Change your profile picture in three steps

Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen. Select Profile from the menu that appears. On your profile page, hover your mouse over your current profile picture and click the camera icon that shows up in the bottom right corner of the image.

A menu will open with three options: Upload Photo, Choose from Photos, or Remove. Click Upload Photo to select a new image from your computer, or click Choose from Photos to pick from pictures you have already posted on Facebook. Select your image, then click Save or Confirm depending on which option you chose.

Your new profile picture will appear when ready on your profile and across Facebook. Anyone who visits your profile will see the updated image right away. The change also shows up in your activity log so your friends can see you changed your picture if they look at your recent activity.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your profile picture in the top left, select Profile, then hover over your current picture and click the camera icon to start the change.
  • You can upload a new photo from your computer or choose from pictures you have already posted on Facebook.
  • Your new profile picture appears when ready across all of Facebook once you confirm the change.
  • Facebook stores your old profile pictures in a special album so you can switch back to a previous picture anytime without re-uploading it.
  • You can add a frame or filter to your profile picture by clicking the camera icon and selecting Add Frame before you save.

Using photos you have already posted

If you want to use a picture that is already on Facebook, the Choose from Photos option saves you time. Click the camera icon on your profile picture, then select Choose from Photos. A window opens showing all the photos you have posted, organized by album.

Scroll through your photos and click the one you want to use as your profile picture. A preview will show you how it will look. Click Confirm to set it as your new profile picture. This method is faster than uploading because the photo is already on Facebook's servers.

Uploading a photo from your computer

To upload a new picture from your computer, click the camera icon on your profile picture and select Upload Photo. A file browser window opens. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, click the image, and click Open.

Facebook will show you a preview of how the photo will look as your profile picture. You can drag the image around to position it the way you want. Use the zoom slider if you need to make the picture larger or smaller within the circular frame. Once you are happy with how it looks, click Save to set it as your profile picture.

Adding frames and filters to your profile picture

Facebook lets you add decorative frames or filters to your profile picture. When you click the camera icon on your profile picture, look for an option that says Add Frame or Filters depending on your device. This opens a gallery of frames related to holidays, causes, or themes.

Select the frame you want and click it to see a preview. The frame will appear around your profile picture. Click Use as Profile Picture to save it. You can change or remove the frame anytime by going back to your profile picture and selecting a different frame or choosing Remove Frame.

Finding your old profile pictures

Facebook automatically saves every profile picture you have ever used in a special album called Profile Pictures. To see all your old profile pictures, go to your profile, click Photos, and look for the Profile Pictures album in the list.

Click on any old profile picture in this album and look for the three dots menu in the top right corner. Select Make Profile Picture to switch back to that photo. This is useful if you want to use a picture you liked from years ago without having to find and re-upload the original file from your computer.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your profile picture, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. Make sure you are logged into the correct Facebook account. If you are using Facebook on a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture instead of hovering, and the menu should appear.

If your new profile picture does not show up after you save it, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Facebook sometimes takes a moment to update across all servers. If the problem continues, try uploading a different image to see if the issue is with that specific photo. Images that are too small, too large, or in an unsupported format may not upload correctly.

If you see an error message saying the file is too large, the image is probably bigger than 4 MB. You can make the file smaller by opening it in a photo editor and reducing the dimensions or quality before uploading again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my profile picture on my phone?

Yes. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), tap your name, and tap your profile picture. Tap the camera icon and choose to upload a new photo or select one from your phone's photo library. The steps are the same as on a computer, just with tapping instead of clicking.

Will my friends get a notification when I change my profile picture?

Your friends will not get a direct notification, but the change will show up in their News Feed if they have activity notifications turned on. They will also see your new picture the next time they visit your profile or see you in a comment or message.

Can I make my profile picture private so only certain people see it?

Your profile picture is always visible to everyone on Facebook, including people who are not your friends. You cannot make it private or limit who sees it. If you want to keep a photo private, do not use it as your profile picture.

What size should my profile picture be?

Facebook automatically crops your image into a circle, so use a photo that looks good when the center is shown in a circle. The image should be at least 400 pixels wide and 400 pixels tall for the best quality. Most modern phone cameras take pictures that are large enough.

Can I use a video as my profile picture?

No. Facebook profile pictures must be still images in JPG, PNG, or GIF format. You cannot use a video file as your profile picture, but you can use an animated GIF if you want movement.