The basic steps to change your profile picture
Open Facebook on your computer or phone and go to your profile by clicking or tapping your name or profile picture. On the left side of your profile (on desktop) or at the top (on mobile), you will see your current profile picture. Click or tap on it, then select "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo" depending on your device. You can pick a photo from your phone, computer, or from photos you have already uploaded to Facebook. Once you choose the image, you can crop it to show just your face, then click "Save" or "Confirm".
Facebook will ask if you want to make this picture visible to the public, to friends only, or to a custom list of people. This choice matters for your safety — see the section below on who can see your picture. After you confirm your choice, the new picture replaces your old one when ready.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking on your current picture and selecting "Upload Photo" on desktop or "Choose Photo" on mobile.
- Facebook lets you control who sees your profile picture — set it to "Friends" or a custom list rather than "Public" if you want to limit who can see your face.
- Your profile picture is visible to anyone who searches for you or visits your profile, so choose an image you are comfortable sharing widely.
- You can change your picture as often as you want, and old pictures stay in your "Photos" section unless you delete them.
Why the privacy setting for your profile picture matters
When you upload a new profile picture, Facebook shows you a dropdown menu asking who can see it. The default is often "Public," which means anyone on the internet — not just Facebook users — can see your face and find your profile through image search. If you set it to "Friends," only people you have accepted as friends can see the picture.
Your choice here affects more than just privacy. Scammers sometimes use real profile pictures from public accounts to create fake profiles and impersonate you. If your picture is public, they have an straightforward source. If your picture is visible only to friends, a fake account using your photo will be more obviously fake to people who know you. Consider setting your profile picture to "Friends" unless you have a reason to be public — for example, if you run a business or public figure account.
How to find and delete old profile pictures
Every profile picture you upload stays in your Facebook photos unless you remove it. To see all your old profile pictures, go to your profile, click "Photos" (on desktop) or scroll down to "Photos" (on mobile), then look for the album called "Profile Pictures." This album is separate from your main photo albums.
If you want to delete an old picture, open it, click the three dots in the corner, and select "Delete." Deleting a picture removes it from your profile and from that album, but Facebook may keep a copy in its backup systems for a limited time. If the picture was ever shared or downloaded by someone else, deleting it from your account does not remove it from their device or from other websites.
What to avoid when choosing a profile picture
Do not use a picture that shows your home address, house number, or street sign in the background. Do not include your full legal name written on the image itself — scammers use these details to impersonate you or to find your other accounts. Avoid pictures that show your children's faces if you have not thought through who might see them.
Be cautious about using pictures from other websites or social media accounts. If you upload a photo that is not yours, you may be violating someone else's copyright. If you want to use a photo of someone else, ask their permission first. Facebook can remove pictures that violate copyright or that show someone without their consent.
How profile pictures appear across Facebook and Instagram
If you have linked your Facebook and Instagram accounts, changing your Facebook profile picture does not automatically change your Instagram picture — you have to update each one separately. Your Facebook profile picture appears next to your name in comments, posts, and messages. It also shows up in search results when someone looks for you by name.
Your profile picture is one of the few images on your account that is hard to hide completely. Even if you set your entire profile to private, your profile picture is usually still visible to people who search for you or who you message. This is why the privacy setting and the image itself both matter.
Troubleshooting common profile picture problems
If you upload a picture and it does not appear, check that the file is in a format Facebook accepts — JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP files work. If the file is very large (over 4 MB), Facebook may reject it. Try compressing the image on your phone or computer before uploading again.
If you see an error message saying the picture violates Facebook's community standards, Facebook has flagged it as containing nudity, violence, hate speech, or other prohibited content. You can appeal the decision by clicking "Request Review," but if Facebook upholds the decision, you will need to choose a different picture. If you believe the decision is wrong, you can contact Facebook support through the Help Center.
If your profile picture is blurry or cropped strangely, you can re-upload it and use the crop tool to adjust how it appears. Click on your picture, select "Edit," and then drag the crop box to frame your face the way you want it.
How to use a video as your profile picture
Facebook lets you upload a short video (up to 7 seconds) as your profile picture instead of a still image. To do this, click on your profile picture, select "Upload Photo," then choose "Video" instead of a photo file. The video will loop continuously on your profile. Your video profile picture follows the same privacy settings as a photo — you can set it to public, friends only, or custom.
Video profile pictures are less common and may draw more attention, so think about whether you want that before you use one. The same safety rules explore: do not include your address, do not show identifying information in the background, and do not use video of someone else without permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see my old profile pictures if I delete them?
Once you delete a picture from your account, it no longer appears on your profile or in your photo albums. However, if someone downloaded or screenshot the picture before you deleted it, they still have a copy. Facebook may also keep backups of deleted pictures for a limited time, but you cannot see or recover them yourself.
What happens to my profile picture if I deactivate my account?
If you deactivate your Facebook account, your profile picture and all other content become hidden from public view. If you reactivate within 30 days, everything returns. If you permanently delete your account, Facebook removes your profile picture and other data after about 90 days, though backups may persist longer in their systems.
Can I prevent people from tagging me in photos if my profile picture is public?
Your profile picture is separate from photos people tag you in. You can control tagging separately by going to Settings, clicking "Privacy," and adjusting "Who can see posts you are tagged in?" and "Review tags people add to your posts before they appear?" Your profile picture privacy setting does not affect these controls.
Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?
Facebook does not send a notification when you change your profile picture, but the change may appear in your friends' news feeds if they follow your activity. Some friends may see a small notification that you updated your picture, depending on their notification settings.
Is it safe to use my real face as my profile picture?
Using your real face is generally safe if you set your privacy to "Friends" and keep your profile picture updated. Scammers are more likely to target accounts with outdated or generic pictures. A current, real picture of yourself makes your account look legitimate to people who know you and makes it harder for someone to impersonate you successfully.