The quickest way to change your Outlook profile picture

Open Outlook and look for your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the window. Click on it, then select Change profile picture from the menu that appears. You'll be taken to your Microsoft account settings, where you can upload a new photo from your computer or take one with your camera. Once you've chosen or taken a photo, click Save, and the change will appear in Outlook within a few minutes.

The exact location of your profile picture varies slightly depending on whether you're using Outlook on the web, Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac. In all versions, it's in the top right area of the screen — either as a small circular photo or as a colored circle with your initials inside it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile picture is stored in your Microsoft account, not in Outlook itself, so changing it updates your picture across all Microsoft services you use.
  • You can upload a photo from your computer, take a new photo with your camera, or remove your picture entirely and return to initials.
  • Changes appear in Outlook within a few minutes, but may take longer to show in other people's views of your calendar or contact card.
  • If you use Outlook through your workplace, your organization may have restrictions on profile pictures, and you may need to change it through your company's account settings instead.

Changing your picture in Outlook on the web

In Outlook on the web (the version you access through a browser), click the circular icon or initials in the top right corner. A small menu will drop down with several options. Select Change profile picture. You'll see a window where you can either upload a file from your computer or use your camera to take a photo right then.

If you upload a file, Outlook will let you crop the image before saving it. Drag the corners of the crop box to frame your face or the part of the photo you want to show. When you're happy with how it looks, click Save. The picture will update immediately in your Outlook interface, though it may take a few minutes to appear when other people view your calendar or contact information.

Changing your picture in Outlook for Windows

In the desktop version of Outlook for Windows, your profile picture appears in the top right corner. Click on it to open a menu. Select Change profile picture. This will open your Microsoft account settings in a new window or tab in your browser.

From there, the process is the same as Outlook on the web: you can upload a photo from your computer or take one with your camera. Make any crops you want, then click Save. Close the browser window or tab, and return to Outlook. Your picture should update within a few minutes.

Changing your picture in Outlook for Mac

On Mac, click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the Outlook window. Select Change profile picture from the menu. This opens your Microsoft account settings, where you can upload a new photo or take one with your Mac's camera.

After you've chosen or taken a photo and made any crops you want, click Save. Return to Outlook, and your picture will update within a few minutes. If you don't see the change right away, try closing and reopening Outlook.

What happens if your organization controls your account

If you use Outlook through your workplace or school, your organization may manage your profile picture through their own system. In this case, clicking Change profile picture might take you to your organization's account settings instead of your personal Microsoft account settings.

Some organizations don't allow employees to change their own profile pictures at all. If you see a message saying the picture can't be changed, contact your IT department or help desk. They can tell you whether your organization has restrictions in place and, if so, how to request a picture change.

Removing your profile picture or returning to initials

If you want to remove your profile picture and go back to showing just your initials, click your profile picture in Outlook and select Change profile picture. In your Microsoft account settings, look for an option to remove or delete your current picture — this is usually a button or link near the photo itself. Click it, then Save.

Your profile will revert to showing your initials in a colored circle. This change applies across all Microsoft services where you use that account, not just Outlook.

Troubleshooting: picture won't change or won't show up

If you've uploaded a new picture but it's not appearing in Outlook, try closing and reopening the application. Sometimes Outlook needs to refresh to display the updated picture. If you're using Outlook on the web, try clearing your browser cache or opening Outlook in a private or incognito window to see if the picture appears there.

If the picture still doesn't show up after several minutes, check that you actually clicked Save in your Microsoft account settings — it's easy to upload a photo and forget this step. If you're certain you saved it, sign out of Outlook completely, wait a minute, and sign back in. This forces Outlook to fetch your latest account information, including your profile picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my profile picture in Outlook change it everywhere else I use Microsoft?

Yes. Your profile picture is stored in your Microsoft account, so changing it in Outlook updates it in Outlook, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and any other Microsoft service you use with that account. If you use a work or school account, the change applies only to that account.

Can I use a photo that's already in OneDrive or SharePoint?

The standard profile picture upload tool in Outlook doesn't let you browse OneDrive or SharePoint directly. You'll need to download the photo to your computer first, then upload it through Outlook's change picture option.

How long does it take for other people to see my new profile picture?

Your new picture appears in your own Outlook view within a few minutes. Other people may see it more slowly — sometimes up to an hour — depending on how often their Outlook refreshes your contact information. If someone has cached your old picture, they might see the old one for a while longer.

What if I don't have a camera and can't upload a file?

You'll need to use a photo that's already saved on your computer. If you don't have one, you can take a photo with your phone, email it to yourself, download it to your computer, and then upload it to Outlook. Alternatively, you can use a free online photo editor to create a simple image and save it to your computer.

Can I change my profile picture if I'm using Outlook offline?

No. Changing your profile picture requires access to your Microsoft account settings, which are online. You'll need an internet connection to make the change. Once you've changed it and reconnected to the internet, Outlook will sync the new picture.