The quickest way to change your Facebook profile photo
To change your profile photo on Facebook, click your profile picture in the top left corner of any page, then select "Change profile picture" from the menu that appears. Choose whether to upload a photo from your computer, take a new one with your camera, or select from photos you have already posted. Once you pick an image, crop it to frame your face, then click "Set as profile picture" to save the change.
The new photo appears immediately on your profile and in comments, messages, and anywhere else your profile picture shows. Facebook keeps your old profile pictures in an album called "Profile Pictures" so you can switch back to a previous photo anytime without re-uploading it.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top left corner and select "Change profile picture" to start the process on any device.
- You can upload a new photo from your computer, use your camera to take one, or choose from photos you have already posted on Facebook.
- Facebook stores all your old profile pictures in a "Profile Pictures" album, so you can switch back to any previous photo without uploading it again.
- Your new profile photo shows up instantly across your profile, comments, messages, and anywhere else your picture appears on the site.
- You can add a caption to your profile photo that appears when people hover over it, and you can control who sees it using privacy settings.
Changing your profile photo on a phone or tablet
On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top right corner (on Android). Scroll down and tap your name to go to your profile. Tap your profile picture at the top, then tap the camera icon that appears over it. Choose "Take a photo", "Upload a photo", or "Choose from photos" depending on where your image is.
After you select or take a photo, the app shows you a preview with a crop box. Pinch to zoom in or out, then drag the image to center your face in the frame. Tap "Next" and then "Set as profile picture" to confirm. The change takes effect right away across all your devices and the Facebook website.
Uploading a photo from your computer
On a desktop or laptop, click your profile picture in the top left corner of Facebook. A menu drops down with several options. Click "Change profile picture" and then "Upload photo". Your computer's file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, click the image to select it, then click "Open" to upload it to Facebook.
Facebook displays the photo with a crop box around it. You can drag the image left, right, up, or down to position your face in the center of the frame. Use the zoom slider below the image if you need to make it larger or smaller. Once the framing looks right, click "Set as profile picture" at the bottom right. The photo becomes your new profile picture within seconds.
Using a photo you have already posted
If you want to use a photo that is already on your Facebook profile, click your profile picture in the top left and select "Change profile picture". Choose "Select from photos". Facebook shows you albums of photos you have posted, starting with your most recent uploads. Click the album that contains the photo you want, then click the specific image.
The photo appears with a crop box so you can frame it the way you want. Adjust the position and zoom until your face is centered, then click "Set as profile picture". This method is faster than uploading a new file if you have already shared the photo on Facebook before.
Taking a new photo with your camera
On the Facebook app, tap your profile picture and then tap the camera icon. Select "Take a photo" to open your device's camera. Frame your face in the viewfinder and tap the button to take the picture. After the photo is taken, you can retake it or move forward to crop and set it as your profile picture.
On a desktop computer, click your profile picture and select "Change profile picture", then "Upload photo". Some computers let you select your webcam as the source instead of browsing files. If your computer supports this, you can take a photo directly without saving it first. Check your browser's permissions if the webcam option does not appear.
Adding a caption and controlling who sees your profile photo
After you set a new profile picture, you can add a caption that appears when people hover over it. Click your profile picture, then click the three dots in the corner of the image. Select "Add caption" and type a short message — this might be a date, location, or anything else you want to share. Click "Save" to add it.
To control who can see your profile photo, click the three dots on your profile picture again and select "Edit privacy". Choose "Public" if anyone can see it, "Friends" if only your friends can see it, or "Only me" to keep it private. These settings do not hide your profile picture from your friends list or comments — they only control who can view the full-size image when they click on it.
Troubleshooting common profile photo problems
If your new profile photo does not appear after you set it, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to show up across all devices. If it still does not appear after a few minutes, log out and log back in to force Facebook to reload your profile.
If you see an error message when uploading a photo, check that the file is in a common format like JPG, PNG, or GIF. Facebook rejects files larger than 4 MB, so if your photo is very large, resize it using your computer's photo editor or an online tool before uploading. If the upload keeps failing, try a different photo to see if the problem is with that specific file or with your internet connection.
If you accidentally deleted a profile photo you want to use again, check your "Profile Pictures" album. Click your profile picture, then click "View profile pictures" to see all the photos you have ever set as your profile picture. You can set any of them as your current profile photo again without re-uploading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile photo without posting it to my timeline?
Yes. When you upload a photo to use as your profile picture, Facebook does not post it to your timeline automatically. The photo only appears as your profile picture. If you want people to see the full image, you can post it separately to your timeline afterward.
What happens to my old profile photos?
Facebook saves every profile photo you have ever set in an album called "Profile Pictures". You can view this album by clicking your profile picture and selecting "View profile pictures". You can set any old photo as your current profile picture again without uploading it a second time.
Can I use a photo of someone else as my profile picture?
Technically yes, but Facebook's rules say your profile picture should be a photo of you. Using someone else's photo without permission violates Facebook's terms of service and can result in your account being restricted or disabled. Keep your profile picture as a photo of yourself.
Why does my profile photo look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens when the original photo file is too small or low resolution. Facebook works best with photos that are at least 400 by 400 pixels. If your photo looks blurry after you upload it, try using a higher-resolution version of the same image.
Can I schedule a profile photo change for a future date?
Facebook does not have a built-in feature to schedule profile photo changes. You have to change it manually each time. If you want to change it on a specific date, you can set a reminder on your phone or calendar to do it then.