Change Your Profile Picture in Three Steps

To change your Instagram profile picture, open the Instagram app, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, tap the edit profile button, select your current profile picture, choose a new photo from your phone or take one with your camera, and confirm the change. The whole process takes less than a minute on any phone.

Instagram stores your profile picture on their servers, so the change appears when ready on your account and is visible to anyone who visits your profile. You can change it as often as you want, and there is no limit to how many times you switch it in a day.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Instagram, go to your profile, tap edit profile, and select your current picture to start the change.
  • You can upload a photo from your phone's camera roll or take a new photo directly in the app.
  • Instagram will let you crop and position your photo before you save it, so you can frame your face or image exactly how you want it.
  • The new picture appears on your profile and in search results within seconds of you confirming it.
  • You can remove your profile picture entirely by selecting the delete option instead of uploading a new one.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Mobile

Start by opening the Instagram app on your phone. Tap the profile icon—it looks like a person's silhouette—at the bottom right corner of your screen. This takes you to your profile page.

Next, tap the "Edit profile" button, which appears near your name and bio. Scroll down until you see your current profile picture displayed as a circle. Tap directly on that picture. A menu will pop up with two options: "Take photo" and "Choose from library." If you want to use a photo already on your phone, tap "Choose from library." If you want to take a new photo right now, tap "Take photo" and your phone's camera will open.

Once you have selected or taken your photo, Instagram will show you a preview with a square frame. You can pinch to zoom in or out, and drag the image around to position it how you want. The circular frame shows you exactly how your profile picture will look. When you are happy with the positioning, tap the checkmark or "Next" button to move forward.

On the final screen, review your new picture one more time. Tap "Save" or "Done" to confirm the change. Your profile picture updates when ready, and anyone visiting your profile will see the new image right away.

Using a Photo from Your Phone's Library

When you tap "Choose from library," your phone opens your photo gallery or camera roll. You can scroll through your photos and select any image you want to use. Instagram does not require the photo to be a certain size or format—you can use a portrait, landscape, or square photo, and Instagram will help you crop it to fit the circular profile picture frame.

Look for a photo where your face or the main subject is clearly visible and well-lit. Profile pictures are small on most screens, so details that look fine in a full-size photo might become hard to see when shrunk down. A close-up or headshot usually works better than a wide shot where you are far away from the camera.

After you select the photo, you will see the cropping screen. Drag the image to center what you want people to see. The circle outline shows exactly what will be visible as your profile picture. You can zoom in by pinching outward or zoom out by pinching inward to adjust how much of the photo appears.

Taking a New Photo Directly in Instagram

If you tap "Take photo," Instagram opens your phone's camera in selfie mode by default. You can tap the camera flip icon to switch to the rear camera if you want to take a photo of something else instead of yourself. Take your photo, and Instagram will show you a preview.

From the preview, you can tap the X to retake it or tap the checkmark to move forward to the cropping screen. Use the same pinch-and-drag controls to position your image inside the circular frame. When you are satisfied, tap the checkmark again to save.

The advantage of taking a photo directly in Instagram is that you skip the step of finding it in your library later. The disadvantage is that you cannot edit the photo before uploading it—no filters, brightness adjustments, or other edits. If you want to edit first, take the photo with your phone's camera app, edit it there, and then upload it through "Choose from library."

Removing Your Profile Picture

If you want to remove your profile picture entirely instead of replacing it, tap your current profile picture on the edit profile screen. Instead of selecting a new photo, look for a "Remove photo" or "Delete" option in the menu. Tap it, and Instagram will remove your profile picture. Your profile will show a blank circle where your picture was.

You can add a profile picture back at any time by following the same steps. There is no penalty for having no profile picture, though many people find that accounts with a profile picture get more engagement and trust from other users.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If the app does not let you tap your profile picture, make sure you are on the edit profile screen and not just viewing your profile. The edit profile button is separate from your profile picture itself. If you are on the right screen and tapping does not work, try closing and reopening the Instagram app.

If your new picture does not appear after you tap save, wait a few seconds and refresh your profile by pulling down on the screen. Instagram usually updates within seconds, but occasionally it takes up to a minute. If it still has not changed after a minute, check your internet connection and try again.

If you get an error message about the file size or format, the photo you selected may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Try selecting a different photo or taking a new one. Instagram accepts standard photo formats like JPEG and PNG, so most photos from your phone will work without issue.

If Instagram asks for permission to access your camera or photos and you previously denied it, you will need to change that permission in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Instagram and toggle on Camera and Photos. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions and toggle on Camera and Photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo that is not of my face?

Yes. Your profile picture can be anything—a photo of a pet, a landscape, a logo, or an abstract image. Instagram does not restrict what you upload. Many businesses use their logo as a profile picture, and many people use photos of things they care about instead of a selfie.

What happens to my old profile picture?

Instagram deletes it from your profile, but the company keeps a copy on their servers as part of your account history. You cannot retrieve it through Instagram, but if you saved the original photo on your phone, you still have it there. If you want to use an old profile picture again, you can upload it from your phone's library.

Can I change my profile picture on Instagram's website instead of the app?

Yes. Go to Instagram.com, log in, click your profile icon at the top right, select "Edit profile," and click your current profile picture. The process is the same as on mobile, though the buttons and layout look slightly different on a computer screen.

How big should my profile picture be?

Instagram automatically crops your photo to fit a circle, so the exact size does not matter. A photo that is at least 320 by 320 pixels will look sharp on most phones. Most modern phone cameras take photos much larger than that, so any recent photo from your phone will work fine.

Will my followers see a notification when I change my profile picture?

No. Instagram does not send notifications to your followers when you change your profile picture. They will only see the new picture if they visit your profile or if they happen to see it in search results or when you interact with their posts.