The quickest way to change your profile picture
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the edit profile button (it looks like a person with a pencil). Tap your current profile picture, and Instagram will ask whether you want to take a new photo with your camera or choose one from your phone's photo library. Select your choice, crop the image if you want, and tap done. The new picture appears on your profile when ready.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your new picture shows up in your followers' feeds and on your profile right away — there is no waiting period or approval step.
Key Takeaways
- Tap your profile icon, then edit profile, then your current picture to start the change.
- You can take a fresh photo with your phone's camera or pick an existing image from your library.
- Instagram crops profile pictures into a circle, so choose an image where your face or subject is centered.
- The new picture appears when ready on your profile and in your followers' activity feeds.
- You can change your profile picture as many times as you want with no limits.
Taking a new photo instead of uploading an old one
If you want to take a fresh picture right then, tap the camera option when Instagram asks where your photo should come from. Your phone's camera opens. Take your shot, then tap the checkmark to confirm it. Instagram will show you a preview of how the picture will look as a circle — this is important because profile pictures are always cropped into a circle shape, so a photo that looks good as a square might cut off your face.
If the crop does not look right, you can pinch and drag to reposition the image before you tap done. Center your face or the main subject so nothing important gets cut off at the edges.
Choosing a photo from your library
Tap the library option to browse photos already saved on your phone. Instagram shows your recent photos first. Scroll through to find the one you want, or use the search feature at the top to look for photos by date or album. Once you pick a photo, you will see the same circle preview. Drag and pinch to move the image around until the part you want is centered in the circle.
Remember that Instagram always shows profile pictures as circles, even if you upload a square or rectangular image. A photo where your face fills most of the frame works better than one where you are small in the corner.
What happens to your old profile picture
Instagram does not keep a public record of your old profile pictures. When you upload a new one, the old picture disappears from your profile. Your followers will see the new picture the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed.
If you want to save your current profile picture before you change it, take a screenshot of your profile or read the image to your phone first. Instagram does not offer a built-in way to view your past profile pictures, so this is the only way to keep a copy.
Removing your profile picture entirely
Go to edit profile and tap your current picture. Instead of choosing a new photo, look for the option to remove or delete the picture — the exact wording depends on your phone's operating system. Once you remove it, Instagram shows a blank circle with a person icon in its place. You can add a new picture back anytime by following the same steps.
A blank profile picture is unusual and may make your account look incomplete to people visiting your profile for the first time. Most accounts keep some kind of picture, even if it is not a photo of yourself.
Troubleshooting if the change does not appear
If you changed your picture but it still shows the old one, close Instagram completely and reopen it. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show the update. If you still see the old picture after closing and reopening, wait a few minutes — Instagram's servers sometimes take a moment to sync the change across all your devices.
If the problem continues, check that you actually tapped done after selecting your new picture. It is straightforward to tap back by accident before confirming. If you are still stuck, try logging out of Instagram and logging back in. This forces your phone to pull the latest version of your profile from Instagram's servers.
Profile picture size and format
Instagram accepts photos in JPG, PNG, and GIF formats. There is no strict file size limit, but smaller files upload faster. Your image can be any dimensions — Instagram will crop it into a circle no matter what shape you upload.
For the clearest result, use a photo that is at least 320 by 320 pixels. Smaller images may look blurry when displayed as your profile picture. If you are taking a new photo with your phone's camera, the resolution is almost always high enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as my profile picture?
No, Instagram profile pictures must be still images. You cannot upload a video or animated GIF as your main profile picture. However, some accounts use a series of static images changed frequently to create a similar effect.
Will my followers get a notification when I change my profile picture?
No direct notification goes out, but your followers may see the change if they visit your profile or if Instagram shows your profile in their feed. The change appears when ready with no delay.
Can I change my profile picture on a computer instead of my phone?
Yes. Go to Instagram.com, click your profile icon in the top right, select edit profile, click your current picture, and upload a new image from your computer. The steps are the same as on a phone.
What if I want to use a picture that is not on my phone yet?
read the image to your phone first, then follow the library option in the edit profile screen. If you are on a computer, you can upload directly without saving the image first.
Does Instagram compress or change my profile picture quality?
Instagram compresses all images to reduce file size and load time. Your profile picture will be slightly lower quality than the original, but the difference is usually not noticeable on a small circular image.