The quickest way to change your profile picture
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) at the top right, then tap Settings and privacy. Select Account center, then Accounts, then tap your account name. Tap Profile information, then Profile photo. You can now choose to take a new photo with your camera, pick one from your phone's photo library, or remove your current picture entirely.
The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Instagram stores your new picture when ready — you do not need to save or confirm anything. Your followers will see the change right away.
Key Takeaways
- You reach your profile picture settings through the three-line menu, then Settings and privacy, then Account center.
- Instagram lets you upload a photo from your phone, take a new one with your camera, or delete your picture completely.
- The change appears to everyone following you when ready — there is no waiting period or approval step.
- If you use Facebook as well, changing your Instagram picture does not automatically change your Facebook profile picture.
- You can change your picture as often as you want with no limits.
Using a photo already on your phone
When you tap Profile photo in the settings menu, Instagram shows you two options: a camera icon and a photo library icon. Tap the photo library icon (it looks like a small square with mountains in it). Your phone will open your photo library, showing all the pictures you have saved.
Scroll through and tap the photo you want to use. Instagram will show you a preview and let you move the image around or zoom in and out to frame it the way you want. Once you are happy with how it looks, tap Done or the checkmark. That is all — the picture is now live on your profile.
Taking a new photo right now
If you want to take a fresh picture instead of using an old one, tap the camera icon when you reach the profile photo screen. Instagram will open your phone's camera and let you take a photo when ready. You can tap the flip arrow to switch between your front-facing camera (for selfies) and your back camera.
After you take the shot, Instagram shows you a preview. You can retake it by tapping the camera icon again, or accept it by tapping the checkmark. Just like with uploaded photos, you can zoom and reposition before you confirm.
Removing your profile picture
If you want to delete your current profile picture and have no picture at all, go through the same path: profile icon, menu, Settings and privacy, Account center, Accounts, your account name, Profile information, Profile photo. At the bottom of the screen, you will see an option that says Remove current photo. Tap it, and Instagram will replace your picture with a blank circle.
You can add a new picture anytime by following the same steps. Removing your picture does not affect your account in any way — your posts, followers, and messages all stay exactly as they are.
What happens on different devices
The steps above work on both iPhone and Android phones. If you are using Instagram on a computer or tablet, the path is slightly different. On a computer, go to your profile, click the three dots next to your username, select Edit profile, and click on your current profile picture to change it.
On an iPad or Android tablet, the process is the same as on a phone — use the three-line menu and follow the same settings path. No matter which device you use, the picture you upload appears on all of them within seconds.
Why your new picture might not show up right away
In rare cases, your new profile picture takes a few minutes to appear because Instagram is updating its servers. If you change your picture and do not see it on your profile when ready, wait five minutes and refresh the page by pulling down on your screen (on a phone) or closing and reopening the app.
If the picture still does not appear after 15 minutes, try logging out and logging back in. This forces your phone to read the latest version of your profile. If you are still having trouble, try changing the picture again — sometimes the upload does not go through the first time, especially on a slow internet connection.
Changing your picture without showing it to everyone
Instagram does not have a way to change your profile picture privately. Any picture you upload becomes visible to everyone who can see your profile — whether that is the public, your followers only, or a smaller group, depending on your privacy settings. If you want to test out a picture before making it official, you can upload it, see how it looks, and change it again if you do not like it.
There is no limit to how many times you can change your picture, and Instagram does not notify your followers each time you do. They will only see your new picture the next time they visit your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a picture that is not on my phone?
Not directly. You would need to save the picture to your phone first — either by downloading it from the internet, receiving it in a text message, or getting it from email. Once it is in your phone's photo library, you can upload it to Instagram following the steps above.
What size should my profile picture be?
Instagram automatically resizes any picture you upload to fit the circular profile frame. You do not need to crop or resize it yourself. A square photo works best because it fills the circle most completely, but Instagram will work with any shape.
Does changing my Instagram picture change my Facebook picture too?
No. Instagram and Facebook are separate apps with separate profiles, even though the same company owns both. If you want the same picture on both platforms, you have to change each one separately.
Can I see who viewed my new profile picture?
Instagram does not tell you who looked at your profile picture. You can see how many people have viewed your profile overall (if you have a business or creator account), but not which specific people viewed your picture or when.
What if I accidentally deleted my picture and want it back?
Instagram does not save old versions of your profile picture. Once you remove it or replace it, the old picture is gone. If you saved a copy to your phone, you can re-upload it. Otherwise, you will need to find the original file again.