Change your Facebook avatar from your profile or settings menu

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, go to your profile, and select the camera icon over your current avatar image. You can upload a new photo from your device, take a fresh picture with your camera, or choose from photos you have already posted. The change takes effect when ready across your entire account.

The process is the same whether you use the Facebook app, Facebook.com on a browser, or Facebook on a tablet. The avatar you set here is what other people see when they interact with you on the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Your avatar is the small circular photo next to your name, and you change it by tapping or clicking the camera icon on your profile picture.
  • You can upload a photo from your phone or computer, take a new picture with your device's camera, or select an existing photo from your Facebook albums.
  • The new avatar appears when ready everywhere on Facebook — in your profile, comments, messages, and next to your posts.
  • You can also change your avatar from the Settings menu under "Personal Information" if the profile method does not work for you.

Steps to change your avatar on the Facebook app

Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of your screen. Tap your name to go to your profile. At the top of your profile, you will see your current avatar image in a circle. Tap the camera icon that appears in the bottom right corner of that circle.

A menu will appear with three options: "Take a Photo", "Choose from Photos", or "Upload Photo". If you want to use your device's camera to take a new picture right now, tap "Take a Photo". If you want to pick a photo you already have on your phone, tap "Upload Photo". If you want to use a photo you have already posted on Facebook, tap "Choose from Photos".

After you select or take your photo, you can crop and position it inside the circular frame. Tap "Use" or "Save" to confirm. Your new avatar will appear on your profile and everywhere else on Facebook within seconds.

Steps to change your avatar on Facebook.com

Go to Facebook.com and log in. Click your profile picture or name in the top right corner, then click "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, hover your mouse over your avatar image (the large circular photo at the top). A camera icon will appear. Click it.

A popup menu will show three choices: "Upload Photo", "Choose from Photos", or "Take a Photo". Click "Upload Photo" to select an image file from your computer. Click "Choose from Photos" to pick from photos you have already posted on Facebook. Click "Take a Photo" if your computer has a webcam and you want to take a picture right now.

Once you have selected or taken your photo, you can adjust how it appears in the circular frame by dragging or zooming. Click "Save" or "Confirm" to explore the change. Your avatar updates when ready.

Changing your avatar from Settings

If you cannot find the camera icon on your profile, you can change your avatar through the Settings menu instead. On the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Settings & Privacy", then "Settings". On Facebook.com, click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select "Settings & Privacy", then "Settings".

Look for "Personal Information" or "Profile" in the left sidebar. Tap or click it. You should see an option for "Profile Picture" or "Avatar". Tap or click to open it, then follow the same steps as above — upload a new photo, choose from existing photos, or take a picture with your camera.

What image formats and sizes work best

Facebook accepts photos in JPG, PNG, and GIF formats. You can upload a photo that is any size, but Facebook will automatically crop it to fit the circular avatar frame. The clearer and more centered your face is in the original image, the better your avatar will look after cropping.

If your photo is very small (less than 200 pixels wide), it may appear blurry when Facebook displays it at larger sizes. A photo that is at least 400 pixels wide will look sharp on most devices. You do not need to crop or resize the image yourself — Facebook handles that automatically.

Your avatar versus your cover photo

Your avatar and your cover photo are two different images. Your avatar is the small circular picture next to your name. Your cover photo is the large horizontal image at the top of your profile. Changing one does not affect the other. If you want to change your cover photo instead, hover over or tap the cover image itself (not the avatar) and look for the camera icon there.

Some people use a professional headshot for their avatar and a landscape or personal photo for their cover. Others use the same image for both. The choice is yours, and you can change either one at any time without affecting the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see when I change my avatar?

No. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your avatar. The new image straightforward appears on your profile and in your interactions. Some people may notice the change if they visit your profile, but there is no announcement or alert.

What if I want to remove my avatar entirely?

Facebook requires all accounts to have an avatar. You cannot delete it completely, but you can replace it with a blank image, a solid color, or a non-photo image if you prefer not to show your face. Upload whatever image you want to use instead.

Does changing my avatar affect my profile picture on other apps or websites?

No. Your Facebook avatar only changes how you appear on Facebook itself. If you use your Facebook account to log into other apps or websites, those services may have their own separate profile photo settings that you would need to change independently.

Why does my avatar look blurry or cropped wrong?

This usually happens if your original photo is very small or if your face is not centered in the image. Try uploading a larger, clearer photo with your face in the middle of the frame. You can also use the crop tool that appears after you select your photo to reposition it before saving.

Can I use a video or animated GIF as my avatar?

Facebook allows animated GIFs as avatars on some accounts, though this feature is not available everywhere. If you upload a GIF, Facebook may convert it to a still image. Try uploading it and see if the animation works on your account — if not, use a regular photo instead.