The quickest way to change your profile photo
Open Facebook on your phone or computer and tap or click your profile picture in the top left corner (on mobile) or top right corner (on desktop). Select Change profile picture from the menu that appears. Choose a photo from your device, take a new one with your camera, or pick one you have already uploaded to Facebook. Confirm your choice, and the new photo replaces your old one when ready.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Your new profile photo shows up on your profile, in comments you make, and next to messages you send — anywhere your name appears on Facebook.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile photo from the menu next to your current picture, which appears in the top corner of your screen.
- Facebook lets you upload a photo from your device, take a new one with your camera, or reuse a photo already on your account.
- Your new profile photo appears everywhere your name shows up on Facebook within seconds.
- You can add a caption to your profile photo so people know when or where it was taken.
- If you change your mind, you can revert to a previous profile photo from your photo history.
Where to find the change profile picture option on mobile
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and look at the bottom of your screen. Tap the icon that looks like a person (usually the rightmost icon). This takes you to your profile. At the top of your profile, you will see your current profile picture. Tap it directly.
A menu will pop up with three options: Take a photo, Choose from photos, and Upload photo. Tap whichever matches what you want to do. If you choose Take a photo, Facebook will open your phone's camera. If you choose Choose from photos, you will see photos already stored on your phone. If you choose Upload photo, you can select a photo from your phone's storage.
Where to find the change profile picture option on desktop
On a computer, go to Facebook.com and log in. Look at the top right corner of the page — you will see your profile picture next to your name. Click on your profile picture. A dropdown menu will appear with several options, including Change profile picture. Click that option.
A window will open showing you three choices: Upload photo, Choose from photos, and Take a photo. The Upload photo option lets you browse your computer for an image file. The Choose from photos option shows photos you have already posted to Facebook or uploaded to your account. The Take a photo option uses your computer's webcam if you have one.
How to add a caption to your new profile photo
After you select your new photo but before you confirm it, Facebook shows you a preview. Below the preview, you will see a text field that says Add a caption. Click or tap in that field and type whatever you want — for example, "Summer 2024" or "New haircut." The caption appears below your profile photo on your profile page.
Captions are optional. If you do not want to add one, just skip this step and confirm your photo. You can add or change a caption later by clicking on your profile photo and selecting Edit.
What happens to your old profile photo
When you change your profile photo, Facebook does not delete the old one. Instead, it moves to your Profile Pictures album, which is a folder on your profile that holds every profile photo you have ever used. Anyone who visits your profile can see this album and browse your photo history.
If you want to go back to an old profile photo, open your profile, click on your current profile picture, and select See all photos. Find the photo you want and click Make profile picture. Your old photo becomes your current profile photo again. You can also delete old profile photos from this album if you do not want them visible, though you cannot delete the photo that is currently your profile picture.
Privacy settings for your profile photo
By default, your profile photo is visible to everyone on Facebook, including people who are not your friends. If you want to limit who can see it, you can change the privacy setting. Click on your profile photo, select Edit, and look for a privacy icon (usually a globe or a people symbol). Click that icon and choose who can see your photo — Public, Friends, or Only me.
Keep in mind that your profile photo still appears next to your name in comments and messages no matter what privacy setting you choose. The privacy setting only controls who can see the full-size photo on your profile page and in your profile pictures album.
Troubleshooting common profile photo problems
If you cannot find the option to change your profile photo, make sure you are logged into your own account — you can only change the profile photo on your own profile, not on someone else's. If you are logged in and still do not see the option, try logging out and logging back in, or try using a different browser or the Facebook app instead of the website.
If your new photo does not appear after you confirm it, wait a few seconds and refresh the page. Sometimes Facebook takes a moment to update. If the photo still does not show up after a few minutes, check your internet connection and try again. If you are uploading a photo from your device and it keeps failing, make sure the file is in a common format like JPG or PNG and is smaller than 4 MB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile photo without posting it to my timeline?
Yes. When you change your profile photo through the menu next to your current picture, it updates your profile without creating a post on your timeline. If you want to post the photo to your timeline as well, Facebook will ask if you want to do that after you confirm the change.
What size should my profile photo be?
Facebook automatically crops and resizes your photo to fit the profile picture space. You do not need to resize it yourself. Photos that are at least 400 by 400 pixels will look sharp, but Facebook accepts any size and will adjust it for you.
Can I use a video as my profile picture?
No, Facebook profile pictures must be still images. You can use a video as your cover photo (the large banner at the top of your profile), but your profile picture has to be a photo or image file.
How long does it take for my new profile photo to show up everywhere?
Your new profile photo appears on your profile and next to your name in comments and messages within seconds. It may take a few minutes to show up in other places like search results or in your friends' friend lists, but usually it is visible everywhere within an hour.
Can I revert to a previous profile photo if I change my mind?
Yes. Click on your current profile photo, select See all photos, find the old photo you want, and click Make profile picture. Your previous photo becomes your current profile photo again.