The fastest way to change your profile picture
Open Facebook on your phone or computer and tap or click your profile picture in the top left corner. Select Profile from the menu that appears. On your profile page, hover over or tap your current profile picture, and a camera icon will show up in the corner. Click or tap that icon, then choose Upload Photo to pick a new image from your device, or Take a Photo to use your camera right now. Select the photo you want, adjust the crop if needed, and tap Save.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your new picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments and messages you send going forward. Anyone who visits your profile will see the new image right away.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking the camera icon that appears when you hover over your current picture.
- Facebook lets you upload a photo from your device, take a new photo with your camera, or choose from photos you have already posted.
- Your new profile picture shows up when ready across Facebook, including on your profile, in comments, and in messages.
- You can change your picture as often as you want, and old pictures stay in your photo archive if you want to use them again later.
- If you make a mistake or change your mind, you can revert to a previous profile picture within a few clicks.
Uploading a photo from your device
When you tap the camera icon and select Upload Photo, Facebook opens your device's photo library or file manager. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored — usually Photos, Pictures, or Downloads on most phones and computers. Tap or click the photo you want to use.
Facebook then shows you a preview with a square crop box. You can drag the image around inside the box to position it the way you want, or pinch to zoom in and out on phones. Once the crop looks right, tap Save or Next to confirm. The photo becomes your new profile picture when ready.
Taking a new photo with your camera
If you choose Take a Photo instead of uploading, Facebook opens your device's camera app. Point the camera at yourself or whatever you want as your profile picture, and tap the shutter button to take the shot. You can take as many photos as you need — Facebook will let you pick which one to use.
After you take the photo, you will see the same crop screen as with uploads. Adjust the framing so your face or subject is centered in the square, then save. The photo goes live as your profile picture right away. If you do not like how it turned out, you can change it again within seconds.
Choosing from photos you have already posted
Instead of uploading or taking a new photo, you can use any picture you have already posted on Facebook. Tap the camera icon and look for an option like Choose from Photos or Select Photo. Facebook shows you a grid of photos from your albums and posts.
Scroll through and tap the photo you want. Facebook crops it to a square and lets you adjust the position before you save. This is useful if you have a good photo already on your profile and want to make it your main picture without uploading the file again.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook stores it in an album called Profile Pictures that only you can see unless you change your privacy settings. You can view this album by going to your profile, clicking Photos, and selecting Profile Pictures from the list.
If you want to go back to an old profile picture, open that album, tap the photo, and select Make Profile Picture. You can switch back and forth between any of your old pictures without uploading them again. If you want to delete an old profile picture from the album, tap it and select Delete, though Facebook may keep a copy in your archive for a while.
Fixing mistakes and common problems
If you accidentally set the wrong photo as your profile picture, just change it again — there is no limit to how many times you can do this. Open your profile, tap the camera icon, and pick a different image. The change takes effect when ready.
If your new picture does not show up right away on your phone, try closing and reopening the Facebook app. On a computer, refresh the page. If the image looks cropped strangely or cut off, go back and adjust the crop box before saving. Make sure the photo file is not corrupted or too large — Facebook accepts most common formats like JPG and PNG, and works best with files under 4 MB.
Controlling who sees your profile picture
By default, everyone on Facebook can see your profile picture. If you want to limit who sees it, go to your profile and tap the three dots next to your name. Select Edit Profile, then scroll to your profile picture section. Tap the audience icon (usually a globe or people symbol) next to your picture and choose Friends Only, Only Me, or a custom list of people.
Keep in mind that your profile picture will still appear in comments and messages you send, and people you message can always see it. Changing the privacy setting only affects who can see it when they visit your profile page itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook does not require your profile picture to be a photo of you. You can use a landscape, an object, a pet, a logo, or anything else. Just keep in mind that your profile picture is how people recognize you, so something recognizable works better than a random image.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically crops your photo to a square and resizes it to fit. You do not need to resize it yourself beforehand. Photos between 400 and 1200 pixels on each side work best and will stay sharp, but Facebook accepts smaller and larger images too.
How long does it take for my new profile picture to show up everywhere?
Your new profile picture appears on your profile page when ready. It may take a few minutes to show up in other places like your friends' feeds, comment sections, or messenger, especially on phones. Refreshing the app or page usually speeds this up.
Can I change my profile picture on the Facebook app and the website?
Yes. The process is the same on both. You can change your picture on your phone, and it will show up on the website, and vice versa. Use whichever device is easiest for you at the time.
What if I want to hide my profile picture temporarily?
Facebook does not have a built-in way to hide your profile picture completely while keeping your account active. Your best option is to change it to a generic image or something that does not show your face, then change it back later when you want to.