Change your profile picture from the app or website

To change your Facebook profile picture, tap or click your profile icon in the top left corner, then select "Profile." Once you're on your profile page, hover over or tap your current profile picture and look for an edit or camera icon. Click that icon, choose "Upload Photo" or "Take Photo," and select the image you want to use. Facebook will let you crop and position the photo before you confirm the change.

The process is nearly identical whether you're using the Facebook app on your phone or the website on a computer. On mobile, the icons are smaller but in the same location. On desktop, you may see a pencil icon appear when you hover your mouse over the picture. Either way, the next screen will show you cropping tools so you can frame your face or choose what part of the image appears in the circle.

Your new profile picture appears immediately to everyone on Facebook. There's no waiting period or approval process — the change is live as soon as you confirm it.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to your profile, hover over or tap your current picture, and click the edit or camera icon that appears.
  • You can upload a photo from your phone or computer, or take a new one directly in the app.
  • Facebook shows you cropping and positioning tools before the picture goes live.
  • Your new profile picture is visible to your friends and the public immediately after you save it.
  • You can change your profile picture as often as you want with no restrictions.

Upload a photo from your device

When you click the camera or edit icon on your profile picture, Facebook opens a menu with several options. Select "Upload Photo" to browse files on your phone or computer. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved — usually "Photos," "Pictures," or "Downloads" — and tap or click the image you want to use.

Facebook accepts most common image formats, including JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The photo can be any size, though Facebook will automatically resize it to fit the profile picture circle. If your image is very small or very large, Facebook may warn you that the quality will be affected, but the upload will still work.

Take a new photo directly in Facebook

Instead of uploading an existing photo, you can take a new picture right in the Facebook app. When you tap the camera icon on your profile picture, select "Take Photo." Facebook will open your phone's camera and let you snap a picture immediately. After you take the shot, you'll see the same cropping and positioning tools before you confirm.

This option is only available on the mobile app, not on the desktop website. If you're on a computer and want to take a new photo, you'll need to use your device's camera app first, save the photo, and then upload it through Facebook.

Crop and position your new picture

After you select or take a photo, Facebook shows you a preview with a circular frame overlaid on the image. This circle represents how your profile picture will appear to others. You can pinch to zoom in or out on mobile, or use your mouse wheel on desktop, to adjust how much of the photo is visible inside the circle.

Drag the image around to center your face or the part of the photo you want to highlight. Take your time with this step — the positioning you choose here is what everyone will see. Once you're satisfied with how it looks, tap or click "Save" or "Confirm" to make the change live.

Change your profile picture back to an old one

If you want to use a photo you've already uploaded to Facebook before, you don't have to find the original file on your device. When you click the camera icon, select "Choose from Photos" or "Select Photo." Facebook will show you a gallery of images you've already posted or uploaded. Tap or click any photo from that gallery, crop it if needed, and save it as your new profile picture.

This is faster than uploading the same file twice, and it's useful if you want to rotate between a few favorite photos. Facebook keeps a record of every photo you've ever uploaded, so you can go back years if you want to resurrect an old picture.

Remove your profile picture

To remove your profile picture entirely and show the default Facebook silhouette instead, click the camera icon on your profile picture and look for a "Remove" or "Delete" option. Not all versions of Facebook show this option prominently — if you don't see it, try clicking the three dots or "More" menu in the same popup.

Removing your profile picture doesn't delete it from Facebook's servers or from any albums where you've posted it. It only removes it from your profile. You can upload a new picture at any time, or restore the old one by choosing it from your photo gallery.

Troubleshoot if the change isn't working

If you click the camera icon and nothing happens, or if your new picture doesn't appear after you save it, try closing and reopening the Facebook app or refreshing the website. Sometimes the interface needs a moment to load properly. On mobile, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app completely, then open it again.

If the photo won't upload at all, check that the file size isn't too large — Facebook recommends images under 4 MB for fastest uploads. Also make sure you have a working internet connection. If you're on WiFi, try switching to mobile data or vice versa. If the problem persists, try a different photo to see whether the issue is with that specific image or with Facebook itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people see when I change my profile picture?

Yes. When you change your profile picture, Facebook posts a notification to your timeline and sends it to your friends' news feeds. The notification shows your old picture and your new picture side by side. You can delete this notification from your timeline after the fact, but your friends will have already seen it if they were online.

What size should my profile picture be?

Facebook automatically crops any image into a circle, so the dimensions don't matter as much as the content. However, Facebook recommends uploading an image that's at least 400 by 400 pixels for the best quality. Smaller images may appear blurry or pixelated in the profile picture circle.

Can I use a video as my profile picture?

No. Facebook profile pictures must be still images — JPG, PNG, or GIF files. You cannot upload a video or animated file as your main profile picture. However, some Facebook accounts have access to a "Profile Video" feature, which is a separate video that plays when someone visits your profile.

Will my profile picture change on Facebook Messenger too?

Yes. Your Facebook profile picture and your Messenger picture are the same image. When you change one, the other updates automatically across all Facebook services, including Instagram if your accounts are linked.

How do I make my profile picture private so only certain people can see it?

Facebook doesn't offer privacy settings specifically for your profile picture — it's visible to whoever can see your profile. If you want to limit who sees your profile picture, you'll need to change your overall profile privacy settings to "Friends Only" or "Private." This restricts who can see your entire profile, including the picture.