Change your profile picture from your phone or computer
To change your Facebook profile picture, tap or click your profile icon in the top left corner of Facebook, then select "Profile." Look for your current profile picture and click or tap it. A menu will appear with the option to upload a new photo or take one with your camera. Select the photo you want, and Facebook will ask you to confirm the crop and position before saving it.
The process takes about one minute on either a phone or computer. Your new picture appears immediately across Facebook — in your profile, next to your comments, and in search results. Everyone who can see your profile will see the new picture right away unless you've restricted who can view it.
Key Takeaways
- Access your profile picture by tapping your profile icon, then selecting "Profile" and clicking your current picture.
- You can upload a photo from your device, take a new photo with your camera, or choose from photos already on Facebook.
- Facebook lets you crop and position your picture before confirming the change.
- Your new profile picture shows up everywhere on Facebook within seconds and is visible to anyone who can see your profile.
- You can change your profile picture as often as you want with no limit on how many times per day.
Upload a photo from your device
When you click your profile picture and the menu appears, select "Upload Photo." This opens your device's file browser. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved — usually "Pictures," "Photos," or "Camera Roll" depending on your device. Tap or click the photo you want, and it will upload to Facebook.
Facebook will then show you a preview of how the photo will look as your profile picture. You can drag the image around to reposition it or use the zoom slider to make it larger or smaller. Once you're happy with how it looks, click "Save" or "Confirm" to make it your profile picture.
Take a new photo with your camera
If you want to take a fresh photo instead of uploading an existing one, select "Take Photo" from the menu that appears when you click your profile picture. Facebook will ask permission to use your device's camera — tap "Allow" if you see this prompt. Your camera will open, and you can take a photo of yourself or anything else you want as your new profile picture.
After you take the photo, you'll see it in preview mode. You can retake it if you're not happy with it, or proceed to crop and position it the same way you would with an uploaded photo. Once you confirm, the new photo becomes your profile picture.
Choose from photos already on Facebook
Facebook also lets you use a photo that's already posted on your profile or in your albums. When you click your profile picture, select "Choose from Photos." This shows you all the photos you've uploaded to Facebook. Scroll through and tap or click the one you want to use.
You can still crop and position this photo before confirming. This option is useful if you want to reuse a photo you've already shared without having to download it to your device first.
Control who sees your profile picture
By default, everyone on Facebook can see your profile picture. If you want to limit who sees it, click your profile picture once it's set, then look for the privacy icon — usually a small circle with lines or a lock symbol. Tap or click it to change who can view your picture. You can choose "Public" (everyone), "Friends" (only people you're friends with), or "Only Me" (just you).
Keep in mind that your profile picture is often visible even to people who aren't your friends, since it appears next to your name in search results and in comments you make on public posts. Changing the privacy setting limits visibility but doesn't hide it completely from non-friends in all situations.
What to do if your photo won't upload
If you try to upload a photo and nothing happens, first check that your internet connection is working. Try uploading a different photo to see if the problem is with that specific file. If a different photo uploads fine, the original file may be corrupted or in a format Facebook doesn't support — try converting it to JPG or PNG format and uploading again.
If no photos will upload, try closing Facebook completely and opening it again. On a phone, swipe up or down to close the app entirely, then reopen it. On a computer, close the browser tab and start fresh. If the problem continues, clear your browser's cache or try using a different browser. These steps fix most upload problems within a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that's not of my face as my profile picture?
Yes. Facebook doesn't require your profile picture to show your face. You can use a photo of anything — a pet, a landscape, an object, or an abstract image. The only restriction is that the photo can't contain nudity, violence, or hate speech.
How often can I change my profile picture?
You can change your profile picture as many times as you want with no daily limit. Some people change it weekly or even daily. Facebook doesn't restrict how frequently you update it.
What happens to my old profile pictures?
Your old profile pictures are saved in a "Profile Pictures" album on your Facebook profile. Anyone who can see your profile can view this album and see all your previous pictures. You can delete old profile pictures from this album if you don't want them visible.
Will my profile picture change appear in my friends' notifications?
No. Changing your profile picture doesn't send a notification to your friends. They'll only see the new picture when they visit your profile or see you in their feed.
Can I set different profile pictures for different audiences?
No. You have one profile picture that shows to everyone (or to whoever you've set the privacy level to). You cannot show different pictures to different groups of friends.