Change your profile picture from the mobile app or website
To change your Facebook profile picture, open Facebook on your phone or computer, tap or click your profile icon in the top left or top right corner, and select "Change profile picture" from the menu. You can then choose a photo from your phone's camera roll, take a new photo with your camera, or pick an existing photo already on Facebook. After you select the image, Facebook will let you crop and position it before you save the change.
The steps are nearly identical whether you use the Facebook app on iPhone or Android, or the website on a desktop or laptop. The main difference is where the buttons appear on your screen — but the process itself takes less than a minute once you have a photo ready.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from either the Facebook app or the website by tapping or clicking your profile icon and selecting "Change profile picture."
- Facebook lets you upload a new photo, use your phone's camera to take one, or select a photo you have already posted.
- You can crop and reposition your photo before saving it, and you can choose whether to make the change visible to everyone or only certain people.
- Your old profile picture stays in your photo albums even after you change it, so you can switch back to it later if you want.
- If you change your mind after saving, you can undo the change within a few seconds by tapping or clicking the undo button that appears.
Step-by-step instructions for the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app and look for your profile icon — a small circle with your current photo or a generic person silhouette — in the bottom right corner on iPhone or the top right corner on Android. Tap it once. This takes you to your profile page.
At the top of your profile, you will see your current profile picture. Tap directly on the photo itself, not the name or other information around it. A menu will pop up with the option "Change profile picture" at the top. Tap that option.
Facebook will now show you three choices: "Take a photo," "Upload photo," or "Choose from photos." If you want to use your phone's camera to take a new picture right now, tap "Take a photo" and your camera will open. If you want to pick a photo already saved on your phone, tap "Upload photo" and your photo library will open. If you want to use a photo you have already posted on Facebook, tap "Choose from photos" to browse your albums.
Once you have selected or taken your photo, Facebook will show you a preview with crop handles around the edges. You can pinch to zoom in or out, or drag the photo to reposition it so your face is centered and clearly visible. When the framing looks right, tap "Next" or "Done" (the button name varies slightly by phone type).
On the next screen, you will see a privacy option that says "Who can see this?" By default it is set to "Public," which means everyone on Facebook can see your new profile picture. If you want to change that — for example, to show it only to friends — tap the privacy button and select a different option. Then tap "Save" or "Confirm" to finish.
Step-by-step instructions for the Facebook website
Go to Facebook.com and log in if you are not already signed in. In the top left corner, you will see a small circle with your current profile picture. Click on it once. This takes you to your profile page.
At the top of your profile, you will see your current profile picture displayed large. Hover your mouse over the photo — a camera icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the image. Click that camera icon.
A menu will pop up with three options: "Upload photo," "Take a photo," or "Choose from photos." If you want to pick a photo from your computer, click "Upload photo" and your file browser will open. If your computer has a camera and you want to take a new photo, click "Take a photo." If you want to use a photo already on Facebook, click "Choose from photos."
After you select your photo, Facebook will show you a preview with crop handles. You can drag the corners to zoom in or out, or click and drag the photo itself to reposition it. Center your face in the frame. When it looks right, click "Next."
On the next screen, you will see a privacy dropdown that says "Who can see this?" It is set to "Public" by default. Click the dropdown if you want to change who can see your new profile picture — for example, to limit it to friends only. Then click "Save" to finish.
What happens to your old profile picture
When you change your profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically saves it to an album called "Profile Pictures" in your photos section. You can view all your past profile pictures by going to your profile, clicking or tapping "Photos," and then selecting the "Profile Pictures" album.
This means you can switch back to an old profile picture anytime you want. Just open that album, click or tap the photo you want to use, and select "Make profile picture" from the menu. You do not have to re-upload it or start from scratch.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is uploading a photo that is too small or blurry. Facebook works best with photos that are at least 400 pixels wide. If your photo is smaller than that, it may look pixelated or unclear when other people view your profile. Before you upload, check that your photo is sharp and taken in good lighting.
Another mistake is not centering your face properly during the crop step. If you rush through the positioning, your face may end up cut off or too small in the final image. Take a few seconds to make sure your face fills most of the frame and is clearly visible.
A third mistake is forgetting to check the privacy setting. If you do not want your profile picture visible to everyone on Facebook, you must change the "Who can see this?" setting before you click save. Once you save it as public, you will have to change it again to make it more private.
How to undo a profile picture change
If you change your profile picture and when ready realize you made a mistake, look for an "Undo" button that appears near the top of your screen for a few seconds after you save. Click or tap it to revert to your previous profile picture. This undo option only lasts for a short time — usually around 5 to 10 seconds — so act quickly if you need it.
If the undo window has closed, you can still switch back to your old picture by opening your Profile Pictures album, finding the photo you want, and selecting "Make profile picture" from the menu. This takes a few extra steps but works just as well.
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. Many people use photos of pets, artwork, logos, or other images. However, Facebook's community standards do prohibit certain content — for example, nudity, graphic violence, or hate symbols. As long as your image follows those rules, you can use whatever you want.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically resizes your photo to fit the profile picture frame, so you do not have to worry about exact dimensions. However, photos that are at least 400 pixels wide will look sharper and clearer than smaller images. If you are uploading a photo from your phone, it is almost certainly large enough.
Can I change my profile picture on someone else's phone or computer?
No. You can only change your own profile picture when you are logged into your own Facebook account. If you try to change someone else's picture, Facebook will not let you — you would need their login information, which you should never ask for or share.
Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?
Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your profile picture. However, the change may appear in their news feed if they follow your profile activity. Your friends will see the new picture the next time they visit your profile.
Can I set different profile pictures for different groups of friends?
No. You can only have one profile picture at a time, and it is the same for everyone who can see it. However, you can control who sees your profile picture by using the privacy setting when you upload it — for example, you can make it visible to friends only, or to specific lists of people.