed.

If you want to remove the cover photo entirely, click the camera icon and select "Remove photo." Unlike your profile picture, cover photo changes don't go through Settings—Facebook puts this control right on your profile for quick access.

Changing your name on Facebook

Go to Settings > Personal information > Name. Type your new name in the field and click "Review change." Facebook will show you how your name will appear and ask you to confirm. Once you submit, your name changes when ready on your profile, but Facebook displays your previous name to other people for a short time so they know it's you.

Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. The name you enter must follow Facebook's naming rules—it should be the name you go by in everyday life, not a nickname, business name, or string of numbers.

Updating your bio and other profile details

Your bio, work history, education, and relationship status are all edited from your profile page, not from Settings. Go to your profile, find the "About" section below your cover photo, and click "Edit details." You'll see fields for your bio (a short text description), work, education, hometown, current city, phone number, website, and relationship status.

Fill in or update any of these fields, then click "Save changes." These details appear on your profile for anyone to see (unless you've changed your privacy settings to hide them). You can leave any field blank if you don't want to share that information.

Controlling who sees your profile changes

By default, most profile changes are visible to everyone on Facebook. If you want to limit who sees your profile information, go to Settings > Privacy > Who can see your profile? and choose "Friends only" or "Only me." You can also control individual pieces of information—for example, you can make your phone number visible only to friends while keeping your bio public.

To adjust privacy for a specific detail, go to your profile's "About" section, find the detail you want to change, and click the audience icon (it looks like a person or people) next to it. Select who can see that information: Public, Friends, or Only me.

What happens if Facebook rejects your name change

If you try to change your name and Facebook rejects it, you'll see a message explaining why. Common reasons include using numbers, special characters, or a name that doesn't match Facebook's guidelines. If this happens, try entering your name in a different format—for example, use "Mary-Jane" instead of "Mary Jane" if hyphens are allowed but spaces aren't.

If you believe your name is legitimate and Facebook is still blocking it, you can appeal the decision. Facebook will ask you to provide documents like a driver's license or passport that show your legal name. This process can take a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture without posting it to my timeline?

Yes. When you upload a new profile picture, Facebook asks if you want to "Post to your timeline." You can uncheck this box, and only your profile picture will change—no post will appear on your timeline announcing the change.

How often can I change my profile picture?

You can change your profile picture as often as you want. Unlike your name, which has a 60-day limit, there's no restriction on how many times you update your profile picture.

What if I want to hide my profile picture from certain people?

Go to your profile, click the camera icon on your profile picture, and select "Edit." You'll see privacy options that let you choose who can see your profile picture. You can make it visible to everyone, friends only, or a custom list.

Can I revert to an old profile picture?

Yes. Go to Settings > Personal information > Profile picture, and you'll see a list of photos you've used as your profile picture in the past. Click any of them to set it as your current profile picture.