The quickest way to change your Instagram profile photo
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) at the top right, then select "Settings and privacy." Scroll down and tap "Account," then "Profile photo." You'll see two options: take a new photo with your camera, or choose one from your phone's photo library. Pick whichever you prefer, crop it if you want, and tap "Save" or "Done."
The whole process takes about 30 seconds. If you're on a computer instead of a phone, go to Instagram.com, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Edit profile," and you'll see a circular profile photo at the top — click it to upload a new one the same way.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile photo from either the Instagram app on your phone or from Instagram.com on a computer.
- Instagram lets you take a new photo on the spot or pick one you've already saved on your phone.
- You can crop and adjust the photo before you save it, so you don't have to get the framing perfect beforehand.
- If you remove your profile photo entirely, Instagram will show a blank circle with your initials instead.
Changing your photo on the Instagram app
Start by opening the Instagram app and look at the bottom of your screen. You'll see five icons — the last one on the right is your profile icon, usually showing your current profile photo or a person silhouette if you don't have one yet. Tap it.
Once you're on your profile page, look at the top right corner. You'll see three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other — this is the menu button. Tap it, then scroll down until you see "Settings and privacy." Tap that option. Next, tap "Account," then find and tap "Profile photo." Instagram will now show you two choices: "Take photo" or "Choose from library." If you want to use your phone's camera to take a new picture right then, tap "Take photo." If you want to use a photo you've already taken and saved, tap "Choose from library" and browse your phone's photo folders.
After you pick or take a photo, Instagram will let you crop it and position it how you want. The photo needs to fit inside a circle, so you'll see a circular frame. Drag the photo around and pinch to zoom in or out until it looks right. When you're happy with it, tap "Save" or "Done" — the button name depends on which version of Instagram you have, but it will be obvious.
Changing your photo on a computer
Go to Instagram.com in your web browser and log in if you're not already. Click the profile icon in the top right corner — it's a small circle showing your current photo. A dropdown menu will appear. Click "Edit profile."
On the Edit Profile page, you'll see your profile photo as a larger circle near the top. Click directly on that circle. A window will pop up asking you to choose a file from your computer. Navigate to the folder where your photos are saved, pick the one you want, and click "Open." Instagram will show you a preview with a circular crop frame, just like on the phone app. Drag and zoom to position the photo, then click "Save" or "Done."
What happens if you remove your profile photo
If you decide you don't want a profile photo at all, you can remove it. On the phone app, go through the same steps to "Profile photo," but look for an option that says "Remove photo" or a trash icon. On the computer, click your profile photo on the Edit Profile page and look for a "Remove" or trash icon option.
When you remove your profile photo, Instagram doesn't leave a blank space. Instead, it shows a circle with your initials or a generic person silhouette. Your account still works exactly the same way — people can still find you, message you, and see your posts. The only difference is what shows in that small circle next to your name.
Fixing common problems when uploading a new photo
If you're trying to upload a photo and nothing happens, the most common reason is that Instagram is having trouble connecting to your phone's camera or photo library. Close the Instagram app completely — don't just swipe away from it, actually close it. Then open it again and try once more. This fixes the problem about half the time.
If the photo you're trying to upload is very large (over 8 megabytes), Instagram might reject it. This is rare with modern phones, but if it happens, you can try uploading a different photo or using a computer instead, which sometimes handles larger files better. Another reason uploads fail is if your phone's storage is almost full — Instagram needs a little free space to work. Delete some old photos or videos from your phone and try again.
If you're on a computer and the upload button doesn't work, try a different web browser. Sometimes Instagram has small glitches in one browser but works fine in another. Chrome and Firefox are usually the most reliable.
Why your profile photo might look different to other people
Sometimes you change your profile photo and it looks perfect on your phone, but your friends say it looks blurry or cut off when they view your profile. This usually happens because of how Instagram crops the photo for different screen sizes. What you see on your phone screen might display differently on someone else's phone, a tablet, or a computer.
To avoid this, when you're cropping your photo, keep the most important part — usually your face — in the very center of the circle. Avoid putting important details right at the edge, because those edges might get hidden depending on what device someone is using to view your profile. If you upload a photo and it doesn't look right, you can always change it again — there's no limit to how many times you can update it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that's not of me as my profile picture?
Yes. Instagram doesn't require your profile photo to be a picture of you. Many people use photos of pets, artwork, logos, or anything else. The only restriction is that the photo can't violate Instagram's community guidelines — so nothing that's violent, hateful, or sexually explicit.
What size should my profile photo be?
Instagram automatically crops any photo you upload into a circle, so the exact size doesn't matter much. Photos that are at least 400 pixels by 400 pixels will look sharp, but Instagram will work with smaller photos too. Most photos from a modern phone camera are large enough.
How long does it take for my new profile photo to show up everywhere?
Your new profile photo usually shows up on your profile page within a few seconds. However, it might take a few minutes to appear next to your comments, posts, or messages because Instagram's servers need time to update everywhere. If it hasn't changed after 10 minutes, try closing and reopening the app.
Can I change my profile photo if my account is private?
Yes. Whether your account is public or private doesn't affect your ability to change your profile photo. The steps are exactly the same either way.
What if I accidentally deleted my profile photo and want it back?
Instagram doesn't keep a backup of your old profile photos, so you'll need to upload the original photo file again if you still have it on your phone or computer. If you don't have the original file, you can't recover it through Instagram. Going forward, it's a good idea to keep copies of photos you like in a separate folder.