Change Your Profile Picture in Four Steps
To change your Instagram profile picture, open the app, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, tap the profile picture itself, and choose either "Take a photo" or "Upload from library". Select your new image, crop it if needed, and tap "Done". The change takes effect when ready and is visible to everyone who visits your profile.
The process is the same whether you use Instagram on iPhone, Android, or the web version. On a computer, go to your profile, click the profile picture, and select "Change profile photo" from the menu that appears.
Key Takeaways
- You can upload a new profile picture directly from your phone's camera or photo library in under one minute.
- Instagram crops profile pictures into a circle, so choose an image where your face or subject is centered and clearly visible.
- You can change your profile picture as often as you want with no limit on how many times per day.
- Your old profile picture is not saved by Instagram after you upload a new one, so save it yourself first if you want to keep it.
Using Your Phone Camera to Take a New Picture
If you want to take a fresh photo instead of uploading an existing one, tap "Take a photo" after you tap your profile picture. Instagram will open your phone's camera and let you snap a picture right then. You can take multiple shots before choosing which one to use.
The photo you take will be cropped into a circle automatically. Make sure your face or the main subject is centered and well-lit so it looks clear when Instagram shrinks it down to profile-picture size. Avoid photos where your face is too far to one side, because the circular crop will cut off important parts.
Uploading a Picture from Your Phone's Library
Tap "Upload from library" to choose a photo you already have saved on your phone. Instagram will open your photo library and let you scroll through all your images. Select the one you want to use as your new profile picture.
After you choose the image, Instagram shows you a preview of how it will look cropped into a circle. You can pinch to zoom in or out, and drag the image around to position it the way you want. Once you are happy with how it looks, tap "Done" to save it as your profile picture.
Changing Your Picture on Instagram's Website
If you are using Instagram on a computer, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, click directly on your profile picture. A menu will appear with the option "Change profile photo".
Click that option and choose "Upload photo" to select an image from your computer. Instagram will let you crop and position the image the same way it does on the phone app. Click "Done" when you are finished, and your new picture will appear on your profile right away.
What Happens to Your Old Profile Picture
Instagram does not keep a backup of your old profile picture after you upload a new one. If you want to save the photo you are replacing, read it to your phone or computer before you change your profile picture. You can right-click on your current profile picture on a computer and select "Save image as", or take a screenshot on your phone.
Once you upload a new picture, the old one is gone from Instagram's servers. You cannot recover it through Instagram itself, so saving it beforehand is your only option if you think you might want to use it again later.
Troubleshooting Picture Upload Problems
If Instagram will not let you upload a new picture, check that your image file is in a common format like JPG or PNG. Very large files sometimes fail to upload, so try compressing the image or choosing a smaller photo. Make sure you have a stable internet connection — switching from WiFi to mobile data or vice versa can interrupt the upload.
If the app keeps crashing when you try to change your picture, close Instagram completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to close the app. On Android, go to Settings, find Instagram in your app list, and tap "Force stop". Then open Instagram again and try uploading your picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a picture that is not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Instagram does not require your profile picture to show your face. You can use a photo of anything — a pet, a landscape, a logo, or an abstract image. The only rule is that the image cannot violate Instagram's community guidelines, which means no hate speech, violence, or sexual content.
How often can I change my profile picture?
You can change your profile picture as many times as you want with no daily limit. Some users change it weekly or even daily. Instagram does not penalize you for changing it frequently.
Will my followers be notified when I change my profile picture?
No. Instagram does not send a notification 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 notice it in their feed.
What size should my profile picture be?
Instagram automatically crops any image into a circle, so the exact size does not matter. Use a photo that is at least 320 pixels wide for the best quality, though Instagram will accept smaller images. Larger images will be compressed, so very large files do not give you any advantage.
Can I change someone else's profile picture?
No. Only the account owner can change the profile picture. If you manage someone else's Instagram account with permission, you can change their picture by logging into their account. Otherwise, you have no way to change another person's profile picture.