The quickest way to change your profile photo
Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen (or tap your profile icon if you are on a phone). This takes you to your profile page. Look for your current profile photo — it appears as a large circle near the top of the page. Click or tap directly on that circle, and a menu will pop up with the option to upload a new photo.
From that menu, choose Upload Photo if you want to use a picture already saved on your device, or Take a Photo if you want to use your camera right now. Once you pick a photo, Facebook will let you crop and position it before you save. Click Save when you are happy with how it looks.
The whole process takes about a minute. Your new profile photo appears when ready on your profile and in comments you make, though it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere else on Facebook.
Key Takeaways
- Click your current profile photo from your profile page to open the menu where you can upload or take a new one.
- Facebook lets you crop and position your photo before saving, so you can frame it exactly how you want.
- Your new profile photo shows up right away on your profile but may take a few minutes to appear in all your comments and posts.
- You can change your profile photo as many times as you want — there is no limit to how often you update it.
- Only you can change your profile photo unless you have given someone else access to your account.
Where to find the upload option on different devices
On a computer, the process is the same whether you use Facebook in a web browser or the Facebook app. Click your profile picture in the top left, then click your profile photo again when you land on your profile page. The menu appears right away.
On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen, then tap your name at the top of the menu. This opens your profile. Tap your profile photo, and the same upload menu appears. The steps are identical whether you use the Facebook app or open Facebook in your phone's web browser.
If you cannot find your profile picture in the top left on a computer, you may be logged out. Log back in first, and the profile icon will appear once you are signed in.
How to crop and position your new photo
After you choose a photo from your device or take one with your camera, Facebook opens a cropping tool. You will see your photo with a circle overlay — this circle shows what part of your photo will actually appear as your profile picture. Anything outside the circle gets cut off.
You can drag the photo around to move it left, right, up, or down so the part you want is inside the circle. On a computer, you can also use the zoom slider to make the photo bigger or smaller. On a phone, pinch the photo to zoom in and out. Once the photo is positioned the way you want, tap or click Save.
Facebook saves your full original photo in the background, so if you change your mind later, you can go back and recrop the same photo differently without uploading it again.
What happens to your old profile photos
When you upload a new profile photo, your old one does not disappear. Facebook moves it to your profile photos album, which only you and people you have allowed to see your photos can view. You can look back at all your past profile photos anytime by going to your profile, clicking the photos section, and selecting Profile Pictures.
If you want to use an old profile photo again, you can go to that album, click the photo you want, and choose the option to make it your profile photo again. You do not have to re-upload it.
Privacy settings for your profile photo
By default, everyone on Facebook can see your profile photo — it appears in search results, in comments you make, and on your profile page. If you want to limit who sees your profile photo, you can change this in your privacy settings.
Go to your profile, click the three dots next to your profile photo, and select Edit Privacy. A menu appears where you can choose who can see your photo: Public (everyone), Friends (only people you are friends with), or Only Me (just you). Keep in mind that if you set it to Only Me, your profile photo will not show up in your comments or posts, which can make your account look incomplete to other people.
You can change these privacy settings anytime, and the change takes effect when ready.
Troubleshooting if your photo will not upload
If you click upload and nothing happens, the most common cause is that your photo file is too large. Facebook accepts photos up to 4 MB in size. If your photo is bigger than that, try opening it in a photo editor on your computer or phone and saving it as a smaller file before uploading.
Another common issue is a slow internet connection. If the upload seems stuck, close the menu, wait a few seconds, and try again. Make sure you are connected to WiFi or a strong mobile signal.
If you are using an older web browser, Facebook may not work properly. Try updating your browser or switching to a different one. On a phone, make sure the Facebook app is up to date by checking your app store for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not of me as my profile picture?
Yes, you can use any photo you want — Facebook does not require it to be a picture of your face. Many people use photos of pets, artwork, logos, or anything else. Keep in mind that your profile photo is visible to people searching for you, so choose something you are comfortable with others seeing.
How long does it take for my new profile photo to show up everywhere?
Your new profile photo appears on your profile page and in new comments or posts within a few minutes. It may take longer to update in older comments or in search results — sometimes up to a few hours. If you do not see it after an hour, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.
What if I accidentally uploaded the wrong photo?
You can change it right away by clicking your profile photo again and uploading a different one. There is no waiting period or limit to how many times you can change it. Your old photo stays in your profile photos album so you can use it again later if you want.
Can someone else change my profile photo?
Only if you have given them your password or they are logged into your account on a shared device. If you think someone changed your photo without permission, change your password when ready and review your login activity in your security settings to see if anyone else has accessed your account.
Does changing my profile photo notify my friends?
No, Facebook does not send a notification when you change your profile photo. Your friends will only see it if they visit your profile or if they happen to see you in a comment or post after you change it.