Open Facebook and go to your profile

Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap your name to open your profile page.

Once you're on your profile, you'll see your current profile picture in the top left area. The picture appears as a circular image above your name and basic information.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap your profile picture from your profile page, then select "Edit Profile Picture" to start the change process.
  • You can choose a photo from your iPhone's camera roll, take a new photo with your camera, or use a previously uploaded Facebook photo.
  • After selecting your image, you can crop and position it before confirming the change.
  • Your new profile picture appears when ready on your profile and in your activity across Facebook.
  • You can delete or hide old profile pictures from the "Photos" section of your profile if you want to remove them from view.

Tap your profile picture to open editing options

Press directly on your circular profile picture. A menu will pop up with several options. Look for and tap "Edit Profile Picture" — this is the option that lets you change what appears.

If you don't see this menu, make sure you're tapping the actual image itself, not the area around it. The tap needs to land on the circular photo.

Choose where your new photo comes from

After tapping "Edit Profile Picture," you'll see three main options: "Take Photo," "Choose from Photos," or "Choose from Recent." Select the method that works for you.

"Take Photo" opens your iPhone camera so you can snap a new picture right then. "Choose from Photos" opens your camera roll, where you can browse and select any photo already saved on your phone. "Choose from Recent" shows photos you've recently taken or saved, which is faster if your new picture is recent.

Select and crop your image

Once you've picked your photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a square frame overlaid on the image. This frame shows what part of your photo will actually appear as your profile picture. Drag the image around to position it how you want, or pinch to zoom in and out.

Take your time here — profile pictures are small, so make sure your face or the main subject is clearly visible and centered. Avoid having important details cut off at the edges.

Confirm and save your new profile picture

Once you're happy with how the image looks in the frame, tap "Use" or "Save" (the exact wording depends on your Facebook app version). Facebook processes the change when ready.

Your new profile picture now appears on your profile page, in your posts, and anywhere else your profile picture shows across Facebook. Friends will see the updated image when they visit your profile or in their news feed.

Manage old profile pictures if you want to hide them

When you change your profile picture, Facebook keeps your previous ones in a folder called "Profile Pictures." These old photos remain visible to anyone who visits your profile unless you delete or hide them.

To remove them from view, go to your profile, tap "Photos," then tap "Profile Pictures." Long-press on any old photo you want to remove, then tap "Delete" or "Hide from Profile" depending on what you prefer. Deleting removes it entirely; hiding keeps it in your account but removes it from public view.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the "Edit Profile Picture" option doesn't appear, make sure you're using the latest version of the Facebook app. Go to the App Store, search for Facebook, and tap "Update" if one is available. Outdated versions sometimes have missing features or bugs.

If your photo won't upload or the app freezes during the process, close Facebook completely and reopen it. If that doesn't work, try restarting your iPhone. Low storage space on your phone can also cause upload problems — check your iPhone's storage in Settings and delete files if you're running low.

If your new profile picture appears blurry or low quality, the original photo file may be too small or compressed. Try selecting a higher-resolution photo, or take a new one in good lighting with your camera held steady.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo that's not on my iPhone?

No, the Facebook app on iPhone only lets you choose from photos stored on your device or take a new one with your camera. If you want to use a photo from the internet, you'll need to save it to your camera roll first, then select it through the "Choose from Photos" option.

What happens to my old profile pictures?

Facebook saves all your previous profile pictures in a folder called "Profile Pictures" on your profile. They stay there unless you delete them. Other people can still see them if they visit your profile and look at your photos, unless you hide them.

How long does it take for my new profile picture to show up?

Your new profile picture appears on your profile almost when ready after you confirm the change. It may take a few minutes to show up in other places like your friends' news feeds or in search results, but this is usually very fast.

Can I set different profile pictures for different people to see?

No, Facebook doesn't have a feature to show different profile pictures to different people. Everyone sees the same profile picture. However, you can control who sees your profile itself through your privacy settings.

What if I accidentally deleted my profile picture?

You can restore it from your "Profile Pictures" folder. Go to your profile, tap "Photos," then "Profile Pictures," and tap on the photo you want to use again. Tap "Use as Profile Picture" to set it back.