Where to Find the Picture Change Option
To change a picture on Facebook, go to your profile by clicking your name or profile icon in the top left corner. Once you're on your profile page, you'll see your current profile picture in the upper left area and your cover photo stretched across the top of the page. Either one can be changed by hovering your mouse over it — a camera icon will appear, and clicking it opens the upload menu.
If you're on a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture or cover photo directly, and a menu will pop up with options to change it. The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer, iPhone, or Android device, though the exact placement of buttons shifts slightly between versions.
Key Takeaways
- Your profile picture is the small circular image in the upper left of your profile; your cover photo is the large banner behind it, and both can be changed separately.
- Hover over either image on a computer and click the camera icon, or tap the image on a phone to open the upload menu.
- You can upload a new photo from your device, choose an existing photo from your Facebook albums, or take a photo in the moment using your device's camera.
- Facebook compresses and crops images automatically, so profile pictures work best at square dimensions and cover photos at a wide landscape ratio.
- After you change a picture, all your friends will see the new version when ready, and the old picture is saved in your photo albums for later recovery if needed.
Uploading a New Photo from Your Device
After clicking the camera icon on your profile or cover photo, select "Upload Photo" from the menu. This opens a file browser on your computer or phone where you can navigate to any photo saved on your device. Choose the image you want and click "Open" on a computer or "Choose" on a phone.
Facebook will then show you a preview of how the photo will look on your profile. For profile pictures, you can drag the image around and resize it using the circle outline to frame your face the way you want it. For cover photos, you'll see a rectangular preview and can adjust the crop. Once you're happy with how it looks, click "Save" or "Confirm" to finish.
Choosing a Photo You've Already Uploaded to Facebook
Instead of uploading a brand new image, you can use a photo that's already in your Facebook albums. After clicking the camera icon, select "Choose from Photos" or "Select Photo." Facebook will show you thumbnails of photos from your albums, organized by date or album name.
Scroll through until you find the photo you want, then click or tap it. The same preview and cropping screen appears, so you can adjust how it frames on your profile before saving. This option is faster if you've already shared photos on Facebook and want to reuse one without downloading it to your device first.
Taking a Photo Directly from Your Camera
If you're on a phone or tablet, the camera icon menu usually includes an option to "Take a Photo" or "Take a Picture." Tapping this opens your device's camera app so you can snap a new photo right then and there. After you take the shot, Facebook will ask you to confirm it before cropping and saving it to your profile.
This method is useful if you want to update your profile picture with a fresh selfie without hunting through your photo library. The photo is saved to your device's camera roll as well as your Facebook profile, so you have a copy either way.
Understanding How Facebook Crops and Resizes Images
Facebook automatically compresses and crops photos to fit your profile layout. Profile pictures are displayed as circles, so Facebook will crop a square section from whatever image you upload — if your photo is a full-body shot, only your head and shoulders will show in the circular frame. Cover photos are stretched wide across the top of your profile, so a landscape-oriented photo (wider than it is tall) will display better than a portrait-oriented one.
The preview screen shows you exactly what will be visible after cropping, so you can adjust before saving. If the crop doesn't look right, you can always change the photo again later. There's no penalty for changing your picture multiple times, and the old versions stay in your albums.
What Happens After You Change Your Picture
Once you save a new profile or cover photo, it appears on your profile when ready. All your friends will see the updated image the next time they visit your profile or see you in their news feed. Facebook also notifies some of your friends that you've changed your picture, though not everyone receives this notification.
Your old profile picture doesn't disappear — it's automatically saved in a Facebook album called "Profile Pictures" that only you can see unless you change your privacy settings. You can recover an old profile picture by going to that album, clicking the three dots on the photo, and selecting "Make Profile Picture." This is useful if you change your mind or want to cycle between a few favorite photos.
Fixing Common Problems When Changing Pictures
If your photo won't upload, check that the file is in a common format like JPG, PNG, or GIF, and that it's smaller than 4 MB — most phone photos meet this requirement automatically. If the upload still fails, try refreshing the page and starting over, or try a different browser if you're on a computer.
If your photo looks blurry or pixelated after uploading, the original file may have been low resolution. Facebook compresses images to save space, so very small or low-quality photos will look worse on your profile. For the sharpest result, use a photo that's at least 400 pixels wide for a profile picture and 820 pixels wide for a cover photo.
If you accidentally uploaded the wrong photo, straightforward click the camera icon again and choose a different one — there's no limit to how many times you can change it. The old photo stays in your albums and can be recovered anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture without everyone seeing it?
No — once you save a new profile picture, it's visible to everyone who can see your profile based on your privacy settings. If your profile is public, everyone on Facebook can see your new picture. If it's set to friends only, only your friends see it. You cannot change your picture privately.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook displays profile pictures as circles and crops them automatically, so the exact size doesn't matter as much as the content. A square photo works best because Facebook will crop a square section from whatever you upload. For the clearest result, use a photo at least 400 pixels wide. Cover photos should be at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall for best quality.
Can I use the same photo for my profile picture and cover photo?
Yes, you can use the same image for both, though it will be cropped differently for each. Your profile picture will show only a circular section, while your cover photo will display as a wide rectangle. Most people use different photos for variety, but there's no rule against reusing the same one.
Where do old profile pictures go after I change them?
Old profile pictures are saved in a private album called "Profile Pictures" that appears in your photo albums. Only you can see this album unless you change its privacy settings. You can make any old profile picture your current one again by opening that album, clicking the three dots on the photo, and selecting "Make Profile Picture."
How long does it take for my new picture to show up everywhere on Facebook?
Your new profile picture appears on your profile when ready after you save it. It may take a few minutes to show up in your friends' news feeds or in search results, but usually appears within seconds. If you don't see it update after a few minutes, try refreshing the page.