Your avatar is the small circular photo that appears next to your name on Facebook
Your avatar (also called your profile picture) is the image Facebook displays next to your posts, comments, and messages. It appears in a small circle on your profile, in your friends' feeds, and anywhere else your name shows up on the platform. Changing it takes less than a minute and you can do it from your phone or computer.
The steps are nearly identical whether you use Facebook on a web browser or the mobile app. The main difference is where you tap or click to start — everything after that follows the same path.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your avatar from your profile page by clicking or tapping your current profile picture and selecting "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo".
- Facebook lets you use a photo from your device, take a new photo with your camera, or select an existing photo you have already posted.
- Your avatar appears as a small circle next to your name across Facebook, so choose an image you are comfortable with people seeing regularly.
- You can change your avatar as often as you want with no limit on how many times per day or week.
How to change your avatar on a computer
Open Facebook in your web browser and log in if you are not already signed in. Look at the top right corner of the page — you will see your current avatar photo in a small circle. Click directly on that circle.
A menu will appear with several options. Look for and click "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo" (the exact wording depends on your Facebook version). This opens a window where you can select an image from your computer. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, click the photo you want, and then click "Open" or "Select".
Facebook will show you a preview of how the photo will look as your avatar. You can drag the image around or use the zoom slider to adjust which part of the photo appears in the circle. Once you are happy with how it looks, click "Save" or "Confirm". Your new avatar will appear immediately across Facebook.
How to change your avatar on your phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap your name — this takes you to your profile page. At the top of your profile, you will see your current avatar photo in a large circle.
Tap directly on your avatar photo. A menu will appear with options including "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo". Tap "Upload Photo" to select a photo from your phone's photo library, or tap "Take Photo" if you want to take a new picture with your camera right then.
If you chose to upload an existing photo, your phone will open your photo library. Find and tap the photo you want. Facebook will show you a preview and let you adjust which part of the image appears in the circle by pinching to zoom or dragging the image. Tap "Save" when you are ready. Your new avatar will show up immediately.
Where to find photos to use as your avatar
You can use any photo stored on your device — a photo you took yourself, a screenshot, an image you downloaded, or anything else in your photo library. Facebook will crop it into a circle, so choose an image where the part you want to see is roughly in the center.
You can also use a photo you have already posted on Facebook. When you tap "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo", look for an option that says "Choose from Photos" or "Select Existing Photo". This shows you photos you have posted before, making it easy to reuse one without having to find the original file on your device.
Some people use a headshot or portrait where their face is clearly visible. Others use a photo that includes other people, a pet, a landscape, or an illustration. There is no rule — use whatever image you want to represent yourself on Facebook.
What happens to your old avatar
When you change your avatar, your old one disappears from your profile and from next to your name everywhere on Facebook. However, Facebook keeps a record of all your past profile pictures in a folder called "Profile Pictures" on your profile page. You can view this folder anytime to see your history of avatars.
If you ever want to go back to an old avatar, you can open the Profile Pictures folder, click on the old photo, and select "Make Profile Picture". This instantly restores that image as your current avatar without having to re-upload the file.
Troubleshooting if your new avatar is not showing up
If you changed your avatar but still see the old one, try refreshing the page. Press F5 on your keyboard (or Ctrl+R on Windows, Command+R on Mac) to reload Facebook. If you are on the mobile app, close the app completely and open it again. Sometimes Facebook takes a few seconds to update across all its servers.
If the new avatar still does not appear after refreshing, check that the photo file is not corrupted. Try uploading a different photo to see if the problem is with that specific image or with your account. If a different photo works, the original file may be damaged and you should try a different image.
On rare occasions, Facebook has temporary technical issues that delay avatar updates. If you have waited several minutes and tried refreshing multiple times, the problem is likely on Facebook's end. Wait a few minutes and try again — your avatar should update within an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that includes other people as my avatar?
Yes. Facebook does not restrict who or what appears in your avatar photo. Many people use photos with family members, friends, or pets. Keep in mind that your avatar is visible to everyone who sees your posts and comments, so choose an image you are comfortable sharing widely.
What size photo works best for an avatar?
Any size works — Facebook will resize and crop it automatically to fit the circular avatar shape. Photos that are roughly square (equal width and height) tend to work best because less of the image gets cut off when Facebook crops it into a circle. But you can use any photo and adjust which part shows by dragging and zooming before you save.
How often can I change my avatar?
You can change your avatar as many times as you want with no restrictions. Some people change it daily, others keep the same one for years. There is no limit on how frequently you can update it.
Will my avatar change on Facebook Messenger too?
Yes. Your avatar on Messenger is the same image as your Facebook avatar. When you change one, the other updates automatically. The same photo appears next to your name in both apps.
What if I do not want an avatar at all?
Facebook requires an avatar on your profile, so you cannot remove it entirely. However, you can use a blank image, a solid color, or any other image that does not show your face or identifying information. Some people use a simple graphic or symbol instead of a photo.