Where to find the photo change option on Facebook

To change any photo on your Facebook profile, start by going to your profile page. Click your profile picture in the top left corner of Facebook, or search for your name and click your profile from the results. Once you're on your profile, you'll see your current profile picture in the upper left area and your cover photo stretched across the top of the page.

To change your profile picture, hover your mouse over the picture itself until a camera icon appears in the bottom right corner. Click that camera icon and a menu will pop up with your options. To change your cover photo, hover over the cover image at the top and click the camera icon that appears there instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile picture and cover photo are changed from different locations on your profile page, each with its own camera icon.
  • You can upload a new photo from your computer, choose an existing photo from your Facebook albums, or take a new photo with your device's camera.
  • Profile pictures are square and appear small next to your name in comments and messages, while cover photos are wide rectangles that span the top of your profile.
  • After uploading a photo, you can crop, rotate, or adjust it before saving the change.
  • Facebook keeps old profile pictures in an album you can view anytime, so you can switch back to a previous picture without re-uploading it.

Uploading a photo from your computer

After clicking the camera icon next to either your profile picture or cover photo, select "Upload Photo" from the menu. A window will open showing the files on your computer. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, click the photo you want, and click "Open". The photo will upload to Facebook.

For profile pictures, Facebook will show you a preview and ask you to crop the image into a square. Use your mouse to drag the corners of the square to frame your face the way you want it. For cover photos, you'll see a wider rectangle to crop instead. Once you're happy with how it looks, click "Save" and the change takes effect when ready.

Choosing a photo you've already uploaded to Facebook

If you've already posted photos to Facebook, you don't have to upload the same image again. After clicking the camera icon, select "Choose from Photos". Facebook will show you all your photo albums, including photos you've posted, photos friends have tagged you in, and any albums you've created.

Click the album you want to browse, then click the specific photo. Facebook will let you crop it the same way as a newly uploaded photo. This method is faster if you want to use a photo that's already on your account, and it saves storage space on your computer.

Taking a new photo with your device's camera

If you're using Facebook on a phone or tablet, you can take a photo directly instead of uploading one. After clicking the camera icon, select "Take Photo" (on iPhone) or "Take a Picture" (on Android). Your device's camera will open. Take the photo, review it, and tap "Use Photo" to confirm.

Facebook will then show you the crop screen. Adjust the frame so your face or the image is positioned the way you want, then tap "Save". The photo is taken, cropped, and set as your profile picture or cover photo all in one process. This is the fastest method if you want a fresh photo right away.

Cropping and positioning your photo correctly

After you select any photo, Facebook shows you a cropping screen before the change is final. For a profile picture, you're working with a square frame. Drag the corners outward to zoom in on your face, or drag them inward to zoom out and show more of the background. Move the entire frame by clicking and dragging inside the square to position your face where you want it.

For a cover photo, you have a wider rectangle to work with. The same dragging rules explore—corners zoom in and out, and dragging inside the frame moves the entire image. Keep in mind that on mobile phones, the cover photo is narrower than on a computer, so position important parts of the image toward the center. Once the framing looks right, click or tap "Save" to explore the change.

What happens to your old profile pictures

When you change your profile picture, Facebook doesn't delete the old one. Instead, it stores it in a special album called "Profile Pictures" that only you can see. To view this album, go to your profile, click "Photos", and look for the "Profile Pictures" album in the list. You can scroll through all the profile pictures you've ever used on your account.

If you want to switch back to an old profile picture without uploading it again, open the Profile Pictures album, hover over the photo you want, click the three dots that appear, and select "Set as Profile Picture". Facebook will ask you to crop it again, but the photo itself is already in your account. This is useful if you had a profile picture you liked and want to use it again later.

Controlling who can see your photos

By default, your profile picture and cover photo are visible to everyone on Facebook, including people who aren't your friends. If you want to limit who sees these photos, you can adjust your privacy settings. Go to your profile, click the three dots next to your cover photo, and select "Edit Profile".

Scroll down to find the privacy settings for your profile picture and cover photo. You can change these to "Friends Only" or "Only Me" if you prefer. Keep in mind that your profile picture will still appear next to your name in comments and messages even if you restrict it, because Facebook needs to show people who you are in conversations. The cover photo restriction works more completely—only people with permission will see it on your profile page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should my profile picture be?

Facebook automatically crops your profile picture into a square, so the exact dimensions don't matter when you upload. However, photos that are at least 400 by 400 pixels will look sharp on most devices. Anything smaller may appear blurry. Since Facebook crops to a square, choose a photo where your face is centered so nothing important gets cut off.

What size should my cover photo be?

Cover photos work best at 820 by 312 pixels on a computer, though Facebook will resize any photo you upload. On phones, the cover photo is narrower, so keep important details toward the center of the image. If your photo is too small, it may stretch and look pixelated, so use a photo that's at least 600 pixels wide.

Can I change my profile picture or cover photo on the Facebook app?

Yes. Open the app, tap your profile picture at the bottom, then tap your profile picture or cover photo at the top of the screen. Tap the camera icon and follow the same steps as on a computer—upload, choose from existing photos, or take a new photo. The process is identical, just with touch controls instead of a mouse.

Why does my photo look blurry after I upload it?

This usually means the original photo is too small. Facebook compresses images to save space, and small photos become blurry when compressed. Use a photo that's at least 400 by 400 pixels for a profile picture or 600 pixels wide for a cover photo. If you're taking a photo with your phone's camera, make sure your phone's camera is set to the highest resolution available.

Can I remove my profile picture or cover photo without replacing it?

You cannot delete your profile picture entirely—Facebook requires you to have one. However, you can set it to a blank or solid-color image if you prefer. For your cover photo, you can click the three dots next to it, select "Delete", and Facebook will remove it. Your profile will display without a cover photo until you add a new one.