The quickest way to change your Facebook profile picture
To change your profile picture on Facebook, tap or click your profile icon in the top left corner, select "Profile," then tap the camera icon that appears over your current picture. Choose "Upload Photo" to pick an image from your device, or "Take Photo" to use your camera right now. Once you select an image, you can crop it to fit the circular frame, then tap "Use This Photo" to make it live.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds on either a phone or computer. Your new picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments you make, though it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere across Facebook at once.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by tapping the camera icon over your current picture.
- Facebook lets you upload a photo from your device or take a new one with your camera in the moment.
- You can crop and position your image before confirming, so you control exactly what shows in the circular frame.
- Your new picture shows up on your profile right away, though it may take a few minutes to appear in all the places you've commented or posted.
- You can also change your picture from the menu by selecting "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," then "Personal Information."
Changing your picture on a phone or tablet
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap your name at the top to go to your profile. You'll see your current profile picture at the top — tap the camera icon that sits over it.
A menu appears with two choices: "Upload Photo" or "Take Photo." If you choose "Upload Photo," your phone's photo library opens and you can pick any image you've already saved. If you choose "Take Photo," your camera opens and you can snap a picture right then. After you pick or take a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a circular crop frame. Drag the image to position it how you want, then tap "Use This Photo" to confirm.
Changing your picture on a computer
On a desktop or laptop, go to Facebook.com and click your profile icon in the top left corner. Click "Profile" from the menu that appears. Your profile picture sits at the top of the page — hover your mouse over it and a camera icon appears. Click that icon.
A menu pops up with "Upload Photo" and "Take Photo" options. Click "Upload Photo" to browse your computer's files and pick an image, or "Take Photo" if your computer has a webcam and you want to take a new picture. Once you've selected an image, you'll see a preview with a circular crop area. Click and drag to position the image, then click "Use This Photo" to save your change.
How to crop and position your new picture
After you pick an image, Facebook shows you a preview with a circular frame overlaid on top. This circle is what people will see as your profile picture — anything outside the circle gets cut off. You can drag the image around inside the frame to choose which part shows, or pinch to zoom in and out on a phone.
Take a moment to make sure your face or the main subject is centered in the circle and clearly visible. If the image is too zoomed in or too far out, adjust it before you confirm. Once you click or tap "Use This Photo," the crop is final and your picture goes live.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, your old one doesn't disappear — it moves to your "Profile Pictures" album, which only you and people you've given permission to see it can view. You can go back and use any old picture again without re-uploading it. To see all your profile pictures, go to your profile, click "Photos," then look for the "Profile Pictures" album.
If you want to delete an old profile picture entirely, open the "Profile Pictures" album, click the photo, then click the three dots menu and select "Delete." Keep in mind that deleting a profile picture removes it from your album, but people who saw it before may still remember it.
Using the Settings menu as an alternative
If the camera icon over your picture doesn't work or you prefer a different route, you can change your picture through Facebook's settings. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines on a phone, or the downward arrow on a computer) in the top right corner. Select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings."
On the left side, click "Personal Information." Under "Profile Picture," you'll see your current image. Click the camera icon next to it to upload or take a new photo. This method takes a few extra steps but leads to the same result.
Troubleshooting common picture-change problems
If your new picture doesn't appear after you've confirmed it, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. Changes usually show up within a few seconds, but can take a few minutes to appear everywhere on the site. If you still don't see it after 10 minutes, log out and log back in.
If the upload button doesn't work, make sure your image file is in a common format like JPG or PNG, and that it's smaller than 4 MB. If you're on a phone and the camera won't open, check that Facebook has permission to access your camera and photos in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and make sure Facebook is turned on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Permissions and enable Camera and Photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture without notifying my friends?
Your new picture appears on your profile and in your activity right away, so friends who visit your profile or see your comments will notice the change. Facebook doesn't send a notification about profile picture changes, but people can see it happened if they look at your profile or your recent activity.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically crops your image into a circle, so the exact dimensions don't matter as much as the content. Use an image that's at least 400 pixels wide for best quality on phones and computers. Facebook will resize it to fit, so don't worry about precise measurements.
Can I use a video as my profile picture?
No, Facebook profile pictures must be still images. However, Facebook offers a separate feature called "Profile Video" that plays a short video clip when people hover over your profile picture. To add a profile video, go to your profile, click the camera icon, and select "Add Profile Video" if that option appears.
Why does my picture look blurry after I upload it?
If your original image is very small or low resolution, it may appear blurry when Facebook enlarges it. Use a photo that's at least 400 pixels wide, and avoid heavily compressed or old photos. If you're taking a new photo with your phone's camera, make sure you have good lighting and the camera is in focus before you snap it.
Can I schedule a profile picture change for a future date?
Facebook doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature for profile pictures. Your new picture goes live when ready when you confirm it. If you want to change it on a specific date, you'll need to do it manually on that day.