You can delete your Facebook cover photo directly from your profile in under a minute
Open Facebook and go to your profile. Hover your mouse over the cover photo at the top of your profile — you'll see a camera icon appear in the bottom right corner of the image. Click that icon, then select "Remove" from the menu that appears. Facebook will delete the cover photo immediately, and your profile will show a blank gray space where it was.
If you're on a phone or tablet, tap the cover photo, then tap the three dots in the top right corner of the image. Select "Remove cover photo" from the options. The process is the same whether you're using the Facebook app or the mobile website.
Your cover photo is separate from your profile picture — removing one does not affect the other. You can also replace a cover photo without deleting it first by clicking the camera icon and choosing a new image instead.
Key Takeaways
- On a computer, hover over your cover photo, click the camera icon, and select "Remove" from the dropdown menu.
- On a phone or tablet, tap the cover photo, tap the three dots, and choose "Remove cover photo."
- Deleting your cover photo takes effect immediately and does not affect your profile picture or other profile information.
- You can upload a new cover photo at any time using the same camera icon or three-dot menu.
- Only you and people you've blocked can see when you remove or change your cover photo — others see the change but not a notification about it.
What happens after you remove your cover photo
Once you delete your cover photo, your profile shows a plain gray background in that space. Your profile picture remains unchanged. Friends and people who visit your profile will see the blank space, but Facebook does not send them a notification that you removed the photo.
If you change your mind, you can upload a new cover photo at any time using the same camera icon. Facebook keeps a record of photos you've uploaded to your account, so if you want to use the same image again, you may find it in your photo library without having to re-upload it.
Removing a cover photo you no longer want visible
Some people remove cover photos because they contain an ex-partner, an old job logo, or an image that no longer represents them. Deleting it is faster than uploading a replacement if you simply want the space to be blank.
If you want to hide the photo but keep it for your own records, you can also archive it instead. Go to your photos, find the cover photo in your uploads, and select "Archive" — this removes it from your profile and your public photo albums without deleting it from your account entirely. You can restore an archived photo later if you change your mind.
Cover photo privacy and who can see it
Your cover photo follows the same privacy settings as your profile. If your profile is public, anyone on Facebook can see your cover photo. If your profile is private, only your friends can see it. If you've blocked someone, they cannot see your cover photo even if your profile is public.
Removing your cover photo does not change your overall privacy settings — it only removes that specific image. If you want to control who sees your profile more broadly, you'll need to adjust your privacy settings separately in the Settings menu.
Troubleshooting if the remove option does not appear
If you don't see a camera icon or three-dot menu when you hover over or tap your cover photo, you may be looking at someone else's profile. You can only remove or change your own cover photo, not anyone else's.
If you're on your own profile and the option still doesn't appear, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. If the problem continues, log out and log back in. Occasionally a browser cache issue or a temporary app glitch can hide the menu.
If you're using an older version of the Facebook app, update it from your device's app store. Facebook regularly changes how features look and work, and an outdated app may not show the current interface.
Uploading a new cover photo instead of leaving it blank
If you want to replace your cover photo rather than delete it, click the camera icon and select "Upload photo" or "Choose from photos." You can upload an image from your device, choose one from your existing photos on Facebook, or use a photo from your camera roll.
Facebook recommends cover photos be at least 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall, though larger images display better on desktop computers. The image will be cropped to fit the cover photo space, so choose an image where the important part is in the center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing my cover photo delete it from my account?
No. Removing your cover photo from your profile does not delete the image from your account. It remains in your photo library. You can upload it again later, or you can permanently delete it from your photos if you want to remove it entirely from Facebook.
Can I remove my cover photo on the Facebook app?
Yes. Tap your cover photo, then tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Remove cover photo." The process works the same on both the Facebook app and the mobile website.
Will my friends get a notification if I remove my cover photo?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you remove or change your cover photo. People who visit your profile will see the change, but they won't receive an alert about it.
What if I want to hide my cover photo from certain people?
Facebook does not allow you to hide your cover photo from specific friends while keeping it visible to others. Your cover photo is either visible to everyone who can see your profile or not visible at all. If you need more control, removing it is your only option.
Can I set a cover photo that only certain people can see?
No. Cover photos cannot have individual privacy settings. They follow your overall profile privacy level. If you want different people to see different images, you would need to remove the cover photo and use a different privacy setting for your entire profile.