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 (on mobile) or top right (on desktop). Select Change profile picture from the menu that appears. Choose a photo from your phone, computer, or Facebook albums, then tap or click Set as profile picture. The change takes effect when ready and is visible to everyone on your friends list and your profile page.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your old profile picture stays in your photo albums unless you delete it separately — changing your profile picture does not remove it from Facebook.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from the menu next to your current photo, available on both mobile and desktop versions of Facebook.
- Facebook lets you upload a new photo, use an existing photo from your albums, or take a photo with your device's camera on the spot.
- Your profile picture change is visible to your friends and the public within seconds, depending on your privacy settings.
- You can add a frame, filter, or caption to your new profile picture before confirming the change.
- Your old profile picture remains in your albums and can be restored at any time by setting it as your profile picture again.
Step-by-step instructions for mobile devices
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and look for your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen. Tap it once. A menu will appear with several options — select Change profile picture. Facebook will then show you three choices: Take a photo (uses your phone's camera), Choose from photos (opens your phone's photo library), or Choose from Facebook (shows photos already uploaded to your Facebook albums).
Pick whichever source has the photo you want. Once you select a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with cropping tools. You can zoom in or out and move the photo around to frame it the way you want. When you are happy with how it looks, tap the checkmark or Use this photo button. A screen will appear asking if you want to add a frame or filter — you can skip this or choose one. Tap Set as profile picture to finish.
Step-by-step instructions for desktop and laptop
Go to Facebook.com and log in. In the top right corner, click your profile picture. A dropdown menu appears — click Change profile picture. A window will pop up with the same three options: Upload photo (browse your computer), Choose from photos (your Facebook albums), or Take a photo (if your computer has a camera).
Select your photo and use the cropping and zoom tools to position it. The preview shows you exactly how it will appear on your profile. Once you are satisfied, click Set as profile picture. If you want to add a frame or filter, Facebook offers those options on the next screen — they are optional. Your new profile picture goes live when ready.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you set a new profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically moves it to a folder called Profile Pictures in your photo albums. You can see all your past profile pictures by going to your profile, clicking Photos, and then selecting the Profile Pictures album.
If you want to go back to an old profile picture, open that album, click the photo you want, and select Make profile picture. You can restore any previous profile picture this way without re-uploading it. If you want to permanently remove an old profile picture from Facebook, you can delete it from the Profile Pictures album, but this is separate from changing your current profile picture.
Privacy settings for your profile picture
By default, your profile picture is visible to everyone — your friends, people who are not your friends, and anyone browsing Facebook. You cannot make your profile picture visible only to certain people; Facebook does not offer that level of control. However, you can control who sees your entire profile by adjusting your overall profile privacy settings.
To check who can see your profile picture, go to your profile, click the three dots next to your name, and select Settings and privacy then Settings. Look for Privacy in the left menu. Under Who can see your posts? you can choose Public, Friends, or Only me. Your profile picture visibility follows this setting — if your profile is set to Friends only, only your friends will see your profile picture on your profile page, though it may still appear next to your comments and posts depending on those items' privacy settings.
Adding frames and filters to your profile picture
When you change your profile picture, Facebook offers the option to add a frame or filter before you confirm. Frames are decorative borders that Facebook creates for holidays, causes, or events — for example, a rainbow frame for Pride Month or a flag frame for a country. Filters are color adjustments or effects that change how the photo looks.
You can add or change a frame after you have already set your profile picture. Click your profile picture, select Change profile picture, choose the same photo, and then select a different frame or filter. You do not have to upload a new photo to change the frame. If you want to remove a frame or filter later, repeat this process and select No frame or No filter.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the Change profile picture option does not appear, make sure you are logged into your own account, not viewing someone else's profile. You can only change your own profile picture. If you are on your profile and the option still does not show, try logging out and logging back in, or try using a different browser or the mobile app instead of the website.
If your new profile picture does not appear after you set it, wait a few minutes — Facebook sometimes takes a moment to update across all servers. If it still has not changed after 10 minutes, try changing it again. If you are having trouble uploading a photo from your computer, make sure the file is in a common format like JPG or PNG and is smaller than 4 MB. If you are uploading from your phone, make sure you have given the Facebook app permission to access your photos in your phone's settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture on Facebook without it showing up in my friends' news feeds?
No. When you change your profile picture, Facebook notifies your friends that you have updated it. The notification appears in their news feed and on your profile. You cannot hide this change from your friends, though you can control who sees your profile overall through privacy settings.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically crops and resizes your photo to fit the profile picture space, so you do not need to resize it beforehand. However, photos that are at least 400 by 400 pixels will look sharpest. If your photo is smaller, Facebook will stretch it slightly, which may make it look blurry. Square photos work best because Facebook displays profile pictures in a circle, and a square photo crops evenly.
Can I use a video as my profile picture?
No. Facebook profile pictures must be still images — JPG, PNG, or GIF formats. You cannot upload a video file as your profile picture. However, you can create a short video and upload it to your profile separately, or use an animated GIF if you want movement in your profile picture.
How often can I change my profile picture?
You can change your profile picture as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times per day or per week you can update it. Each time you change it, your friends will see a notification, so changing it very frequently may clutter their news feeds.
What if I accidentally deleted my profile picture?
If you deleted a profile picture from your Profile Pictures album, you can restore it if you have a backup or the original file on your computer or phone. Upload it again and set it as your profile picture. If you do not have a copy, you will need to choose a different photo. Facebook does not recover deleted photos.