The quickest way to change your profile picture
Open Facebook on your computer or phone and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on the site. Look for your current profile picture in the top left area of your profile. Click or tap directly on the picture itself — not the name or other parts of the profile. A menu will pop up with options including "Upload photo" and "Choose from photos". Select whichever matches what you want to do, then follow the on-screen steps to pick or take your new picture. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change before it goes live.
The whole process takes under a minute. Your new picture appears when ready to everyone on Facebook, though it may take a few seconds to show up everywhere at once.
Key Takeaways
- Click your current profile picture from your profile page to open the menu for changing it.
- You can upload a photo from your device, choose one you have already posted, or take a new photo with your camera.
- Facebook lets you crop and position your picture before confirming the change.
- Your new profile picture shows to all your friends and the public when ready, depending on your privacy settings.
- You can change your profile picture as often as you want with no limit.
Uploading a photo from your device
If you have a photo saved on your phone or computer that you want to use, select "Upload photo" from the menu that appears when you click your profile picture. Your device will open a file browser showing your photos. Find the one you want and tap or click it to select it.
Facebook will then show you the photo and let you crop it into a square or circle shape, depending on your preference. You can drag the photo around to position it the way you want. Once you are happy with how it looks, click "Save" or "Confirm" to make it your new profile picture.
Choosing from photos you have already posted
Select "Choose from photos" if you want to use a picture you have already shared on Facebook. This opens a gallery of your past posts. Scroll through and click the photo you want. Facebook will show you a preview and let you crop it if needed.
This option is useful if you want to reuse a photo without having to find the file on your device again. It also means the photo is already in Facebook's system, so the change happens when ready.
Taking a new photo with your camera
On a phone or tablet, the menu that appears when you click your profile picture usually includes an option to take a photo right then. Tap "Take a photo" or the camera icon. Your device will open the camera app and let you snap a picture when ready.
After you take the photo, Facebook shows you a preview. You can retake it if you do not like how it looks, or proceed to crop and confirm it as your new profile picture.
Cropping and positioning your picture
No matter which method you use to pick a photo, Facebook gives you a chance to crop it before saving. The cropping tool shows your photo in a square or circle frame (you can usually switch between the two). Drag the photo around inside the frame to position it the way you want — for example, to center your face or hide a background you do not like.
You can also pinch to zoom in or out on most phones, or use a zoom slider on a computer, to make the photo larger or smaller inside the frame. Take your time with this step, because once you confirm, that is the picture everyone sees.
What happens after you change your picture
Your new profile picture replaces your old one everywhere on Facebook within seconds. Your friends see it in their feed, on your profile, and next to your comments and messages. If your profile is public, people who are not your friends can see it too, depending on your privacy settings.
Facebook keeps your old profile pictures in an album called "Profile Pictures" on your profile. You can view them anytime by going to your photos and looking for that album. If you ever want to switch back to an old picture, you can click it and select "Make profile picture" from the menu.
Privacy and who can see your picture
Your profile picture is visible to everyone by default, even people who are not your friends. If you want to limit who sees it, go to your privacy settings and adjust who can see your profile. You can choose to show your profile to friends only, or to a custom list of people.
Keep in mind that your profile picture may still appear in search results and in places like Facebook Messenger even if you restrict who can see your full profile. If you want maximum privacy, avoid using a photo that identifies you personally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture on the Facebook app?
Yes. Open the app, tap your profile icon at the bottom, then tap your current profile picture. The same menu appears with options to upload, choose from past photos, or take a new one. The process is identical to the computer version.
What if I want to go back to my old profile picture?
Go to your profile and click "Photos" or "Albums". Find the album called "Profile Pictures" and open it. Click the old picture you want to use and select "Make profile picture" from the menu. It becomes your new profile picture when ready.
How many times can I change my profile picture?
You can change it as many times as you want with no limit. Some people change theirs daily, others keep the same one for years. There is no restriction from Facebook on how often you do this.
Will my old profile picture be deleted?
No. Facebook saves all your old profile pictures in your "Profile Pictures" album. You can view them anytime and switch back to any of them if you want. They stay there unless you manually delete them.
What size photo works best for a profile picture?
Facebook works with photos of any size — it will crop and resize automatically. For the clearest result, use a photo that is at least 400 pixels wide. Square photos (same width and height) work best since Facebook displays profile pictures in a square or circle shape.