The quickest way to change your Facebook avatar
Your Facebook avatar is the small circular image that appears next to your name in comments, messages, and posts. To change it, open Facebook on your phone or computer, tap or click your profile picture in the top left corner, select "Profile," then tap the camera icon over your current avatar image. Choose a new photo from your phone's gallery or take one on the spot, crop it to fit the circular frame, and tap "Use This Photo." Facebook will update your avatar across the platform within seconds.
The process is the same whether you use the Facebook app, the mobile website, or the desktop site—the camera icon is always the control you're looking for. If you don't see it, make sure you're viewing your own profile, not someone else's.
Key Takeaways
- Your avatar is the small circular photo next to your name; it's different from your main profile picture.
- Tap or click the camera icon directly over your current avatar to open the photo picker.
- You can upload a photo from your phone, take a new one, or choose from photos you've already posted.
- Facebook crops avatar photos into a circle automatically, so choose an image where your face or subject is centered.
- Changes appear when ready across all your comments, messages, and posts once you confirm.
Where to find the avatar on your profile
Your avatar sits in the top left area of your profile, overlapping the edge of your cover photo (the large banner image behind your name). It's smaller than your main profile picture and always appears as a circle. On mobile, it's easier to spot because it's one of the first things you see when you open your profile. On desktop, scroll to the top of your profile page and look for the circular image with your face or chosen photo.
Don't confuse your avatar with your profile picture—they're separate images. Your profile picture is the larger square or rectangular photo that appears on your profile page itself. Your avatar is the tiny version that shows up everywhere else on Facebook: next to comments you leave, in message threads, in group posts, and in search results when someone looks you up.
How to choose and upload a new avatar photo
When you tap the camera icon, Facebook gives you three options: take a photo right now using your phone's camera, choose an existing photo from your phone's gallery, or pick from photos you've already uploaded to Facebook. Most people choose an existing photo because it's faster and you know how it looks.
The best avatar photos are close-ups or headshots where your face or main subject fills most of the frame and is centered. Since Facebook crops the image into a circle, anything in the corners will be cut off—so avoid photos where important details are on the edges. A straightforward background (like a plain wall or outdoor scenery) works better than a busy one, because the small size makes details hard to see.
Once you select or take a photo, Facebook shows you a preview of how it will look as a circle. You can pinch to zoom, drag to reposition the image, or rotate it before you confirm. Take a moment to make sure the crop looks right—what you see in the preview is what everyone else will see.
Changing your avatar on the Facebook app vs. desktop
The steps are nearly identical on the Facebook app and the desktop website, but the exact location of buttons changes slightly. On the app, tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner (or the menu icon if you don't see it), then tap "Profile." On desktop, click your profile picture in the top left corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
Once you're on your profile page, the camera icon appears in the same place on both versions—directly over your avatar image. Tap or click it, choose your photo, and confirm. The mobile web version (if you use Facebook in a browser on your phone) works the same way as the app.
What happens after you change your avatar
Your new avatar appears when ready everywhere on Facebook—in your profile, next to your comments, in message threads, and in group posts. People who have you as a friend or follow your activity will see the new image right away. There's no delay or approval process; the change is live as soon as you tap "Use This Photo."
If you change your mind, you can swap it out again at any time using the same camera icon. Facebook keeps a history of your recent profile pictures and avatars, so you can go back to an old one if you want—just tap the camera icon again and look for the "Your Photos" section, which shows images you've used before.
Troubleshooting: why you might not see the camera icon
If you don't see a camera icon over your avatar, the most common reason is that you're looking at someone else's profile instead of your own. You can only change your own avatar, not anyone else's. Make sure you're viewing your profile by tapping your profile picture in the app menu or clicking your name in the top left corner of the desktop site.
Another reason the icon might not appear is if your phone or browser needs an update. Facebook regularly releases new versions of its app and website, and older versions sometimes have display issues. Try updating the Facebook app from your phone's app store, or if you're on desktop, try a different browser or clear your browser's cache and reload the page.
If you're using a very old phone or an unsupported browser, some features may not work. Try accessing Facebook from a different device or a newer browser to see if the camera icon appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that's not of my face as my avatar?
Yes. Your avatar can be any image—a photo of a pet, a landscape, a logo, artwork, or anything else. Facebook doesn't require it to be a photo of you. Just keep in mind that people use avatars to recognize you in comments and messages, so a clear, recognizable image works better than something abstract or too small to see at that size.
Does changing my avatar change my profile picture too?
No. Your avatar and profile picture are separate. Changing one does not affect the other. You can have a different avatar and profile picture if you want, or you can use the same photo for both.
What if the photo I want to use is on my computer, not my phone?
On desktop, when you click the camera icon, Facebook opens a file browser where you can navigate to any folder on your computer and select a photo. On mobile, you're limited to photos in your phone's gallery or photos you've already posted to Facebook. If you need to use a photo that's only on your computer, upload it to Facebook first from a desktop or laptop, then choose it from your phone.
Can I make my avatar private so only certain people see it?
No. Your avatar is public by default and appears to everyone on Facebook—friends, non-friends, and people searching for you. If you want to limit who sees your profile picture or other profile details, you can adjust your privacy settings, but the avatar itself cannot be hidden from specific people.
How do I remove my avatar and go back to the default?
Facebook doesn't have a "remove avatar" option. You must have some image as your avatar. If you want to use a neutral or blank image, you can upload a solid-color photo (like a plain white or gray square) or a generic image instead.