Change your cover photo from your profile or phone
To change your Facebook cover photo, go to your profile, hover over the current cover image, and click the camera icon that appears. Select Upload Photo to choose a new image from your device, or Choose from Photos to pick one you have already posted. On a phone, tap the camera icon on your cover, then tap Upload Photo or Choose from Photos. The new cover takes effect when ready.
You can also change your cover by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of your cover image and selecting Change Cover Photo. This route works the same way on both desktop and mobile.
Facebook stores your cover photo history, so if you change your mind within a few days, you can click the three dots again and select Revert to go back to a previous cover.
Key Takeaways
- The camera icon appears when you hover over your cover photo on desktop, or when you tap it on a phone.
- You can upload a new photo from your device or choose one from photos you have already posted to Facebook.
- Your cover photo changes right away and is visible to everyone who can see your profile.
- You can revert to a previous cover photo within a few days by clicking the three dots and selecting Revert.
- Cover photos must be at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall, though Facebook recommends 820 by 312 pixels for best quality.
Where to find the camera icon on desktop
On a computer, open your Facebook profile by clicking your name in the top left corner or by clicking your profile picture. Look at your cover photo — when you move your mouse over it, a camera icon appears in the bottom right corner of the image. Click that icon to open the cover photo menu.
If the camera icon does not appear, make sure you are logged into your own account and viewing your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change the cover photo on your own profile.
Where to find the camera icon on your phone
Open the Facebook app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen (on Android) or in the top right (on iPhone). Scroll to the top of your profile to see your cover photo. Tap the cover photo itself, and a camera icon will appear in the center of the image.
Tap the camera icon, and you will see two options: Upload Photo and Choose from Photos. Upload Photo lets you take a new picture or pick one from your phone's camera roll. Choose from Photos shows photos you have already posted to Facebook.
Uploading a photo versus choosing from existing photos
Upload Photo is the faster choice if you have a new image on your phone or computer that you want to use right away. You can pick any image file — it does not have to be a photo you have posted before. Facebook will ask you to crop and position the image before confirming.
Choose from Photos pulls from photos you have already shared on Facebook. This is useful if you want to reuse a photo you know looks good on your profile, or if you want to keep your cover photo consistent with images already in your timeline. Facebook shows you thumbnails so you can see what each one looks like before you pick it.
How to position and crop your cover photo
After you select an image, Facebook shows you a preview with a white rectangle overlaid on top. That rectangle is the area that will show on your profile — the parts outside it will be hidden. You can drag the image around to move what appears in that rectangle, or pinch to zoom in and out on a phone.
Take a moment to check how your image looks in the preview. If your photo has text or a face you want to center, make sure it falls inside the white rectangle. Once you are happy with the position, click or tap Save to confirm.
What size and format Facebook accepts
Facebook accepts most common image formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP. Your image must be at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall, but Facebook recommends uploading at 820 by 312 pixels for the sharpest result on all devices. If your image is smaller than the minimum, Facebook will reject it and ask you to choose a different one.
File size matters less than dimensions — Facebook compresses images automatically, so a photo that is 5 MB or 50 MB will both work. The main thing is that your image is wide enough. Cover photos are landscape-oriented, so portrait photos (taller than they are wide) will not fill the space properly.
Why your cover photo might not change
If you clicked Save but your cover photo did not update, try refreshing your page. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to appear. If you are on a phone, close the Facebook app completely and open it again.
If the problem persists, check that the image file is not corrupted. Try uploading a different photo to see if the issue is with that specific image or with your account. If no photos will upload, clear your browser cache (on desktop) or clear the app's cache in your phone settings, then try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other people see when I change my cover photo?
Yes. When you change your cover photo, the change appears on your timeline and shows up in the activity feed of people who follow you. If your profile is public, anyone can see the new cover. If your profile is private, only your friends can see it.
Can I use a video as my cover photo?
No. Facebook cover photos must be still images — JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP. You cannot upload a video as your cover. However, you can post a video to your timeline and then use a screenshot from that video as your cover photo.
What happens to my old cover photos?
Facebook keeps a history of your cover photos for a limited time. Click the three dots on your current cover and select See all or View all to see previous covers. You can revert to an old cover from this menu, though very old covers may no longer be available.
Can I schedule a cover photo change for a future date?
No. Facebook does not have a built-in scheduling feature for cover photos. You have to change your cover manually each time. Some third-party tools claim to offer scheduling, but Facebook does not officially support them.
Why is my cover photo blurry or cut off?
Blurriness usually means your image is too small or was compressed heavily before upload. Use an image that is at least 820 by 312 pixels. Cut-off edges happen when your image is not wide enough or when you did not position it correctly during the crop step. Re-upload and adjust the position in the preview before saving.