Where to find and change your profile picture

Your profile picture in Outlook appears in the top right corner of the screen, next to your name. To change it, click that corner area — you will see a small menu with your account name and a few options. Select "Change picture" from that menu.

Outlook will open a window asking you to choose a new image from your computer. You can pick any photo file you already have saved — JPG, PNG, and GIF files all work. Once you select the image, Outlook will crop it to a square and show you a preview. Click "Save" to confirm the change.

The new picture updates across all your Microsoft 365 services — Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint will all show the same image within a few minutes. Other people in your organization will see your new picture the next time they open their Outlook contacts or compose an email to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Outlook and select "Change picture" to start the process.
  • You can use any JPG, PNG, or GIF file from your computer; Outlook will automatically crop it to a square.
  • Your new picture syncs across Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint within a few minutes.
  • If you use Outlook on the web instead of the desktop app, the process is the same — click your picture in the top right and choose "Change picture".
  • You can remove your picture entirely by selecting "Delete picture" from the same menu if you prefer not to have one displayed.

What image file types work

Outlook accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. These are the most common photo formats, so most pictures you have on your computer will work without any conversion. If you have a picture in a different format — like TIFF, BMP, or HEIC — you will need to convert it first using a free tool like Paint (built into Windows) or Preview (built into Mac).

The file size does not matter much; Outlook will compress the image automatically. A photo that is 5 megabytes or 500 kilobytes will both work fine. The image does not need to be a specific resolution, though a square photo (equal width and height) will look better than a wide or tall one, since Outlook crops everything to a square anyway.

How the cropping tool works

After you select an image, Outlook shows you a preview with a square frame overlaid on the photo. You can drag the frame around to choose which part of the image appears in your profile picture. You can also use the zoom slider to make the image larger or smaller within the frame.

Take a moment to position the frame so your face or the important part of the image is centered and visible. Once you click "Save", that is the version everyone will see. You cannot edit it later without uploading a new image and cropping again.

Changing your picture on Outlook web vs. the desktop app

The process is identical whether you use Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com) or the Outlook desktop process on your computer. In both cases, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Change picture". The only difference is that the web version may take a few extra seconds to upload the file, depending on your internet speed.

If you are using Outlook on a phone or tablet, the steps are slightly different. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), find your account name at the top, and tap the picture next to it. From there you can choose a new photo from your phone's camera roll or photo library.

Removing or resetting your picture

If you want to remove your profile picture entirely, click your picture in the top right corner and select "Delete picture". Your profile will show a generic placeholder icon instead. You can add a new picture at any time using the same "Change picture" option.

There is no way to undo a picture change and go back to a previous one — Outlook only stores your current picture, not a history of old ones. If you want to use an old picture again, you will need to have the original file saved on your computer.

Why your picture might not be updating

If you changed your picture but it is still showing the old one after several minutes, try signing out of Outlook completely and signing back in. Close the process entirely (not just minimizing it), wait 30 seconds, and open it again. This forces Outlook to refresh your profile information from Microsoft's servers.

If you are using Outlook on the web, try clearing your browser cache or opening Outlook in a private browsing window. Sometimes your browser holds onto the old image even though the server has the new one. If the picture still does not update after an hour, contact your IT department or Microsoft support — this is rare, but a sync issue on the server side can occasionally cause delays.

Picture requirements for work accounts

If you use Outlook through your employer, your organization may have rules about profile pictures. Some workplaces require a professional headshot or prohibit certain types of images. Check with your IT department or employee handbook to see if there are any policies you need to follow.

Your employer cannot force you to have a picture, and you can delete it at any time. However, if your organization uses a directory or shared contacts list, a missing picture might make it harder for colleagues to find you or remember who you are in meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a picture that is not a photo of myself?

Yes. You can use any image — a logo, a cartoon, a landscape, or anything else. Some people use professional headshots, others use casual photos, and some use illustrations or icons. The choice is yours, though workplaces sometimes have unofficial norms about what is considered professional.

What happens to my picture if I change my password?

Your picture stays the same. Changing your password does not affect your profile picture at all. The picture is stored separately from your password and login information.

Can I set different pictures for different people to see?

No. Everyone who can see your Outlook profile sees the same picture. There is no way to show one picture to your manager and a different one to your colleagues. Your picture is the same across your entire organization.

Does changing my picture in Outlook change it in other Microsoft apps?

Yes. Your picture syncs to Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and other Microsoft 365 services. If you want a different picture in a specific app, you would need to change it in that app separately, but most people keep the same picture across all Microsoft services for consistency.

What if the image I want to use is on my phone, not my computer?

Transfer the photo to your computer first using email, cloud storage like OneDrive, or a USB cable. Once the file is on your computer, you can upload it to Outlook using the "Change picture" option. Alternatively, if you are using Outlook on your phone, you can select the picture directly from your phone's photo library.