The quickest way to change your Facebook cover photo

Open Facebook on your computer or phone, go to your profile, and click or tap the camera icon that appears over your current cover photo. Select Upload Photo to choose an image from your device, or Choose from Photos to pick one you have already posted. Once you select the image, you can drag it to position it the way you want, then click Save. The whole process takes less than a minute.

On mobile, the steps are identical — the camera icon appears in the same spot, and the menu options work the same way. Facebook stores your new cover photo when ready, and it shows up on your profile right away. Anyone who visits your profile will see the new image within seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • The camera icon over your cover photo is the starting point on both desktop and mobile versions of Facebook.
  • You can upload a new image from your device or reuse a photo you have already posted to Facebook.
  • Facebook lets you reposition the image before you save it, so you can control what part of the photo appears in the cover space.
  • Your new cover photo appears on your profile when ready and is visible to anyone who visits your page.

Uploading a photo from your computer or phone

When you click Upload Photo, Facebook opens your device's file browser. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored — usually Pictures, Downloads, or a photo app folder — and select the file. Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF formats. The image does not have to be a specific size, though Facebook recommends at least 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall for the best appearance on desktop.

After you select the file, Facebook displays it in the cover photo space and shows you how it will look on your profile. You can drag the image up, down, left, or right to choose which part appears in the frame. This is useful if your photo has a subject you want centered or if you want to hide an unwanted edge. Once you are satisfied with the position, click or tap Save.

Choosing a photo you have already posted

If you select Choose from Photos, Facebook shows you a grid of images you have posted before. Scroll through your photo history and click the one you want to use as your cover. This option is faster if you have a photo on your profile already and do not want to upload a new file from your device.

The positioning step works the same way — you can adjust where the image sits in the cover frame before you save. This is especially helpful if you are reusing an old photo that might not have been framed with a cover photo in mind.

What happens to your old cover photo

Facebook does not delete your previous cover photo. Instead, it stores it in your photo albums under a section called Cover Photos. If you ever want to go back to an earlier cover, you can click the camera icon again, select Choose from Photos, and scroll to find it in your history. You can switch between old covers as many times as you want without losing them.

This means you can test different images without worry — if you change your mind after a few hours or days, your old cover is still there waiting for you.

Privacy settings for your cover photo

Your cover photo is public by default. Anyone on Facebook can see it, whether they are your friend or not. If you want to limit who sees your cover photo, go to your profile, click the three dots next to your cover image, and select Edit Privacy. You can then choose to show it to Friends Only, Specific Friends, or Only Me.

Keep in mind that even if you restrict the cover photo, your profile picture and name remain visible to everyone. The cover photo privacy setting only controls that one image.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the camera icon does not appear over your cover photo, make sure you are logged into your own account and viewing your own profile — you can only change your cover photo on your own page, not on someone else's. If you are on your profile and still do not see the icon, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache.

If your image looks blurry or stretched after you upload it, the file may be too small. Facebook works best with images at least 820 pixels wide. If the image appears cropped in an unexpected way, use the drag tool to reposition it before saving. You can always change it again if the result is not what you wanted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as my Facebook cover photo?

No, Facebook cover photos must be still images. You cannot upload a video file as a cover photo. However, you can use a screenshot or still frame from a video if you save it as an image file first.

What size should my cover photo be?

Facebook recommends at least 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall for desktop viewing. Mobile displays may show a different portion of the image. If your image is smaller than this, it may appear blurry or pixelated when displayed on larger screens.

Can I schedule a cover photo to change on a specific date?

No, Facebook does not have a scheduling feature for cover photos. You have to manually change it each time. You can set a reminder on your phone or calendar if you want to switch it on a particular day.

Will my friends be notified when I change my cover photo?

Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your cover photo. However, the change may appear in their News Feed if they visit your profile or if Facebook includes it in their activity summary.

Can I change my cover photo on the Facebook app?

Yes, the process is the same on the mobile app as on desktop. Tap the camera icon over your cover photo, select upload or choose from photos, position the image, and tap save. The mobile version works identically to the computer version.