Where to find the photo change option on Facebook

To change your profile picture or cover photo on Facebook, go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on the site. Once you are on your profile page, you will see your current profile picture in the top left corner and your cover photo stretched across the top of the page. Hover your mouse over either image, and a camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner of that photo. Click the camera icon to open the menu for changing that image.

On mobile, the process is nearly identical. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap your name, then tap the profile picture or cover photo you want to change. A camera icon will appear — tap it to proceed.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the camera icon that appears when you hover over your profile picture or cover photo to start the change process.
  • You can upload a photo from your device, choose one already on Facebook, or take a new photo using your device's camera.
  • Facebook stores old profile pictures in a dedicated album, so you can switch back to a previous photo without re-uploading it.
  • You can control who sees your profile picture and cover photo by adjusting privacy settings after you upload the new image.

Uploading a new photo from your device

After clicking the camera icon, you will see a menu with several options. Select "Upload Photo" to choose an image from your computer or phone. A file browser will open — navigate to the folder where your photo is saved and click it to select it. Facebook will then show you a preview of how the photo will look on your profile.

Before confirming, you can crop or adjust the image. For profile pictures, Facebook shows you a circular preview of how much of the photo will be visible. For cover photos, you will see a rectangular preview. Drag the image or the preview box to position it the way you want, then click "Save" or "Confirm" to finish.

Choosing a photo you have already posted

If you want to use a photo that is already on Facebook — perhaps one from an album or one a friend tagged you in — click the camera icon and select "Choose from Photos." Facebook will show you recent photos you have uploaded or been tagged in. Scroll through and click the one you want to use.

This option is useful if you want to reuse a photo without uploading it again, or if you want to set a photo as your profile picture before it is fully visible on your timeline. Once you select it, you can still crop and position it the same way you would with a newly uploaded photo.

Taking a new photo with your camera

On mobile devices, the camera icon menu includes an option to take a photo directly. Tap "Take a Photo" and your device's camera will open. Take the photo, review it, and tap the checkmark to accept it. Facebook will then let you crop and position it before saving.

On a desktop computer, this option is not available — you will only see "Upload Photo" and "Choose from Photos." If you want to use a photo taken on your phone, you will need to either transfer it to your computer first or use the mobile app.

Managing privacy for your new photo

After you save a new profile picture or cover photo, Facebook shows it to everyone by default. If you want to limit who can see it, click the privacy icon (usually a globe or lock symbol) that appears next to the photo on your profile. A menu will open with options like "Public," "Friends," or "Only Me."

Select the privacy level you prefer. This setting controls who can see the photo itself on your profile, but does not prevent people from seeing notifications that you changed your picture. If you want to change your picture without notifying your friends, there is no built-in option for that — Facebook notifies your friends list whenever you update your profile or cover photo.

Finding and restoring old profile pictures

Facebook automatically saves every profile picture you have ever used in a dedicated album called "Profile Pictures." To view this album, go to your profile, click "Photos" in the left menu, and look for "Profile Pictures" in the list. Click it to see all your previous profile pictures in reverse chronological order (newest first).

If you want to use an old profile picture again, open the album, click the photo you want, and look for a menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner of the photo. Select "Make Profile Picture" and Facebook will set it as your current profile picture without requiring you to re-upload it. This is much faster than uploading the same photo twice.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your photo, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If you are using an older browser, update it to the latest version — Facebook works best on current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

If your photo uploads but appears blurry or cropped incorrectly, the image file itself may be too small or in an unsupported format. Facebook works best with JPG or PNG files at least 400 pixels wide for profile pictures and 820 pixels wide for cover photos. If you are uploading from mobile and the image looks wrong, try uploading from a computer instead, as mobile compression sometimes causes issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture without notifying my friends?

No. Facebook automatically notifies your friends whenever you change your profile picture or cover photo. There is no setting to hide this notification. If you want to change your picture privately, you can adjust the privacy setting to "Only Me" after uploading, but the change notification will still go out.

What image size should I use for my profile picture?

Facebook recommends at least 400 pixels wide for profile pictures, though larger is better. For cover photos, use at least 820 pixels wide. Facebook will automatically resize your image to fit, but starting with a larger file prevents blurriness. Most smartphone photos are large enough.

Can I use the same photo for both my profile picture and cover photo?

Yes, you can upload the same image as both your profile picture and cover photo. Facebook will crop it differently for each — your profile picture will be circular, and your cover photo will be rectangular. You may need to adjust the positioning for each one separately.

How do I remove my profile picture entirely?

Facebook does not allow you to have no profile picture. You must have one at all times. If you want a blank or minimal image, you can upload a solid-color image or a very straightforward graphic instead.

What happens to my old profile pictures?

All your old profile pictures are saved in the "Profile Pictures" album on your profile. You can view them anytime, and you can set any of them as your current profile picture again without re-uploading. Only you can see this album unless you change its privacy settings.