Where to find the profile picture option
Your profile picture on Facebook lives in the top left of your profile page. To change it, go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on Facebook, then look for your current profile picture in the upper left corner. Click directly on the picture itself — not on your name or cover photo.
A menu will appear with options to upload a new photo, choose from your existing photos, or take a photo with your device's camera. The exact wording depends on whether you're on a computer or phone, but the location and function are the same across devices.
Key Takeaways
- Click your current profile picture from your profile page to open the menu for changing it.
- You can upload a new photo from your device, select one you've already posted, or take a photo immediately using your camera.
- Facebook stores your old profile pictures in a dedicated album, so you can switch back to a previous one anytime.
- You can control who sees your profile picture change by adjusting privacy settings before you upload.
- The process takes less than a minute on both desktop and mobile versions of Facebook.
Uploading a photo from your device
If you want to use a photo that's saved on your computer or phone, click your profile picture and select "Upload Photo" from the menu. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your photo is stored, select the image, and click "Open" or "Choose" depending on your device.
Facebook will then show you the photo and ask you to confirm before it becomes your new profile picture. You can crop or adjust the image at this stage if you want to change which part of the photo is visible. Once you're satisfied, click "Save" or "Confirm" to make it official.
Choosing from photos you've already posted
Facebook keeps all your profile pictures in a dedicated album called "Profile Pictures." To use one of these instead of uploading something new, click your profile picture and select "Choose Photo" from the menu. This shows you every profile picture you've ever set, plus any other photos you've posted to your timeline.
Scroll through until you find the photo you want, then click it. Facebook will set it as your new profile picture immediately. This is useful if you want to return to an old photo or use something you've already shared without uploading it again.
Taking a photo with your camera
On mobile devices, you can take a new photo directly from the profile picture menu. Click your profile picture and select "Take Photo" or the camera icon. Your device's camera app will open. Take the photo, and Facebook will ask you to confirm before setting it as your profile picture.
On desktop computers, this option may not appear unless you're using Facebook through a web browser that supports camera access. If you don't see a camera option, use the upload method instead.
Controlling who sees your profile picture change
By default, when you change your profile picture, everyone on your friends list gets a notification. If you want to limit who sees the change, you can adjust the privacy setting before you upload. After you select your new photo but before you confirm it, look for a privacy icon — usually a globe, lock, or people symbol.
Click that icon to choose whether the photo is visible to everyone, friends only, or a custom group. Keep in mind that your profile picture itself is usually visible to anyone who visits your profile, regardless of this setting — the privacy control mainly affects whether people get notified of the change.
What happens to your old profile pictures
Facebook automatically saves every profile picture you've ever used in your "Profile Pictures" album. You can view this album anytime by going to your profile, clicking "Photos," and selecting "Profile Pictures" from the list. This album is separate from your regular photo albums.
You can change the privacy settings on individual old profile pictures if you want to hide them from certain people. You can also delete old profile pictures from this album, though Facebook will keep them in your account history even after deletion.
Troubleshooting common issues
If the menu doesn't appear when you click your profile picture, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser's cache. On mobile, make sure you're using the official Facebook app or a fully updated mobile browser. If you're using an older version of either, update it and try again.
If your new photo won't upload, check that the file is in a supported format — Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. If the file is very large, try compressing it before uploading. If you're on a slow internet connection, wait a few moments for the upload to complete before navigating away from the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile picture on mobile the same way as on a computer?
Yes. The steps are identical whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer. The menu appears in the same location, and the upload process works the same way. The main difference is that mobile devices offer a "Take Photo" option that desktop browsers may not have.
Will my friends get notified every time I change my profile picture?
By default, yes — your friends will see a notification that you changed your profile picture. You can reduce this by adjusting the privacy setting to "Friends Only" or a custom group before you upload, though this mainly affects the notification rather than who can see the photo itself.
What if I want to go back to an old profile picture?
Go to your profile, click "Photos," and select "Profile Pictures." Find the old photo you want to use, click it, and select "Make Profile Picture" from the menu. Facebook will set it as your current profile picture without requiring you to re-upload it.
Can I delete a profile picture after I've set it?
Yes. Go to your "Profile Pictures" album, find the photo you want to remove, and click the delete option. The photo will be removed from the album, though Facebook keeps a record of it in your account history. Your current profile picture cannot be deleted while it's active — you must change to a different profile picture first.
What file types does Facebook accept for profile pictures?
Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. Most photos from phones and cameras are already in one of these formats. If you're having trouble uploading, try converting the file to JPG format using free online tools or your device's built-in photo editor.