The quickest way to change your Facebook photo
Open Facebook on your phone or computer and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture. Look for your current profile photo and click or tap it — on a phone, tap the camera icon that appears over the photo. Choose Upload Photo to pick a new image from your device, or Take a Photo if you want to use your camera right now. Select the image, adjust the crop if you want, and tap Save. The new photo appears on your profile and in your posts within seconds.
If you're on a computer, you can also right-click your profile photo and select Change Profile Picture from the menu that appears. The steps are the same from there: upload or take a photo, crop it, and save.
Key Takeaways
- Click or tap your profile photo, then select the camera icon to open the upload menu.
- You can upload a photo from your device or take a new one with your camera.
- Facebook lets you crop and position the photo before you save it.
- Your new profile photo shows up when ready across your profile and in your activity.
- You can change your photo as often as you want — there is no limit.
Where to find the profile photo on different devices
On a smartphone or tablet, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap your name to go to your profile. Your profile photo appears at the top of the page. Tap it directly, or look for a small camera icon overlaid on the corner of the photo — either one opens the upload menu.
On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Facebook, or click your name anywhere on the site. Your profile photo is displayed prominently near the top of your profile page. Hover your mouse over it and you'll see a camera icon appear. Click that icon to change the photo.
Uploading a photo from your device
When you tap or click the camera icon, Facebook shows you two main options: Upload Photo and Take a Photo. If you choose Upload Photo, your device opens a file browser showing your photos. On a phone, this is usually your photo library or camera roll. On a computer, it opens a folder where you can navigate to any image saved on your device.
Select the image you want to use. Facebook then shows you a preview with a square frame overlaid on the photo. You can drag the image around inside that frame to position it the way you want — this is called cropping. Once you're happy with how it looks, tap or click Save or Use This Photo. The photo becomes your profile picture right away.
Taking a new photo with your camera
If you choose Take a Photo, Facebook opens your device's camera app. On a phone, you can usually switch between the front-facing camera (which shows your face) and the rear camera by tapping a camera-flip icon. Take your photo, then tap the checkmark or confirm button to accept it.
Facebook then shows you the same cropping screen. Position yourself in the square frame the way you want to appear, then save. The photo is taken and set as your profile picture in one flow, without saving it to your device first.
Adjusting and cropping your photo
After you select or take a photo, Facebook displays it with a square frame on top. This frame shows what part of the image will actually appear as your profile photo — Facebook profile pictures are always square. You can drag the image left, right, up, or down to move it around inside the frame, or pinch to zoom in and out on a phone.
Take your time with this step. Your profile photo is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile or interact with you on Facebook. Once you tap or click Save, the cropped version becomes your official profile picture. You can always change it again later if you're not happy with how it looks.
What happens to your old profile photo
When you change your profile photo, your old photo doesn't disappear — it moves to your Profile Pictures album. This is a special album Facebook creates automatically to store all the profile photos you've ever used. Your friends can still see your old photos there if they visit your profile and look at your photo albums.
You can delete old profile photos from this album if you want them completely gone. Go to your profile, click Photos, find Profile Pictures, and open it. Click or tap the photo you want to remove, then select the three-dot menu and choose Delete. Removing a photo from the Profile Pictures album doesn't affect your current profile photo.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the camera icon doesn't appear when you hover over or tap your profile photo, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. On a phone, make sure Facebook has permission to access your camera and photo library — check your device's settings under Apps or Privacy.
If your new photo doesn't show up right away, wait a few seconds and refresh the page. Facebook usually updates profile photos within seconds, but occasionally there's a short delay. If the photo still doesn't appear after a minute or two, try uploading it again. If you keep having trouble, log out of Facebook completely, then log back in and try once more.
If you're trying to upload a very large image file, Facebook may reject it. Stick to photos that are at least 400 pixels wide — most photos from a phone camera or modern digital camera meet this requirement. If you're uploading an old or compressed image, it may be too small.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that's not a picture of me?
Yes. Facebook doesn't require your profile photo to be a picture of your face. You can use a landscape, artwork, a photo of a pet, a logo, or any other image. Some people use cartoon characters or abstract images instead of photos of themselves.
Does changing my profile photo notify my friends?
Your friends may see that you changed your profile photo if they visit your profile or if Facebook shows them a notification in their feed, but you don't send them a direct message or alert. The change is visible to anyone who looks at your profile, depending on your privacy settings.
Can I change my profile photo on the Facebook website and the app?
Yes. The steps are nearly identical on both. You can change your photo using the Facebook website on a computer, the Facebook app on a phone, or the mobile website in a phone browser. Your new photo syncs across all versions when ready.
What if I want to use a photo I don't have saved on my device?
You can read an image from the internet to your device first, then upload it as your profile photo. On a phone, long-press the image and select Save Image or read. On a computer, right-click the image and choose Save Image As. Then follow the normal upload steps.
How often can I change my profile photo?
There is no limit. You can change your profile photo as many times as you want, whenever you want. Facebook keeps all your old profile photos in your Profile Pictures album, so you can always switch back to an earlier one if you change your mind.