The quickest way to change your cover photo
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to your profile. Hover over or tap your current cover photo, and a pencil icon will appear in the bottom right corner. Click or tap that icon, then select Upload Photo to choose a new image from your device, or Choose from Photos to pick something you've 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 about 30 seconds. Your new cover photo appears when ready to anyone viewing your profile, and Facebook keeps your old cover photo in your timeline history if you ever want to see it again.
Key Takeaways
- The pencil icon on your cover photo is the fastest way to change it—it appears when you hover over or tap the image.
- You can upload a new photo from your device or reuse a photo you've already posted to Facebook.
- After selecting your photo, you can drag it up or down to frame it exactly how you want it to appear.
- Your cover photo change takes effect when ready and is visible to everyone who visits your profile.
- Facebook stores your old cover photos, so you can go back and use them again without re-uploading.
Uploading a photo from your computer or phone
When you click or tap the pencil icon and select Upload Photo, your device's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your image is saved—usually Pictures, Downloads, or Photos depending on your device. Select the image and confirm. Facebook will then show you a preview of how the photo will look as your cover.
Before you save, you'll see a frame overlay showing what part of the image will be visible as your cover photo. If the framing cuts off something important, drag the image up, down, left, or right to reposition it. This is especially useful for photos with people or objects you want centered. Once you're happy with the positioning, click or tap Save.
Choosing from photos you've already posted
If you want to use a photo you've already shared on Facebook, tap the pencil icon and select Choose from Photos. Facebook shows you a grid of your recent uploads, organized by album. You can scroll through your timeline photos, photos from specific albums, or use the search bar to find an image by date or content.
This option is useful if you've found a photo in your memories that you'd like to feature, or if you want to use a professional photo you posted months ago without downloading it again. The positioning and saving steps are the same as uploading a new image.
Positioning your cover photo correctly
Facebook cover photos display at different sizes depending on whether someone is viewing your profile on a phone, tablet, or computer. The standard dimensions are 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on desktop, but Facebook automatically adjusts the crop on smaller screens. When you position your photo before saving, you're setting what appears in the center of that frame.
If your photo has text, a logo, or a face you want visible, position it in the middle third of the image. Avoid putting important details at the very top or bottom edges, because those areas may be cut off on mobile devices. The preview you see before saving shows roughly how it will look on a phone, so use that as your guide.
Making your cover photo private or limiting who sees it
By default, your cover photo is visible to everyone who can see your profile. If your profile is public, anyone on Facebook can see your cover photo. If your profile is friends-only, only your friends can see it. Facebook does not offer a separate privacy setting just for your cover photo—it follows your overall profile privacy setting.
If you want to change who can see your entire profile, go to your profile settings and adjust your privacy level there. You can set your profile to public, friends only, or a custom list. Your cover photo will respect whatever setting you choose for your whole profile.
Removing or temporarily hiding your cover photo
To remove your cover photo entirely, click the pencil icon and select Delete. Facebook will show your profile without a cover photo—just a plain background. You can add a new one anytime by following the same steps.
There is no option to hide your cover photo while keeping it saved. If you want to use a different image temporarily, upload the new one. Your old cover photo stays in your timeline history and you can restore it later by selecting Choose from Photos and picking it from your past uploads.
Troubleshooting common cover photo problems
If the pencil icon doesn't appear when you hover over your cover photo, you may not have permission to edit that profile. On your own profile, you should always see the icon. If you're trying to change someone else's cover photo, only the profile owner can do that. If you're on a very old browser or using an outdated Facebook app, update your browser or reinstall the app from your device's app store.
If your photo uploads but looks blurry or pixelated, the original image file may be too small. Facebook works best with photos at least 820 pixels wide. If your photo is cropped strangely and you can't reposition it to look right, try uploading a different image or cropping the original photo on your device before uploading it to Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as my cover photo?
No, Facebook cover photos must be still images. You can upload a video to your timeline or use it as a profile video (a short looping clip that plays on your profile), but your cover photo specifically has to be a photo file like JPG or PNG.
What file types does Facebook accept for cover photos?
Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. Most photos from phones or cameras are JPG or PNG, so you shouldn't run into format problems. If you're unsure what format your image is, right-click the file on your computer and look at the file extension at the end of the name.
Will changing my cover photo notify my friends?
No, changing your cover photo does not send a notification to your friends. It won't show up in anyone's news feed. People will only see the new cover photo if they visit your profile directly after you change it.
Can I schedule a cover photo to change automatically on a certain date?
Facebook does not have a built-in scheduling feature for cover photos. You have to manually change it each time. If you want to change your cover photo on a specific date, you'll need to remember to do it yourself or set a reminder on your phone.
What happens to my old cover photos?
Facebook stores all your past cover photos in your timeline history. You can see them by going to your profile, clicking your cover photo, and scrolling through your timeline. You can restore any old cover photo by selecting it from the Choose from Photos option when you edit your cover.