Where to find your profile photo settings
Your profile photo lives in the top left corner of your Facebook profile. To change it, click directly on that photo — Facebook will open a menu with two options: "Upload Photo" and "Choose from Photos". You can also reach the same menu by clicking your profile name at the top of any Facebook page, then clicking the camera icon that appears over your current photo.
The camera icon is small but visible once you hover over your profile picture. This is the fastest route if you are already on your profile page. Either method takes you to the same upload screen, so use whichever feels natural to you.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile photo or the camera icon over it to open the upload menu in one step.
- You can upload a new photo from your device, choose an existing photo from your Facebook albums, or take a photo with your device's camera right then.
- Facebook compresses photos, so uploading a clear, well-lit image at least 400 pixels wide prevents blurriness.
- Your new profile photo is visible to everyone you have set in your privacy settings, and Facebook notifies your friends when you change it.
- You can temporarily hide your profile photo from specific people by adjusting privacy settings on that individual photo.
Uploading a photo from your device
Click "Upload Photo" from the menu. Your device will open a file browser showing your photos, downloads folder, or camera roll depending on whether you are on a computer or phone. Navigate to the photo you want and click it once to select it.
Facebook will show you a preview of how the photo will look as your profile picture — it crops to a circle, so the center of the image matters most. You can drag the photo around within the circle to reposition it before you confirm. Once you are satisfied with the crop, click "Use as Profile Picture" or the equivalent button on your device.
Choosing from photos you have already uploaded
Click "Choose from Photos" to see every photo you have ever uploaded to Facebook — your own albums, photos you are tagged in, and photos from events. This is useful if you want to use an old photo without re-uploading it, or if you want to use a photo someone else took of you.
Scroll through the grid until you find the one you want. Click it, adjust the crop if needed the same way you would with a new upload, then confirm. Facebook will set it as your profile photo when ready.
Taking a photo with your phone camera
If you are using Facebook on a phone, the upload menu includes a third option: "Take a Photo". This opens your phone's camera app so you can take a new picture right then without leaving Facebook.
Take the photo, confirm it, and Facebook will use it as your profile picture. This is the quickest route if you want a fresh photo but do not have one ready. On a computer, this option is not available — you will need to take the photo separately and then upload it.
Understanding photo quality and sizing
Facebook compresses all photos to reduce file size, which can make small or low-resolution images look blurry when displayed as your profile picture. To avoid this, upload a photo that is at least 400 pixels wide — most phone cameras and modern digital cameras produce images much larger than this, so you usually do not need to worry.
The photo will display as a circle on your profile and in comments and messages. Make sure the most important part of the image — usually your face — is centered, because the edges will be cut off. Test this by looking at the preview Facebook shows before you confirm.
Who can see your new profile photo
Your profile photo is visible to everyone you have set in your privacy settings. By default, this means all your friends can see it, and depending on your settings, people outside your friend list might see it too. Facebook sends a notification to your friends when you change your profile photo, so they will know you have updated it.
If you want to hide your profile photo from specific people, you can adjust the privacy settings on that individual photo after you upload it. Go to your profile, find the photo, click the three dots in the corner, and select "Edit the Audience". You can then choose who sees it — for example, friends only, or a custom list of people.
Removing or temporarily hiding your profile photo
To remove your profile photo entirely, click the camera icon over your current photo and select "Remove". Facebook will replace it with a generic silhouette. You can restore a previous profile photo by choosing it from your photo history — click the camera icon, then look for "See Profile Pictures" or a similar option to view past photos.
If you want to keep the photo but hide it temporarily, the privacy adjustment method above is faster than removing it. You can set it to visible only to yourself, which hides it from everyone else while keeping it on your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my profile photo look blurry after I upload it?
Facebook compresses photos to save space, which can blur small or low-resolution images. Upload a photo at least 400 pixels wide — most phone photos are much larger. If the image is already large and still looks blurry, the original photo itself may be out of focus. Try a different photo or take a new one in better lighting.
Can I use a photo of someone else as my profile picture?
Yes, you can upload any photo you have permission to use. If you want to use a photo someone else took of you, you can find it in the "Choose from Photos" section under photos you are tagged in. Make sure you have permission before using someone else's photo.
Will my friends get notified every time I change my profile photo?
Yes, Facebook notifies your friends when you change your profile photo. The notification appears in their news feed. If you change it frequently, your friends will see multiple notifications. There is no way to turn off these notifications.
How do I change my profile photo on the Facebook app?
The process is the same on the app as on the website. Tap your profile icon at the bottom, tap your profile photo, then tap the camera icon. You can upload a new photo, choose from existing photos, or take a new photo with your phone's camera.
Can I set different profile photos for different people to see?
No, you can only have one profile photo at a time. You can control who sees it by adjusting privacy settings, but you cannot show one photo to friends and a different photo to family. You would need to change the photo entirely to show different people different images.