The basic steps to update your profile picture
To change your Facebook profile picture, open Facebook on your phone or computer and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left (on desktop) or top right (on mobile). Look for your current profile picture — it appears as a circle at the top of your profile. Click or tap on it, then select "Upload Photo" or "Choose Photo". Pick an image from your device, crop it if you want, and click "Save".
The whole process takes about one minute. Your new picture appears when ready on your profile and in comments you make, though it may take a few minutes to show everywhere on Facebook's servers. Friends see the change right away in their feeds if they follow your profile updates.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile picture from your profile page by clicking the current picture and selecting "Upload Photo".
- Facebook lets you crop, rotate, and position your photo before saving it as your profile picture.
- Your profile picture is visible to anyone with permission to see your profile, so choose an image you are comfortable sharing at that level.
- You can change your profile picture as often as you want, and old pictures stay in your "Photos of You" album unless you delete them.
- Profile pictures are smaller and more visible than cover photos, so test how your image looks at that size before you save it.
Where your profile picture appears and who sees it
Your profile picture shows up in several places on Facebook. It appears next to your name in every comment you post, every message you send, and every reaction you make. It shows on your profile page itself, in search results when someone looks for your name, and in your friends' friend lists. Anyone who can see your profile can see your profile picture — this is controlled by your privacy settings, not by a separate picture permission.
If your profile is set to "Public", your picture is visible to anyone on the internet, including people who are not on Facebook. If it is set to "Friends Only", only people you have friended can see it. If you have a custom privacy setting, your picture follows those same rules. This means your profile picture is often the most visible part of your profile, so choose an image you are comfortable with at that visibility level.
Uploading a photo from your device versus using an existing photo
When you click to change your profile picture, Facebook gives you two main options. "Upload Photo" lets you pick a new image from your phone, computer, or tablet — you can take a fresh picture or use any file saved on your device. "Choose Photo" shows pictures already on Facebook, including photos you have posted before, photos friends have tagged you in, and photos in your albums.
Using an existing photo is faster if you have already posted a picture you like. Using "Upload Photo" is better if you want to use an image that is not yet on Facebook, or if you want to use a photo someone sent you privately. Either way, Facebook lets you crop and position the image before you save it, so you can frame it the way you want.
Cropping and positioning your profile picture
After you pick a photo, Facebook shows you a cropping tool. You see your image in a circle — the shape your profile picture will be — and you can drag the image around to center it the way you want. You can also pinch to zoom in or out on phones, or use a zoom slider on desktop, to change how much of the photo is visible in that circle.
This step is important because profile pictures are small, and details that look fine in a full photo can disappear or become hard to see in a circle. If you are using a landscape photo, the sides will be cut off. If you are using a photo of multiple people, only the center portion will show. Take a moment to position it so the part you care about is in the middle of the circle, then click "Save".
What happens to your old profile pictures
When you change your profile picture, your old one does not disappear. Facebook automatically saves it in an album called "Profile Pictures" on your profile. Anyone who can see your profile can view this album and see all the profile pictures you have used over time. If you do not want old pictures visible, you can delete them from this album individually, or you can change the privacy setting on the entire album.
To delete a single old profile picture, go to your "Profile Pictures" album, click the photo, and select "Delete". To change who can see the album, open the album, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Edit Album Privacy". You can set it to "Only Me" so only you can see your history of profile pictures, or delete the whole album if you prefer.
Changing your profile picture on mobile versus desktop
The steps are nearly identical on phones and computers, but the buttons are in slightly different places. On iPhone or Android, tap your profile picture at the top right of the screen, then tap the camera icon that appears over your current picture. On a computer, click your name or picture in the top left, then click your profile picture and select "Upload Photo".
Mobile is often faster because the camera icon is more obvious, but desktop gives you a larger screen to see how your crop looks before you save. If you are using a photo on your computer that is not yet on your phone, desktop is the easier route. If you want to take a new picture right now, mobile is faster because you can use your phone's camera directly.
Privacy and safety considerations when choosing a profile picture
Your profile picture is one of the most public parts of your profile, so think about what you are comfortable sharing. If your profile is public, your picture is visible to anyone on the internet, including people you do not know. This means you should avoid pictures that show sensitive information like your home address, license plate, or financial documents in the background.
Consider whether you want your profile picture to be a photo of your face, a photo of something else you care about, or an image that does not show you at all. Some people use cartoon characters, logos, or abstract images instead of photos of themselves. There is no rule about what your profile picture should be — it is your choice. Just remember that whatever you choose will be visible to anyone who can see your profile, and it will appear next to everything you post or comment on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo that is not of me as my profile picture?
Yes. Your profile picture can be anything — a photo of a pet, a landscape, a logo, a cartoon character, or an abstract image. Facebook does not require it to be a photo of you. Some people use images that represent their interests or values instead of a personal photo.
What size should my profile picture be?
Facebook automatically resizes your image to fit the profile picture space, so you do not need to resize it yourself. The image will be displayed as a circle, so square photos work best, but Facebook will crop any shape to fit. If your image is very small or very large, Facebook still handles the resizing.
Can I change my profile picture back to an old one?
Yes. Go to your "Profile Pictures" album, find the old picture you want to use, click it, and select "Make Profile Picture". This sets it as your current profile picture without uploading it again. Your old profile pictures stay in that album unless you delete them.
Will my friends be notified when I change my profile picture?
Facebook does not send a notification specifically for profile picture changes, but your new picture may appear in your friends' feeds as a story or update depending on their settings. Friends who follow your profile will see the change, but it is not as prominent as a post or status update.
Can I hide my profile picture from certain people?
No. Your profile picture follows your overall profile privacy setting — if someone can see your profile, they can see your picture. You cannot hide your picture from specific people while keeping the rest of your profile visible to them. Your only option is to change your overall profile privacy or use a different image.