The quickest way to change your Facebook profile photo
Open Facebook on your computer or phone and click your profile picture in the top left corner (on mobile, tap the three horizontal lines first, then your name). Click the camera icon that appears over your current photo, then choose Upload Photo to pick an image from your device, or Take a Photo to use your camera right now. Select the photo you want, adjust the crop if needed, and click Save. Your new profile photo appears immediately.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Your old profile photo stays visible in your photo albums — changing your profile picture does not delete it. Everyone on Facebook sees the new photo right away, and it shows up next to your name in comments, posts, and messages.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile photo from your profile page by clicking the camera icon over your current photo and selecting a new image from your device.
- Facebook lets you crop and position your photo before saving, so you can frame your face the way you want it to appear.
- Your profile photo change is visible to everyone on Facebook immediately, including people who are not your friends.
- You can set a temporary profile photo frame that sits on top of your image for holidays, causes, or events, separate from changing the photo itself.
- If you delete your profile photo, Facebook shows a generic silhouette instead until you upload a new one.
Changing your photo on a computer
Go to your Facebook profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on the site. Look for your profile photo in the top left area of your cover photo. Hover your mouse over the photo until a camera icon appears in the bottom right corner of the image. Click that camera icon.
A menu pops up with three options: Upload Photo, Take a Photo, or Choose Frame. Click Upload Photo to browse files on your computer. Select the image you want to use, then click Open. Facebook shows you a preview with a square crop box. Drag the image or the crop box to position your face where you want it, then click Save.
Changing your photo on a phone or tablet
On iPhone or Android, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner of the Facebook app (or top right on some versions). Scroll down and tap your name to go to your profile. Tap your profile photo at the top. A menu appears with options including Upload Photo and Take a Photo. Tap Upload Photo to pick an existing image from your phone's photo library.
Your phone opens your photo gallery. Find the photo you want and tap it. Facebook shows a crop preview. Pinch to zoom in or out, and drag to reposition the image inside the square frame. When your photo is positioned the way you want it, tap Save or Done depending on your phone's version of the app.
Taking a new profile photo with your camera
Instead of uploading an existing photo, you can take a new one directly from Facebook. Click the camera icon over your profile photo and select Take a Photo. On a computer, your webcam opens. On a phone, your camera app opens. Take the photo, then confirm you want to use it.
Facebook lets you crop the result before saving, just like with an uploaded photo. This option is useful if you want to update your profile photo without leaving Facebook or hunting through your photo library. The photo quality depends on your device's camera — phone cameras usually produce better results than built-in computer webcams.
Using profile photo frames
Facebook offers temporary frames that sit on top of your profile photo without replacing it. These frames celebrate holidays, support causes, or mark events. To add a frame, click the camera icon over your profile photo and select Choose Frame. Browse the available frames — Facebook shows seasonal and trending options first.
Click a frame to preview how it looks on your photo. If you like it, click Use as Profile Picture. The frame appears on top of your existing photo for everyone to see. Frames are temporary — Facebook removes them after a set time, or you can remove a frame manually by clicking the camera icon again and selecting Remove Frame. Using a frame does not change your actual profile photo, so your original image stays in place underneath.
What happens to your old profile photo
When you change your profile photo, your old photo does not disappear. It moves to your Profile Pictures album, which only you can see unless you change your privacy settings. To view all your profile photos, go to your profile, click Photos, then look for the Profile Pictures album. You can make any old profile photo your current one again by opening it and clicking the three dots, then selecting Make Profile Picture.
If you want to delete an old profile photo entirely, open it in your Profile Pictures album, click the three dots, and select Delete. Deleted photos are gone permanently and no longer appear in your albums or in your profile history. However, people who saw the photo before you deleted it may have already saved or shared it elsewhere.
Troubleshooting profile photo problems
If the camera icon does not appear when you hover over your photo, you may not have permission to edit your profile. This happens if someone else manages your account or if your account has restrictions. Check your privacy settings by clicking the down arrow in the top right, selecting Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Look for Who can edit your profile? and make sure it is set to Only Me.
If your new photo does not appear after you click Save, try refreshing the page. If the problem continues, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. On a phone, close the Facebook app completely and reopen it. If you see an error message saying the file is too large, the image must be smaller than 4 MB — most phone photos and screenshots meet this requirement, but very high-resolution files may not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who viewed my profile photo?
Facebook does not show you a list of who looked at your profile photo. You can see how many people reacted to it or commented on it in your Profile Pictures album, but there is no way to know who simply viewed it without interacting.
What size should my profile photo be?
Facebook automatically resizes your photo to fit the profile picture space, so the exact size does not matter. A square image works best because Facebook crops rectangular photos into a square. Images at least 400 pixels wide display clearly on computers and phones.
Can I change my profile photo back to an old one?
Yes. Go to your profile, click Photos, then open your Profile Pictures album. Find the photo you want to use again, click the three dots, and select Make Profile Picture. It becomes your current profile photo immediately.
Does changing my profile photo notify my friends?
Facebook does not send a notification when you change your profile photo, but the change appears in your friends' News Feeds if they follow you. Some friends may see it, others may not, depending on Facebook's algorithm and their feed settings.
What if I want to hide my profile photo from certain people?
You cannot hide your profile photo from specific people — it is visible to everyone on Facebook. If you want more privacy, you can delete your profile photo entirely, and Facebook will show a generic silhouette instead. You can also adjust who can see your profile by changing your profile privacy settings.